TAKE YOUR PARTNERS, PLEASE, TO SPONSOR THE INTER VARSITY DANCE ASSOCIATION

The Inter Varsity Dance Association is the organisation promoting dancing amongst UK university students. It is a non-profit, student-led organisation that was founded in 1963. Since then, the IVDA has implemented initiatives to encourage more student involvement in dancing, both on the university and open circuits; to improve access to training; and to develop university clubs. By providing grants and support to both fledgling and established national student dance societies, IVDA has given many thousands of people the opportunity to learn and hone a skill and compete against like-minded dancers from across the country. Every year the IVDA showcases the talent it represents by holding a national student dance competition, the Inter Varsity Dance Competition (IVDC). Its main concern is dancesport, which comprises of competitive Ballroom and Latin American dancing, but it is increasingly providing initiatives to assist those that compete in other dance styles, such as the inaugural British Universities Dance Competition (BUDC), which will be held in 2007. The IVDC provides competitions for those at every level, from beginner to advanced. It regularly attracts professional ballroom dancing couples for demonstrations. The IVDC provides exhibition stand space for sponsors and retailers with links to the dance world, who often provide student discounts on their goods. This gives companies exposure to the 800+ dancers and spectators that attend. There is also the opportunity to advertise in the hall during the competition and in the programme. The webpage boasts 900,000 impressions per month, and offers advertising space and sponsorship listing. The IVDA invites all university dance clubs in the UK to affiliate. Its committee consists of representatives from each member society. The association is headed by an executive committee of elected members, which is responsible for organising the annual competition and implementing various initiatives. Around thirty member societies from across the county affiliate each year. Membership in 2004-2005 was over 8,000 ballroom and latin american dancers, with a further 4,000 students in other dance societies. Further information can be supplied about the opportunities available from sponsoring the IVDA or the IVDC.   E-mail: president@universitydancesport.com. Other contact details in our Arts: Dance and Education: Other sections.   E&OE