Who's Who
The Directors
Mr David Corfield - The President
I’ve been involved with EADA on and off for over thirty years. I have been President for the past five years. As President I have to stay on top of all the politics and new legislation affecting the danceworld. I sit on numerous committees (including IDSF and BDC) and ensure that your interests as English Amateur dancers are represented at all levels. Last year I attended about 60 dance-related meetings! My background in the military and business certainly helps. Recently we have helped establish Personal Accident Cover for our members and we are currently working to improve our communications.
I have been dancing for 54 years and Mary and I have competed at the Blackpool Dance Festival forty times. When I do have some spare time I enjoy politics, anything mechanical, arborology and working on our 10acre estate.
Mr Peter Jones - Finance Director
I was on the Council from 1980-1983 and then again from 1991 and am basically in charge of the money! I produce budgets for the year and financial forecasts and I’m in charge of all our dealings with the bank, auditors and tax man. I work for a bank so have some experience with number crunching. I’m the one in charge of the chequebook so couples should contact me if they want to pay any money from demos into their trust fund or if they would like some money out of their trust fund.
I have been competing for 30 years and was a British National Finalist in Senior Ballroom and was West of England Amateur Ballroom & Latin Champion. I also took part in celebrations for the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday, the closing ceremony of the commonwealth games in 2002 and have had several TV & Film appearances. Previously on the council I have been membership secretary and Avon club rep. I am still involved with the Avon club (and have been secretary for 33 years) and organise the Avon Amateurs dance competitions and other events.
Mr Keith Hateley - Vice-President
I joined the Council in 2006 and it seems that I can’t say no to anything! I’ve been in charge of the anti-doping policy and have recently taken on the Amateur Coaching Scheme and EADA Training. I am in charge of booking venues and lecturers and producing the timetable of training days for the year. If any competitors wish to join the Amateur coaching scheme they should contact me and I can tell you how to register. I also act as a moderator for the Forum. As acting Vice President I am also in charge of any disciplinary matters which may arise, so it's best to be nice to me.
I also try and do some dancing. I’ve been competing for 9 years and currently do Senior Ballroom & Latin. We are based in the Midlands. The other hobby is dogs – we travel all over the world for dog shows and contests.
Mrs Pat Fortin - Membership Secretary
It’s a challenging role but I enjoy it. I am the one who processes all the membership forms and sends out all the membership cards, although Inna helps me with student and formation members. I manage all queries relating to registration and help maintain the membership database. I interface with BDC, DPA and promoters and also act as a freestyle representative. I help with the IDSF licences and liase with other Amateur organisations. I joined the Council in 2006 and have put my business administration experience to good use in this role. I compete in Senior III Ballroom and Latin with Mike and have been competing for about 8 years (although if I’m not on the floor at the start of the year it’s cos I’m snowed under with membership applications!). We’ve been over 50s maltese Championships and Avon Counties Champions.
Dr Rachelle Stretch – Press & Publicity Officer and Universities Liaison Officer
My role is to promote EADA and raise the profile of Amateur dancing in this country. I produce E-Motion the quarterly e-newsletter, InMotion magazine and the monthly dancenews column as well as manage our Facebook group. I also help with content for the website and I moderate the Forum. I liase with outside organisations if they require Amateur demonstrations and I’m able to help any members who would like to get more publicity for any dance related activity they might be doing. I also promote EADA and the open circuit to university students and encourage promoters to host student-friendly events. I am keen to improve our communications with our members and would be happy to hear any suggestions.
In my spare time I do try and do some dancing. I do ballroom and Latin and have competed at a pre-champ/Amateur level. I also was part of the XS Latin Formation Team and represented England at the Formation World Championships. I have also been heavily involved with the Inter Varsity Dance Association (the student dance circuit) and have organised national student dance competitions. I have also written articles for Dance Today. I started ballroom and latin at school aged 16, did my medals and then started competing on the university circuit. I first joined EADA in 2003 and was elected onto the Council in 2007.
The Executive Council
The Executive Council is made up of the Directors and the following Council members:
Mr Mike Fortin - Charts Co-ordinator
I joined the Council at the start of 2007 and last year took over the administration of the charts for all the age groups. I coordinate with the membership secretary to ensure all those taking part in NREs are EADA members. Once we have received the confirmed results from promoters my job is to allocate the points and make sure our online charts are kept up to date. I then liaise with the EADA Office and send out invitations to couples for the World & European Championships. I currently compete in Senior III Ballroom and Latin with Pat.
