Dear Teachers and Dancers,
It has now been two months since I was elected as NZBDC Chairperson. After my recent introduction email, I feel you are due an update on the goals I have set myself and my team of trustees. Our main aim needs to be unifying the dancers, teachers and all interested parties of our beloved sport/art form.
In the last two months I have been talking to a fair amount of people all over the country to find out where we are with our thoughts on dancing in NZ. These were just informal talks to see what I can do to help dancing in Aotearoa. If you want to have a talk with me and I have not contacted you yet feel free to reach out. My email is pveek60@gmail.com.
I have discovered that most of the studios and teachers in NZ work well together. Where there is strife, we will offer assistance to resolve this. The best way I know is to open a dialogue between the different parties. History is a great teacher! By looking at the history of Aotearoa, how its people embrace the past and work towards a united future together, I can see a bright light on the horizon for dancing too.
As a foreigner waltzing into your country, I bring a good deal of knowledge about the social dance scene as Rachell and I ran a dance studio for 24 years. In that period, we had to continually educate ourselves in different forms of dance and skillsets to keep the dance studio of interest to the public. My expertise as a dancer/competitor and as a personal trainer & sports nutritionist gives me the tools to help in many different ways. I come with no additional baggage, do not have personal interests in the dance business.
Dance provided me with such entirety so my aim is to give back to dancing in any way I can. My question to you will be “how can I help”?.
The NZBDC is the governing body of New Zealand dancing. It is a charitable trust that should look after dancers, teachers and dance businesses in New Zealand.
We have great organisers in this country and once we are united again, we can grow the competition scene. It starts with supporting each other’s events.
The tasks that the NZBDC will undertake for their members, and NZ dancing in general, are:
1. National promotion of dancing (social and competitive)
2. Supporting dance studios with workshops, advertising material, assistance in how to run a successful dance business.
3. Promoting dancing within, or assisting by finding teachers for, intermediate schools.
4. Pursuing funding for events like championships, study days for professionals and amateurs.
5. Being a player on the international dance scene.
There is lots to do before we can see the benefits of a unification. One thing is for sure in my mind, a change of approach to resolve our problems within the dance world in NZ would be a positive step towards a bright future.
Dancing is the stuff that makes you happy, so let’s start there.
Peter van der Veek
Chairman
NZBDC
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