Celebrating 500 issues of Dance magazine

A journey through time with our Editor, Tamsin Moore.

As we reach the remarkable milestone of 500 issues, and 116 years, of the ISTD’s magazine, let’s reflect on this incredible journey. The inception of the Society itself dates to 25 July 1904, when approximately 200 dance teachers congregated at the Hotel Cecil in London. In 1907, the Society took its first step in chronicling the world of dance by publishing the Dance Journal, with Charles D’Albert as the Editor. Our publication has had several titles over its 500 issues, with the name Dance first used in 1972.

In 2007, on the magazine’s centenary, we embarked on a redesign project. During this process, I approached our esteemed librarian, the late Mollie Webb, whose remarkable career included decoding work at Bletchley Park. She established the ISTD’s Library in 1990 and received the Imperial Award in 2008 for her dedicated service to the Society. Mollie meticulously calculated that our Oct-Dec 2007 issue marked our 441st publication so it’s thanks to Mollie that we know that this issue of Dance magazine is our 500th!

Mollie’s legacy will soon be extended thanks to a collaboration with Coventry University. We have secured a Midlands4Cities Collaborative Doctoral Award (CDA) for a doctoral student to work with our historic collection to create an accessible archive. As we approach our 120th anniversary in July 2024, we eagerly anticipate making our archives more open to all, both in the present and for the next 120 years.

In this 500th issue of Dance we are thrilled to introduce a revamped ‘focus on faculties’ section.

In the inaugural issue of Dance Journal in 1907, Charles D’Albert wrote to readers, saying, “This ‘Journal’ is yours, therefore make use of it.” This sentiment has remained unwavering across the span of 500 issues. Few publications can boast such longevity and a steadfast commitment to their mission. It is truly inspiring to contemplate all the past, present, and future contributors, who generously share their time and expertise within our vibrant community of members.

Our most recent reader survey, conducted in 2022, reaffirms how much you value teaching advice, examination information, and updates about the dance genres you teach. Therefore, in this 500th issue, we are thrilled to introduce a revamped ‘Focus on Faculties’ section. This section is thoughtfully designed to offer flexible layouts tailored to our faculties, ensuring that you stay informed, supported, and entertained.

The challenges of the past three years have been unparalleled. The dance teachers of the 20th century could not have foreseen the trials faced by our 21st-century members due to the Covid lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. Innovation became a necessity, often occurring within weeks or even days. As a membership organisation, we swiftly adapted, introducing online member meetings, free faculty events, digital summer schools, online CPD, Membership Matters talks, online competitions, and initiatives such as Box Dance and ISTD Challenge, not to mention the transition to online exams. Dance magazine became a vital resource, offering advice and support to our members on navigating the world of digital dance and business. We've all been profoundly affected by these experiences, and none of us will emerge from them unchanged.

At the ISTD, our core mission is to educate the public in the rich art of dancing in all its diverse forms. We are unwavering in our commitment to being a truly inclusive Society, one that fosters diversity within our vibrant dance community. Within the pages of Dance magazine, we are dedicated to actively pursuing this goal by infusing diversity and inclusion into our content selection and the imagery we feature. Our aim is to play a significant role in cultivating an inclusive community of members that places a premium on merit, openness, fairness, and transparency.

I would like to seize this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to Dance magazine over the years. I echo the words of our very first editor from 1907, urging all members to share their suggestions and ideas, no matter how big or small. We eagerly anticipate hearing from you in 2024. Please feel free to reach out to us at dancemag@istd.org

Thank you for being part of this remarkable journey.