Mr Colin Hanson-New - Travel & demos rep & MAD rep
I joined the council in 2008 as representative for the MAD club. This year I have taken on the role of travel rep and demos coordinator. As travel rep I advise on the travel options for couples selected to represent England in World & European Championships. My job involves advising on travel for a UK wide organisation so the Council thought I was the best budget-flight bargain hunter! Couples are also advised to contact me if they compete overseas so I can advise if they are entering a non-IDSF event. Couples performing demonstrations also need to register their demos with me to comply with BDC rules. I also help to moderate the Forum.
I’ve been a member of EADA for about 6 years and compete in Senior II Ballroom.
Dr Ramen Sen - Webmaster
I am EADA’s web expert. I joined the council in 2008 and my role is to revamp EADA’s IT systems, and design and build a new website with increased functionality. I am also the administrator of the Forum. I am the IT director of my own business so I have a bit of experience in the area!
I have been dancing for about 12 years and currently compete in Senior I Ballroom & Latin (and Senior 10 dance!) with Fides. I’m one of the few northeners on the council with probably one of the longest trips to council meetings…
Mr Albert Heaney - Child Protection & Parent Rep
I joined EADA this year to help advise on child protection issues and to safeguard young EADA members. Currently I’m looking at the impact of the ISA legislation on the dancing world. I also represent any issues from parents of competitors and respond to any queries. My job as Director of Social Services and Chair of a Local Safeguarding Children Board in Wales, gives me a strong background for fulfilling my role.
My son is the dancer rather than myself, but because of him dancing has become a full time hobby.
The Council
Mr Jack Gibson - Anti Doping & Avon rep
One of the new recruits to the Council joining in 2009, my role as club rep is to represent the interests of Avon Amateurs on the Council and to ensure the club is aware of all the issues affecting amateur dancers. I have taken on the role of anti-doping officer from Keith and will be helping with the administration involved in testing. I’m more of a social dancer than competitor but I have won some social comps.
Ms Inna Vasilyeva - Assistant to membership Secretary
I compete in Senior I Ballroom & Latin although am without a partner at the moment. I have been a member of EADA for 8 years and joined the Council in 2006 to help with processing student memberships and registration of formation teams. I am originally from Russia and I am a keen dress-maker and can make Ballroom and Latin dresses to order.
GADA rep tbc
Jamie le Tissier turned Professional in December 2009 and a new GADA rep will be appointed shortly.
Ms Fides Matzdorf - Senior Rep
I joined the council in 2008 as Norwest Role but from 2010 have been a Senior rep. My job involves working with facilities managers, hence am familiar with events management, facilities service provision – and the cost of good dance space! I’ve been dancing for about 15 years, with 10 years competing and I currently compete in Senior Ballroom and Latin with Ramen. I used to do lots of Middle Eastern belly dancing but I don’t have time now.
Mr Graham Candler - Senior rep
I joined the council in 2009. For the last 18 months I have danced Senior I and II Ballroom with my wife Christine . I work as a contract manager in an NHS hospital overseeing all aspects of catering which is both time consuming and demanding. As representative for the Senior Latin and Ballroom, I am happy to discuss any relevant issues with the membership.
Mr Bob Sampson - Senior rep
I joined the Council in 2009. I started dancing in 1965 in a formation team in west London,had a break for about 15 years, then started again with my first wife.Started dancing with Jenny some 7 years ago and have had a lot of success making the Closed British O50s final twice and we were top of the O50s chart for over a year.We have been off the comp floor for a year due to an injury but we are now back competing in senior 3. On leaving school I served an apprenticeship and qualified as a Gas Service Engineer I stayed in this job for over 20 years but I am now a HGV truck driver. When I'm not dancing I enjoy going to the theatre and gardening.
Mr Martin Bird – Sequence rep
I joined at the end of 2008 and I represent the interests of sequence dancers on the Council. I answer any queries that EADA sequence members have and I’m trying to start up some EADA training days and charts for sequence. I have been dancing around twenty years and I currently compete in Sequence and Amateur Ballroom. I’m a former winner of the British Amateur Sequence Championship and the Inter Varsity Ballroom competition. When time permits I also enjoy playing pool, chess and running.
Mr Luke Shepherd – Sequence rep
I joined the Council in 2009 as Sequence rep alongside Martin. My role is to help Martin attend to the needs of EADA's sequence competitors and I have helped with the charts and collating information about competitions forthe website. I have been dancing since I was around 9 years old and I started off doing medals and started competing in open competitions when I was 12 years old. MI am the former Commonwealth Junior Modern Sequence Champion and the Runner-up in the British Classical Sequence Junior Championships. I am currently competing as an Amateur in Classical and Modern Sequence.
