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HOW CSTD started in Singapore

director-cstd

BETTY TILLEY, 1934-2009
First CSTD Asia-Pacific Director

CSTD Singapore began with an arranged meeting in 1996 between Examiner Betty Tilley and Barbara Hannan, a Singapore-based Scottish dance and ballet enthusiast. Barbara who hails from the UK heard that CSTD offered Highland dance exams and wasted no time in organising workshops for this under the People’s Association, together with Ballet and Tap which was a big part of the CSTD.

She became the Organiser for CSTD Singapore that year, and later Malaysia and India. Jazz Ballet soon followed and introductory courses were held at Crestar School of Dance (Cre-Ed), which was the first school to hold CSTD examinations in 1997 (below).

HOW CSTD STARTED IN INDIA

BETTY TILLEY, 1934-2009 First CSTD Asia-Pacific Director

“THE ESSENCE OF ALL ART IS TO HAVE PLEASURE IN GIVING PLEASURE”

The pleasure of bringing international and professional dance courses like Modern Jazz, Classical Ballet, Tap and Contemporary to the land of India with its rich cultural heritage in dance and music, has been ours since 1997. Thanks to Mrs. Betty Tilley, our first CSTD Asia-Pacific Director who was instrumental in establishing CSTD in India. The journey for CSTD started in India when Mrs. Kokila Hariram, a vibrant dancer and student at NAFA Singapore met Mrs. Betty in 1997. This meeting led to the establishment of Academy of Modern Danse (AMD) in Chennai, India by Kokila in the year 1998.

The school was started with just 4 students for Jazz and Tap. Ballet was introduced in India in 2000. The first set of 90 students appeared for examinations in 1998. It has been a beautiful and memorable journey from 1998 to 2008 both for CSTD and its students in India with Mrs. Betty visiting India every year to conduct examinations and workshops thereby nurturing and improving the dancing skills of her students in India. It was a perfect tribute for Mrs. Betty when her students from AMD, India participated in the international Asia Pacific Dance Competition in the year 2010 and won the Betty Tilley overall performance cup.

C.S.T.D ASSOCIATED STUDIOS

IN India