PJ Richardson, administrative master

Find out about the man who gave the first administrative “structure” to British ballroom dancing

Brigitt Mayer, Canada, author of Ballroom Icons©
All rights reserved. No part of this book/piece may be reproduced in any form, by print, microfilm or any other means without written permission from the author

Find out more about Victor Silvester in Ballroom Icons

Philip Richardson, popularly known as P.J., was responsible for giving British ballroom dancing its administrative foundation, without which it would not have gained and sustained its pole position for so many decades. Lyndon Wainwright wrote in his Story of British Popular Dance about P.J.: “Fifty-three years of intelligent and well directed effort and support on behalf of ballroom dancing is a debt never to be forgotten.”

Philip Richardson

…and in 1924 the ballroom dance branch of the Imperial Society was formed. The first committee of that branch to deal with putting together a syllabus for examination consisted of: Josephine Bradley, Lisle Humphries, Victor Silvester, Muriel Simmons and Eve Tynegate-Smith. All teachers who wanted to be admitted to the branch had to pass an examination on:

  1. a rudimentary knowledge of ballroom dance music
  2. carriage related to head, arms and body
  3. knowledge of basic steps in foxtrot, waltz, one-step and tango

P.J. was chairman of the British Dance Council from 1930 to 1958 and its president from 1959 to 1963. He was chairman of the International Council of Ballroom Dancing, today’s World Dance Council, from its start in 1950, until his death in 1963.

Brigitt Mayer, Canada, author of Ballroom Icons©
All rights reserved. No part of this book/piece may be reproduced in any form, by print, microfilm or any other means without written permission from the author

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