Theatre Dance Council International TDCI Registered Charity No 289965 A non profit organisation committed to the development and promotion of Theatre Dance Disciplines for the benefit of Dance Teachers and their Students. The inaugural meeting was held at the Arts Theatre Club, London on 28th April 1958 and chaired by Mr Arthur H. Franks, Editor of the Dancing Times. © TDCI

General Secretary of The Theatre Dance Council International TDCI Chris Booth E-mail: generalsecretary@tdci.org.uk

The Theatre Carl Awards

The Oscars of The World of Dance

The Carl-Alan Awards were first introduced in 1953 by Eric Morley and were named after the joint Chairmen of Mecca Dancing Ltd. Carl Heimann and Alan B Fairley. Mecca Dancing Ltd promoted dancing through their well appointed Ballrooms all over the United Kingdom. In every major town or city was a Mecca ‘Palaise de Danse’ The Carl Alan Awards very quickly became the most prestigious event in the dancing calendar. Featured on BBC National Television and on many occasions members of the Royal Family agreed to present the awards. The highest ranking royal being the Duke of Edinburgh. The awards became known as ‘The Oscars of the World of Dance’. With the decline in the popularity of social ballroom dancing, the change of music tastes by the general public and the rise in popularity of the Discotheque. Driven by the necessity to stay in business Mecca were obliged to diversify. The local Palaise de Danses closed and Mecca closed down their Ballroom Dancing interests. As a result the last Carl Alan Awards run by Mecca were in 1983 and were not presented between 1984 to 1992. Roger Billington. The National Organiser for Butlins Ltd and President of the then Stage Dance Council acquired the rights to organise the Carl Alan Awards from Eric Morley as a result the awards were continued at Butlins Holiday Centres from 1993 to 1999. It was during this period and for the very first time Roger Billington introduced the Theatre faculty into the list of recipients of the awards. Once again the economic influence took over events and Butlins were taken over by Bourne Leisure. The new company withdrew their patronage of dance. The rights of the Carl Alan Awards were purchased by the Stage Dance Council. The Council continued to promote the awards independently from 2000 to 2003. While the Ballroom and Freestyle awards were promoted by other sponsors. There were no theatre awards presented for 2004 and 2005 due to negotiations with IDTA. From 2006 until 2011 the International Dance Teachers Association presented the awards. The International Dance Teachers Association has been granted permission to promote the awards on behalf of the Theatre Dance Council International. These have been organised and presented at the prestigeous Royal Lancaster Hotel. London. In 2012 and 2013, the Theatre Dance Council International presented the 'Theatre Carl Alan Awards', and with kind permission of the British Dance Council, also presented the 'Freestyle Carl Alan Awards'. As from 2014, Carl Alan Awards for 'Streetdance' are also to be introduced. 1993 to 1999 Butlins presented the Theatre award in six categories. (3 Amateur & 3 Professional). a). Ballet b). Modern c). Tap d). Teachers Award. e). Professional Award. Contribution to Stage Dance Ballet. Modern. Tap. f). Special Award for Outstanding Services. 2000 to 2003 The three professional categories. were presented by Stage Dance Council. The Theatre Carl Alan Awards are currently presented in five categories by IIDTA. a). Performers Award. b). Teachers Award. c). Coach Choreographer Award. d). Outstanding services to Dance Award. e). Lifetime Achievement Award' Past winners of the Prestigious Theatre Carl Alan Awards All awards are dated one year behind. Amateur Awards presented by Butlins Holidays l993 to 1999 Year Ballet Modern Tap 1993 Joanna Bungay Helen Rose Donna Claffey 1994 Redecca Jackson Natalie Morris Joanne Kilminster 1995 Joanne Denham Rebecca Jackson Leanne Thompson 1996 Christopher Lewis Lizzi Grunsell Natalie Morris 1997 Kristen McNalley Michael Parkinson Joanne Yuille 1998 Jennifer Ellison Kerry Platts Ellen Richardson Professional awards presented by Butlins Holidays 1993 to 1999. Year Teachers Award Professional Award Outstanding Services 1993 Sadie Simpson Roy Castle 1994 Ella Hardy Robert Harrold Emily Chadburn 1995 Jessie Stewart Douglas Squires Bill Tasker 1996 Margaret Cox Geoff David Sally Ann Falshaw 1997 Gerry Zuccarello Greame Henderson Robert Falshaw 1998 Ian McLeod Phil Winston Jean Rowbotham 1999 Peggy Harrison Rosemarie Ford Veronica Hamill/Wayne Sleep Professional awards presented by Stage Dance Council 2000 to 2003 Year Teachers Award Professional Award Outstanding Services 2000 Jean Geddes Audrey Griffiths Hilda Hilton-Bromley/Harriet Skipper 2001 Barbara Woff Loretta Legge Nora Button/John Harrison 2002 Judith Sylvester Graeme Henderson Barbara Sharples/Lilian Aubrey 2003 Glenys McGill Colin Lang Margaret Walls/Glenys McGill 2004/ 2005 No awards were presented. Awards presented by International Dance Teachers Association. Year Theatre Performers Award Theatre Teachers Award Coach/Choreographer 2006 Anna Jane Casey Patricia Lupino Thompson Stephen Mear 2007 Darcey Bussell OBE Judith Thompson Paul Harris 2008 Russell Sargeant Annette Bromley Phil Winston 2009 Adam Booth Elma Whyte Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean Year Outstanding Services Award Lifetime Achievment Award 2006 Arlene Phillips Hilda Hylton Bromley 2007 Shirley Thompson-Bradley Freda Crompton MBE 2008 Derek Young Bruce Forsyth 2009 Jessie Stewart-Haggerty MBE Dame Beryl Grey