06/11/2015
CSTD IN INDIA..
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”
Welcome to CSTD INDIA. 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.
Mrs. Sharon Kennedy had replaced Mrs. Betty Tilley in mentoring CSTD India since 2009. Mrs. Sharon Kennedy has been a strong motivator for all her students in India. She is known as a mentor with a humble and pleasing personality, a strong eye for perfection and an enduring commitment to pass on the legacy of CSTD and dance which she loves and treasures. Thanks to her constant efforts, the first set of students from AMD completed their teaching diplomas in Modern Jazz.
Today CSTD is proud to associate with its students in India who have grown over the years into establishing their own professional dance studios in different cities of India. CSTD International is committed to its associated studios in India and are proud to declare the Year 2015 to be the Year for CSTD India. At this juncture, CSTD International would like to make a special mention about Mrs. Kokila who has been a part of CSTD’s journey in India. Also, we extend our wishes to all our associated studios and we look forward to spreading greater love and happiness through dancing in India, in the years to come