Festival Dance Teachers Association

Festival Irish Dancing in Northern Ireland

CONSTITUTION AND RULES

(Revised at AGM 2008)

 

 

1            TITLE

 

The organisation shall be called “The Festival Dance Teachers Association”.

 

2            OBJECTS

 

The objects of the Association shall be to promote, foster, encourage and regulate Irish Festival Dancing in every legitimate way by holding competitions and championships under the rules set down by the Association, and by co-operating with kindred organisations throughout the world for the furtherment of Irish Dancing.  In doing this individuality of styles and the originality of our dances should be fostered, while ensuring that the traditional team dances and traditional set dance tunes are nurtured.

 

3            MEMBERSHIP

 

An entrance examination, set by the Association, shall be the only means of entry.

 

4            ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

 

The annual subscription for Teachers shall be fixed at the AGM.  In the event of a member failing to pay the subscription before a set date such Teachers will forfeit all rights and privileges of membership so long as the subscription remains unpaid.

 

5            QUALIFICATION OF MEMBERSHIP

 

Ordinary Members shall be ladies or gentlemen over 18 years, duly approved and accepted for membership.

 

Honorary Members shall be members of at least 10 years standing who no longer wish to remain full members with voting rights.  They shall retain all other privileges of ordinary members.

 

6            ADMINISTRATION

 

The Office Bearers of the Association shall consist of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Honorary Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Minutes Secretary, Assistant Minutes Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Vetting Officer/Personnel Officer, Child Protection Officer, Adjudicating Co-ordinator and Ulster Championship Qualifying Officer.

 

The affairs of the Association shall be conducted by members of the Association.

 

Each member of the Association shall have one vote.  When necessary the Chairperson shall have a casting vote at all meetings.

 

One third of full members form a quorum.

 

The Office Bearers of the Association shall act as an Emergency Committee. All decisions of the Emergency Committee shall be accepted and reported to the next general meeting.  An Emergency is an issue not covered by our Constitution, Association Rules or Syllabus Rules.

 

The Association shall hold at least four Association meetings per year.  One of these to be the AGM.

 

The Honorary Secretary, after consultation with the Chairperson, may call an additional meeting whenever circumstances warrant it.

 

7            ANNUAL OR SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

 

The Annual General Meeting, at which the office bearers shall be elected, shall be held within 12 months of the previous AGM.

 

All changes to Constitution, Association Rules and Syllabus Rules should be discussed in detail at the previous meeting to the AGM and then at the AGM passed or rejected.  All members to be notified of any proposed changes prior to the AGM.

 

All Members of the Association are entitled to vote at an AGM with the exception of Honorary Members and the Chairperson.  When necessary the chairperson shall have a casting vote.  Voting is by show of hands unless a ballot is requested.

 

8            DISPUTES AND APPEALS

 

Disputes in regard to the Constitution and Rules of the Association shall be referred in writing to the Association for the interpretation at the next general meeting.

 

Any appeals by Members, Dancers or involved parties with reference to decisions made within the Association should be notified in writing to the Honorary Secretary for consideration at the next general meeting.

 

9            DANCERS CHANGING SCHOOLS

 

If a dancer changes Schools then a Resettlement period of 6 calendar months comes into force.  This means a dancer cannot compete in Open competitions for 6 months from the date they join their new School, but can be entered for a Festival while in their Resettlement period, providing the competition date is after the 6 months.  A dancer must compete at one FDTA Festival with their new School in order to be eligible to qualify for the Ulster Championships.  A dancer must qualify for the Ulster Championships with their new School.  This Rule includes dancers moving house to another part of the country and also the closure of a Dancing School. 

 

If a Dancing School relocates dancers do not have to do a resettlement period, but must still compete at one FDTA Festival with their new School and must qualify with their new School to be eligible to dance at the Ulster Championships.  There will be no appeals to this Rule.  The Teacher of the new School should contact the previous Teacher as soon as possible.

 

In the case of two schools merging, no resettlement will come into effect for he children that stay within these two schools.  Any child that moves to a different school will have to do a six month resettlement period.

 

The above Rule may be copied and distributed to Parents if a Teacher feels this is necessary.

 

10          ALTERATION TO CONSTITUTION

 

No alteration of, or addition to, the Constitution and Rules of the Association shall be made except at the AGM or Extraordinary meeting called for the purpose, unless passed by at least one third of the Members present at the meeting who are entitled to vote.

FESTIVAL DANCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

(INSTITUTED 1971)

E-mail: srcuan@fdta.co.uk