Establishment of the George C. Felton Memorial Dance Test Fee Fund
When I think about why a fund to offset the cost of dance test fees for the Preliminary through Bronze Patterned Dances was established, one reason rises to the top. For those who knew the late George C. Felton, it was his love of ice dancing that he would wish to share with others that drove the Fund’s creation.
At the age of 76, it became apparent that the potential for a crippling fall was just not worth the joy he experienced when skating in a dance session. So he retired.
With his passing in 2008 at the age of 88, I decided that it was now time to make it possible for others to have the opportunity to experience the joy of ice dancing by establishing the Fund. I wanted to give others the opportunity to learn and perfect skating skills, foundational in patterned dances, with the hope of sharing the joy we experienced. Moreover, both George and I enjoyed working toward passing dance tests that, at the time, had NO lower standard either for an Adult +21 or an Adult 50+ candidate. Though he never passed his last Pre-Gold, he did pass on his love for ice dance to all who knew him.
Things have changed over the years and ice dancers both young and “not so young” now have many more options in the testing arena. This fund is established to help skaters begin their climb up the testing ladder, removing the “cost of testing” barrier that can be experienced by many skaters. It is sincerely hoped that budding dancers will begin to test dance and enjoy that climb to the Gold Dance Test medal.
~ Dr. Jerilyn Felton
For more information and how you can use the Dance Test Fund, please visit: The George C Felton Memorial Dance Test Fund page.
