Mr. Gifford Gavieres had the foresight to travel to Australia in 1998 in search of direction and education in dance. Gifford met and trained with Mr. Stanley Alexander and shortly after became an Australian Amateur Grade Latin Champion. Discussions followed leading to the idea of forming the PPDSA to deliver dance education to the masses in the Philippines.

The PPDSA was the first organization to “professionalize” ballroom dancing in the Philippines by conducting the first Dance Sport Teacher Training Programs commenced in Feb 2000 culminating in Examination and Certification by the FATD & AATD in September 2000 at Harmony Dance Palace Greenhills Manila. Incredibly, there was much opposition by Philippines dance administrators in an endeavor to maintain an existing autocratic monopoly situation.

PPDSA was the first local organization to professionalize        ballroom dancing by conducting Dance Teacher Training &     Certification through examination to international minimum standards in year 2000 with FATD & AATD. 

Our dancers were the 1st to “officially”  represent Philippines at WDDSC World & Regional Championships, first to enter at Blackpool & 1st to win Professional titles abroad.   Our dancers have been producing “unbelievable” results since  inception   including the first professional couple & first  champions of the Philippines, Alberto & Deborah. They were first “official reps” at 2000 Asian Pacific Championships after being Asia Closed Champions earlier at FATD - AATD Crown International in  Melbourne & followed as GDC World Open Rising Star       Champions. Albert & Deborah were “official reps” at WDDSC World Pro Latin in Blackpool Nov 2001.   In    October 2002,  Alberto & Deborah   were ACODO AustralAsian Professional Champions and then later won a pre-selection event to “officially” represent Australia at the 2003 World  Championships, placed top 24, 2003 World Imperial Professional Latin Championship & Top 16 in WDDSC World South American Show Dance       Championship. Another couple, Gifford & Annalibeth were the first to “officially” represent Philippines in a WDDSC World Ten Dance Championship placing 34th. Our latest sensations Reggie Perico & Rhea Muana, 2004 Golden Diamond Cup World Open Professional  5 Dance Latin American Champions in Taiwan!

On 4th September 2000 the AATD & PPDSA formally signed an “affiliation” agreement to assist in our PPDSA mission of       delivering quality &  affordable  dance & dance sport education to the masses, ensuring necessary technical back up  during our formative years.

International Dance Organization, IDO, (affiliated to IDSF), is one of the worlds largest dance sport groups. IDO recognized PPDSA through granting national      membership in 2001. The World Dance & Dance Sport Council followed by decreeing in its 2003 AGM, for a new member council for to be formed in the Philippines. PPDSA is one of two foundation members of this new 2005 council named the Philippine Dance & Dance Sport Federation, PD&DSF. 

Come join with the progressive affordable & visionary team at PPDSA & see why we are “supreme” with dance education in the Philippines! 

PPDSA first Professional Competitors  Alberto Dimarucut & Deborah Civardi

At the 1999 Australian Professional Dance Sport Championships with their coach Stanley Alexander &  the great Australian Dance Master, Alf Davies OAM whom with wife Julie Reaby were the only foreigners to ever  win the “Wimbledon of Ballroom Dancing” The British Professional Ballroom Championship, and four times  “Star” champion, most prestigious title in the World of Ballroom Dancing at the time.

PPDSA Patron  Mrs. Imelda Marcos

with PPDSA Stars, Alberto & Deborah

PPDSA—AATD AFFILIATION

PPDSA signed an affiliation agreement with AATD on        September 4th 2000. Part of the terms of affiliation is for AATD to provide technical assistance & affordable dance teacher certifications through examination for the Philippines. This affiliation will give PPDSA the required expertise to    conduct dance teacher training programs & allow quality yet affordable dance education for the masses.

AATD Chairman Don Mc Robert J.P.

