About our Founder
​Rickey Geiger
​Member since 1969-2019
In 1967, a representative from the California USDTA contacted Rickey Geiger (then Cunningham) to request that she become an examiner for that organization (based on her United Kingdom Alliance (G.B) examinership. John March traveled from Long Beach to Vienna, VA to give the examination and so began a two-year process into the forming of a new organization. Rickey was asked to form an "Eastern Area" of the USDTA, which was succefully accomplished in 1967.
During the weekend of the first successful competition, held in the mid-west by the Easter Area, a decision was made by the Easter group to split from the California based USDTA, and form the American Dance Teachers Association. The first president was Joe Jenkins. At that time, Rickey was serving on the Ballroom Committee and the Rule Formation Committee of the NCDTO (now NDCA). She became the president of ADTA in 1968. The object in forming the ADTA was to more fully provide an organization in the USA, which would include International Styles and Theatrical as well as American Styles in equity.
Because of Rickey's qualifications with the United Kingdom Alliance of Professional Teachers of Dancing (having passed the examiners examination with high honors) she was able to set up an International Branch with high standards, alongside the American Branch which was run by Tom and Petty Gonzalez. First, the syllabi were set up. This took a full year to complete. Then examiners were examined and set up in areas around the USA and a very strict code of ethics was enforced. John Ford and Ron Williams drew up the T/A exam. Subsequently, the ADTA was accepted by the NCDTO (NDCA) and became a hard working participant at all meetings since 1969-1970. A performing arts branch was added. The organizaton how has approximately 450 members, bi-annual elections, a fully qualified Board of Examiners, and is one of the first organizations to establish an examination for judges, specifically to set the criteria or qualifying adjudicators in all styles.
The NDCA recently approved a request to change the name of the organization to the North American Dancesport Teachers Association, Inc. The organization enjoys a fine and well earned reputation for high standards and is a credit to the NDCA and the USA.
