Introducing the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD)
The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) is one of the world's leading
dance examinations boards. Formed in 1904, today it is a registered educational
charity which covers the full spectrum of dance throughout the world.
This spectrum includes the following genres;
- Ballet including; Cecchetti and Imperial methods
- Classical Greek Dance
- Club Dance including; Argentine Tango, Salsa, Lindy Hop, Milonga,
Mambo and West Coast Swing
- Country/Western
- Disco/Freestyle
- Latin American including; Rumba, Samba, Paso Doble, Jive, Cha Cha
Cha
- Modern Ballroom including; Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Quickstep, Rhythm
- Modern Theatre including; Jazz
- National Dance
- Rock 'n' Roll
- Sequence including; Classical Sequence, Modern Sequence and Latin
Sequence
- South Asian Dance including; Kathak, Bharatanatyam
- Tap Dance
The ISTD's chief objective is "to educate the public in the art of dancing in all
its forms". To achieve this, the ISTD works in four main ways:
- to promote knowledge of dance
- to maintain and improve teaching standards
- to qualify, by examination, teachers of dancing in the ISTD's specialist techniques
taught by our members in schools of dancing throughout the world
- to provide, through its syllabi, techniques upon which to train dancers for the
profession.
The ISTD has two main strands; the offering of examinations in the form of Grades,
Medal Tests and Vocational Grades in particular, and that of qualifying teachers
to offer these examinations. A brief overview of both the examinations and teaching qualifications can be accessed from the links above.
Further details are available in the genre specific syllabi. Further information
regarding the history of the ISTD, membership and its benefits, and our studios
at ISTD2 can be found from the links above.