General Committee

	Jamie Le Tissier Chairman Executive Committee Member Elected: September 2004	I am the Chairman of the Guernsey Amateur Dancesport Association, aiming to promote all forms of dance within the Islands. I started dancing when I was 17 with Street and Break dancing, and then moved onto Disco. In 1991 I started Latin and Ballroom dancing, but stopped for several years until my wife Vanessa and I got together. We now dance Senior and Prechampionship Ballroom and Latin competitions. In February 2007, I was very proud to be named Guiton Ambassador for Guernsey with my wife in recognition of the work we do to promote dancing in the Bailiwick.
	Peter Symes Treasurer Acting Vice-Chairman from July 2007 Executive Committee Member Elected: January 2006	I am the Managing Director of Yorkshire Guernsey Limited, currently the main sponsor of the International Dancesport Festival. I am married to Jane with four daughters and became involved in dancing following the inaugural Dancesport Festival in 2005. In 2006 I participated in the first Dancefloor Challenge, partnering Vanessa Le Tissier. I am now totally hooked. I have always tried to put something back into the sports I participate in and consequently, while talking to Jamie, offered my services to the Committee. Because of my work in finance, I was asked to take on the role of Treasurer, which I duly accepted.

Vanessa James-Le Tissier Member Acting Treasurer From July 2007 Executive Committee Member Elected: September 2004

My interest in dancing started when I was very young. When I met Jamie, we decided to dance together and are now proud to represent Guernsey on the UK and International Dance Circuit. I am the Chairman’s wife and my love, passion and enthusiasm for Dancesport are very important to me. I share Jamie’s ambition to make Guernsey one of the top venues in the world on the Dance Circuit and recognise that this can only be achieved through hard work and dedication to GADA. In February 2007, I was very proud to be named Guiton Ambassador for Guernsey with my husband in recognition of the work we do to promote dancing in the Bailiwick.

	Deníse Quevâtre Secretary Executive Committee Member Elected: September 2004	My interest in dancing stemmed from seeing Jamie and Vanessa dance in competition around the UK Circuit. Jamie and Vanessa are very good and special friends and it is a pleasure to be able to work with them and other colleagues on the Management Committee. Jamie first approached me to become Secretary to GADA to do “a little work to help support GADA”. That work is now very involved and I am proud to be associated with the events which GADA organises and particularly proud to be on the organising Committee for the Dancesport Festival. Unfortunately I don’t dance at present as I do not have much spare time to fit in lessons but would like to dance in the future, when time permits.
	Lesley Le Tissier Member Executive Committee Member Elected: January 2006	I am Jamie’s mother and first became interested in dancing myself through Jamie and Vanessa who dance regularly on the UK and International Dance Circuit, representing the Island. I enjoy dancing myself and helping in the organisation of events held under the GADA banner.
	Pierre Quevâtre Membership Secretary Elected: September 2004	Jamie first approached me to take on the role of Membership Secretary and take some photos of GADA events following my interest in following him and Vanessa around the Dance Circuit and taking dance photos of them. The photography for GADA has realised my interest and passion for photography and by obtaining better cameras, I am improving my photography skills and enjoying doing more of this. I enjoy being involved in GADA and the association with the professional and amateur dancers who are involved in the events GADA organises.
	Kieran Clinton-Tarestad Member Elected: January 2006	I was introduced to dancing by my fiancée (Zoe, also a Committee Member of GADA), but my scepticism disappeared as I soon began to enjoy dancing and socialising with the other dancers. As my degree at university involved IT, I became involved in designing the GADA website and am responsible for the design and maintenance of this site. After about a year of dancing at GADA I was invited to join the GADA Committee and have enjoyed the challenges that being part of such an active Committee brings.
	Zoe Gill Member Elected: January 2006	I started dancing when I was 11 years old back in England and danced for many years at a local dance school. During my time at this dance school I had some wonderful opportunities including performing in two variety shows at the London Palladium. I moved to Guernsey after university to take a job in Accountancy. After a few months in Guernsey I was introduced to Jamie Le Tissier and his wife Vanessa and I started Ballroom and Latin dancing. After about a year of attending the GADA practice sessions and lessons, I was invited to become part of the GADA Committee. I have been on the committee since January 2006 and thoroughly enjoy the different challenges that being an active Committee Member in such a growing and popular sport brings.
	Natasha Axworthy Member Elected: January 2006	I became involved with the current dance scene after starting a half year of Salsa about 3½ years ago which was because a friend invited me along to one of Carola’s parties.  As you know, I now also attend Ballroom and Latin classes and Sharon's modern jive lessons.  Dancing is definitely a hobby I enjoy.  I first became involved with GADA through helping at the Dancesport Festival in 2005 and from there, Sharon recommended that I should think about getting involved with GADA.  I actually started my Ballroom and Latin when I was five with Pat and Wilf Cochrane working my way through my medal tests but I gave up at the age of 16 and restarted dancing when I joined the Salsa.  So I went through a 5-6 year break.
	Toby Grice Member Elected: January 2006	I started social dancing in 2005 I was when looking to add healthy alternatives to the time I was already spending in pubs and clubs. I had heard about Salsa with Heidi Almonte and tried one of her Tuesday Beginner classes. Shortly after I was dancing Latin, Ballroom, Salsa and Modern Jive several nights a week. These dance sessions gave me a great deal of pleasure and I find that dancing is one of the most friendly and social scenes I have yet come across. A fun way to meet many people. With the enjoyment I have had taking part I wanted in return to put something back to dancing, which is why I accepted the invitation to join the GADA General Committee. Joining was an opportunity to work in a team to help further boost a growing sport.
	Paul Meehan Member Elected: January 2007	I came to Guernsey as a Psychiatric Nurse seven years ago and became involved with dancing, Salsa dancing in particular, nearly three years ago. Since then, I have gradually widened my horizons with dancing and am now 'trying my hand' with Latin and Ballroom and hope to begin competitions later this year for the first time. Having become increasingly involved with dancing I have seen what work and effort goes into the dancing events organised by GADA and wanted to become involved in helping out and having some involvement in these events myself.
	Christine Verrykt Member Elected: January 2007	Dancing has been a passion I always felt I had and about two years ago I thought I would pop into St Martin’s Parish Hall where I saw everybody dancing; I enjoyed it so much that I decided to stay. I even encouraged my husband to dance. After the dance trip to Cyprus where we had such a great time with the dancers we were with, I thought it would be nice to be more involved in the activities with the Committee and I feel I would like to offer my help to the organisation of events for GADA.
	Kelly Baudains Member Co-opted as Member by Executive Committee: May 2007	I started dancing at a very young age, attending ballet lessons and then modern and tap. At the age of 18 I went to University where I studied for a BA (Hons) in dance with qualified teachers status. After returning to the Island I continued with ballet and contemporary dance classes but felt I wanted to widen my dance experience so decided to take up Ballroom and Latin dancing. After about 18 months of lessons and practise sessions with GADA I was invited onto the Committee in May 2007. I now look forward to being involved in the further development of GADA and helping to organise events.
	Karen De Carteret Minute Secretary Appointed: April 2006	I am a single mother of three and I do anything for my friends and family, as most of my friends will tell you. I love dancing and meeting new people and I became involved with GADA through Jamie and Vanessa. During last year, I was asked to help by becoming Minute Secretary to GADA Management Committee meetings, as Denise has an awful lot to do as Secretary. I'm pleased to be able to help and really enjoy taking my part in helping to organise GADA events.