London College of Dance – Timeline

1937

  • Idea first mooted between Miss Grace Cone and Miss Anita Heyworth during the Dancer’s Circle Dinner.

1944

  • College opened as The London College of Educational Dance Training at Rawdon Hall, Holyport, Maidenhead

1945

  • Miss Anita Heyworth became Vice-Principal. 17 students

1946

  • Moved to The Lodge, Holyport

1947

  • 1st Diploma ceremony for 4 students who all had teaching posts

1948

  • 5 Diplomas with students going on to teach at Arts Educational Schools (London and Tring); Nonington College; Manning School, Nottingham; Watson-Morris School, Cape Town, South Africa: Pearson School, Edinburgh.
  • 4 students danced with Markova and Dolin at Empress Hall, London

1949

  • 11 students received Diplomas
  • Miss Phrosso Pfister appointed member of staff
  • Old Students’ Association formed (first meeting 15th October)

1952

  • Miss Patricia Hutchinson appointed Deputy Vice-Principal

1953

  • Mrs Olive Ripman became Joint Principal with Miss Grace Cone

1955

  • Move to 8, Addison Road, London W.14
  • Day students for the first time.

1956

  • London College awarded the Haxwell Cup for outstanding work in ISTD National

1960

  • 17 Diplomas awarded
  • 3 attended 1 year course at Chelsea Physical Training College to teach in State sector

1961

  • 34 students entered College

1965

  • College moved to Hamilton Place

1966

  • Miss Grace Cone and Mrs Olive Ripman retired as Principals
  • Miss Anita Heyworth was appointed Principal

1967

  • Establishment of new course linked with Dartford College
  • Move to Clubland, Camberwell Road, London
  • Jacqueline Ferguson and Jill Henderson (former students) joined the full-time staff

1968

  • London College became part of the ISTD and moved to 101, Marylebone Lane
  • OSA gave a farewell party to:-

Miss Lucy Cross, cook for 22 years
Miss Cherry Morrell, full-time music lecturer and pianist for 23 years
Miss Lloyd-Owen, taught Anatomy and Physiology for 24 years
Also Mrs Katherine Lambert, Drama teacher; Miss Tulson, Theory of Movement lecturer, Mrs Martin, (Miss Heyworth’s secretary) and Mrs Mary Johnson (nee Norris LCED 45-48) part-time teacher’

1970

  • Death of Miss Madge Atkinson, Advisory Board member for 24 years
  • Miss Phrosso Pfister appointed Vice-Principal

1973

  • Miss Heyworth retired and Miss Phrosso Pfister appointed Principal

1975

  • First Bachelor in Education degrees

1976

  • A record number of students – 89

1977

  • Miss Grace Cone awarded MBE in Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honours List

1980

  • Move to 10, Linden Road, Bedford and link with Bedford College of Higher Education.

1985

  • Retirement of Miss Phrosso Pfister and resignation of Miss Jacqueline Ferguson
  • Appointment of Mrs Patricia Whittock as Principal

1986

  • 128 full-time students, including 3 male students

1989

  • 3 London College students gained 1st class Honours in the BEd Dance Specialist Route
  • London College’s first BA (Hons) degree in Dance validated by the University of Buckingham

1990

  • ISTD recognized the London College of Dance Diploma as a dance teaching qualification which was also a direct route to Licentiate.

1992

  • 26 students graduated from the Diploma course
  • 10 students from BA (Hons) in Dance

1994

  • College offered one course – BA Hons degree in Dance, merging with Middlesex University
  • 50th Anniversary of the founding of London College
  • Commemorative plaque given by the Old Students’ Association, now at ISTD Headquarters

1996

  • The Old Students’ Association became London College Network.

2003

  • The London College of Dance Closed