FISTD, FFATD, FAATD & Director World Dance Teachers Organization

PPDSA CEO Stanley Alexander assigned by AATD to lead the PPDSA to achieve its short term goals in the next few years and  appointed as AATD Examiner in South East Asia on 22nd December 2002

During the late 1960’s & 1970’s Dance Societies operating within Australia and Asian Countries were felt by some to be rather staid and not progressing with the latest dance trends. A group of leading professional dance teachers saw a need to form an Association to address that  situation. Initially the AATD formed (in 1970) to service the fast growing Australian & Asian interest in Jazz Dance and later expanding to cover Street Dances, Street Latino and other Ballroom Couple Dances, Ballet, Modern Jazz & Tap Dance Disciplines, etc. The AATD aims to continually keep ahead with all the latest trends in Dance to assist the Professional Teacher maintain and improve their business while delivering the latest developments and technique within today’s dance to the student.

 

 Jazz Dance was the craze during the 1970’s and the Luigi Technique was recognized worldwide and widely accepted for teaching. AATD Founding Director Mr. Don Mc Robert traveled frequently to London and New York to initially study the Luigi Jazz Dance   Syllabus with its composers, Luigi and Mike St. Ledger. Mike St. Ledger was brought to Australia by the AATD in the 1970’s from the renowned London’s Covenant Garden “Dance Center” to assist in the development of our AATD syllabus and training our Professionals. Many individual Study/Training tours have continued over the years by our professionals in the quest to uplift the already high standards acquired by AATD and its Membership. Regular Seminars for Professionals are arranged by AATD to maintain and uplift standards among our Professional Membership.

 

 The AATD currently has a Syllabus in Jazz Dance (based on Luigi), Hip-Hop, Modern Expressive, Tap Dance, Ballet (based on RAD), Street Latino styles such as Argentine Tango, Bugg, Salsa, Mambo, Merengue, Lambada, Swing, Hustle, as well as Ballroom & Latin Styles. Works are in progress for Guapacha, Bolero, Reggae & a Break Dance Syllabus. Our Syllabus is either in written form &/or with some styles now on VCD. This syllabus is available only for AATD Professional Members.

 

 AATD has a strong membership of Professional Teachers in the South East Asian and Australian Region. Keeping members     informed and updated with new trends in dance while maintaining High Standard Examinations for Professional Certification for Dance Teachers at various levels. AATD also provides a Medal Syllabus to its Teacher Members with quality trophy awards for the Students and the provision of high standard competition to assist in lifting the aims and aspirations of participants.

 

LUIGI

 

He suffered a bad car accident that led him to adapt & develop

his own style of dancing using his body to its fullest capabilities

with a codified jazz technique that is widely recognized across

the World today. His work is a strong basic utilization of the body

with a background of dynamic modern jazz.

 

 Luigi performed in many Movie Musicals and Broadway Productions.

 

 Luigi trained AATD Professionals in New York & London with his Jazz

Syllabus, that later became adopted and updated as The Official Jazz Dance Syllabus of AATD.

 

 

Mike St Ledger

 

AATD brought Mike St. Ledger to Australia for Teacher Training Syllabus during the 1970’s. Some of the AATD      Professional  Teachers have traveled to London to further explore the “Luigi Jazz Dance Syllabus” with Mike St. Ledger at the Dance Center in Covenant Garden London since the early 1970’s

JAZZ DANCE 

 

 The Luigi Jazz Dance Syllabus is the base for AATD Jazz Dance Syllabus    VCD Syllabus also available

 

 

 TAP DANCING

 

 The AATD Tap Dancing is a traditional American syllabus.                  VCD Syllabus also available

 

 

 BALLET

 

The AATD Ballet Syllabus is based on that of RAD London. One of the AATD Directors, Sheree Coulthard, a RAD Solo Seal is the Ballet Technique Officer, whom has revised and updated the AATD Ballet Syllabus.

 

 HIP-HOP/FUNK

 

 The AATD Hip-Hop/Funk Syllabus is locally produced, but has flexibility by only setting some work and combinations of steps and routines being the teachers own choice.                                                       VCD Syllabus also available

 

 STREET LATINO

 

 The Street Latino syllabus includes Salsa, Mambo, Lambada & Merengue as per the Street Latin Technique by Miguel Silva.                                                                A VCD Syllabus is available for Argentine Tango, Swing, Salsa, Mambo, Hustle & Bugg.

 

 

AATD

Austral – Asian Arts Theater Dance International

AATD Background