The Directors of DanceSport Australia wish to advise that due to ill health long term Convener of the Accreditation Commission Mr. Robert (Bob) Courts of Melbourne has tendered his resignation.

The Directors of DanceSport Australia wish to publicly acknowledge the outstanding contribution Bob Courts has made in firstly the implementation of this system that has seen Australia lead the world in this area and then the on-going development of this very important part of the DanceSport Australia structure. It goes without saying that the entire DanceSport fraternity in Australia wish Bob well and hope that his health problems dissipate quickly and he returns to full health sooner, rather than later.

The resignation of Bob Courts has seen a reshuffle within the Accreditation Commission take place and as he will be staying on as a Senior Advisor there is no need to seek a replacement to the ranks of the commission.  In recent times Bob Courts has been assisted in his role by Andrew Howlett, who has also taken over Bob’s role, as Executive Officer of DanceSport Victoria and he will stay on as an Administrator to assist the new Convener.

The daunting task of taking over this most important role as Convener of the Accreditation Commission has fallen on the shoulders of Sydney based Robert J (Bob) Steele. Bob Steele brings with him a wealth of experience in the administration of DanceSport, having been CEO of the Federal Association of Teachers of Dancing and Organiser of the South Pacific Championship for a period of twenty three years, he was also during this time a inaugural member of the National Executive of DanceSport Australia from it inception until his retirement from that position in 2008. He has also been an active member of the NSW State Branch of DSA since its inception and as well as being part of the Accreditation Commission he is also on the Rules Commission.

With the support of the Directors of DanceSport Australia Bob Steele will be implementing some changes to the Accreditation System and the associated documentation of that system in the very near future. These changes will be notified to all State Branches in the first instance and then once the basic fundamentals of these changes has been accepted and understood by the branches, the membership at large will be duly advised of these changes, by way of newsletters and the dancing press.

Peter S Smith
Press Officer.
Director of DanceSport Australia