After a busy day talking to teachers and handing out “goody bags”, it was time to party! What a wonderful evening of music and dance and a brilliant cabaret by world champion highland dancers.
The pictures show Ami with Ann Green UKA immediate Past President and Ami and myself with the current President, Jackie Sanderson, ready to party.
I am so pleased to be back again at the Highland Gathering in Aberdeen. UKA events are always fun, busy and very lively and this weekend looks like being no exception. Ami and I are really enjoying catching up with old friends, almost all of whom are really good customers.
Traditionally IDS sponsors the first night drinks reception and here are some of the UKA Directors, examiners and teachers getting the weekend off to a good start with Ami and myself and,of course, a room decorated with IDS outfits!
Yesterday the RAD launched their new grades 1-3 here in Sydney. Ian and I were delighted to be able to join the very enthusiastic audience of teachers, examiners and organisers from across Australasia to witness the unveiling of this wonderful new syllabus and it’s fabulous orchestrated music. The work was beautifully demonstrated by local children and the work explained to us by Lynn Wallis, Artistic Director RAD and Paula Hunt who is the Chair of the International Panel of examiners at the RAD. Luke Rittner, CEO of the RAD had introduced the day and the keynote speaker who was David McAllister AM. David spoke beautifully about how important dance teachers are to their students and finished his talk with a demonstration of the dance he had performed as a small boy entering his first RAD ballet exam! Finally, Darcey Bussell, who, like David is a Vice President of the RAD, coached some senior students in a Sleeping Beauty solo. Darcey was delightful and gave us all a rare insight into the tiny nuances that can make a good performance into a great one.
Today saw us heading off to North Strathfield to The McDonald College where Jacqui Dumont stages a fantastic dance summer school every year. Several hundred children were dancing in seven great studios and obviously all having a wonderful time. I was able to catch up with my former PA, Jane Devine, who was a dancer with the Royal Ballet Company and former Genee medal winner and who now teaches on the faculty at this brilliant summer school. Here are Jane and I catching up outside The McDonald College.
Anne and Ian were delighted to be able to attend last nights special event to celebrate the re-building of the RAD Sydney Headquarters. The building was officially opened by Darcey Bussell CBE and David McAllister AM and the whole event was sponsored by IDS so all those attending had a special IDS “goody bag”!
The fabulous new offices have transformed the Sydney HQ into a modern space which is so much more suitable for such an influential organisation as the RAD.
Here is a picture of Darcey and David with Bronwen who is the Australian regional administrator for the RAD as well as a photo of Ian with Luke Rittner (RAD CEO) and some of the RAD Sydney staff who helped to distribute our goody bags.
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and wish you a happy and prosperous 2012.
I am sure the new year will present many challenges to us all but those challenges will make our businesses fitter and better if we use our imagination and innovate where we can.
Ian and I are off on a much needed break….but with a little business too. Watch this space to see what we get up to next!
Here we are celebrating the New Year before heading to Heathrow.
I am delighted to tell you on December 7th I won the Hera Everywoman Award for inspirational businesswoman. I am absolutely thrilled winning an award like this is only made possible by the dedication of my wonderful team, but do want to thank everyone who has supported and encouraged me.
There was a glittering awards ceremony at the Dorchester in London in a room full of amazingly enterprising and successful women. I was delighted to be able to share the day with Ian as well as Chris her PA and our very supportive Nat West bank manager Wendy Manfield.
Listen to my talking about the award @ http://www.everywoman.com/resources/video/anne-walker-mbe-2011-natwest-everywoman-awards
Today saw Ian and myself back in London for another exciting Award event. At a very smart gathering in the Crush Bar of the Royal Opera House, Dame Monica Mason was honoured by the RAD with their prestigious QE2 Award.
Dame Antoinette Sibley and Clement Crisp spoke of their memories of Dame Monica as a dancer and then the recipient herself talked beautifully about her many years in the ballet world.
A very worthy recipient everyone at IDS send our warmest congratulations.
It has been an incredibly busy few months with lots of exciting events taking place. In fact it’s been an amazing 12 months for me and IDS!
The year started with a trip to Buckingham Palace to collect my MBE for services to business and then today I have won the Hera Everywoman Award for inspirational businesswomen. There was a glittering awards ceremony at the Dorchester in London in a room full of amazingly enterprising and successful women.
I was delighted to be able to share the day with Ian as well as Chris my PA and our very supportive Nat West bank manager Wendy Manfield.
Winning an award like this is a great boost to everyone at IDS and is only made possible by the dedication of my wonderful team.
As Christmas is only 59 days away we have been busy buying some new gifts and adding them to the web exclusive section of our website. We have extended the popular dancing ballerina range and Hello Kitty is making an appearance on some great stationery and a fab keyring. Go to www.ids.co.ukto see the new ranges now.
UG527C Hello Kitty Keyring
The Dance Teachers Club of Boston were honoured last night at the Teacher Appreciation Party. Here they are receiving their award from UDMA Board member Dan from Dancers Inc. Congratulations DTCB!
