On April 15th, John Kimmins tendered his resignation as President and Member of the Board of Directors with the American Ballroom Company (ABC). He had served as its President since 1992 and is credited with bringing US Dancing to the world stage.

His resignation represents a significant change in vision and leadership for an organization which has, since 1971, hosted one of the premier Dance championship events in the world, the United States DanceSport Championships (USDSC) formerly known as the United States Ballroom Championship (USBC).

In this up-close and personal interview with DanceScape, John shares his views about the situation, his resignation, and his plans for the future.

After having served as President of the American Ballroom Company since 1992 and providing the vision and leadership for that organization for so many years, why did you decide to resign now?
Since early July 2004, when Mr. Martin Chiang became a majority shareholder with Josie Lee, I felt a lot of the changes that were made were simply unacceptable. In fact, I found it to be somewhat of an insult to the people who were trying to make the United States DanceSport Championships as successful as it could be. I did not appreciate these changes, so I decided to resign.

Could you share with us some of the key changes that you found unacceptable?
For one thing, the Treasury was going to be re-located to California. The Competition Director traditionally operating in Florida, was going to be moved to Las Vegas. I did not see how these changes were going to work and ultimately help maintain the USDSC as the leading Dance championship event in North America.

You can expect this changeover to bring forth a lot of changes, many of which have already begun. For example, the National Dance Council of America (NDCA) has taken action in court against ABC to review the terms of agreement between that organization and the NDCA.

One thing that I would like to say is that Brian McDonald, the President of NDCA, many others including Sam Sodano and I are quite proud of what we have done in the past. We have really helped bring dancing to the forefront in the United States and have made tremendous achievements in that regard. We have increased exposure to dancers overseas and have helped make the United States a formidable country in the dance world. Along with other things, like helping dance immigrants feel welcomed here, the entire events that have taken place have been phenomenal, and I really believe that we have created a great success story.

In your official resignation letter, you made a comment about Mr. Chiang’s "apparent advisor", Mr. Jack Rothweiler. What role do you feel he plays in influencing those changes?
Jack Rothweiler is the President of Fred Astaire Dance Studios of North America and he could have had some influence on the changes being made. He was the one who sold the stock to Martin Chiang.

A comment was made by Michael Mead on the DanceScape forums, that there was a power struggle between Arthur Murray International and Fred Astaire Dance Studios for controlling interest in the ABC. As the Executive Vice President of Arthur Murray International since 1990 and having served as a member of its Board of Directors since 1998, do you agree with this assessment?
Although there is no documented proof of a "power struggle", some of Mr. Chiang’s actions do suggest connections with the Fred Astaire organization. Observations have been made about his support and attendance at last year’s Fred Astaire Championships, while at the same time declining an invitation to attend one of Arthur Murray’s Superama Championships. People can interpret his actions however they want, but frankly, I think the intentions seem fairly clear.

Some have also suggested that the takeover was "masterminded" by Wayne Eng, another shareholder of the American Ballroom Company. Do you agree?
I don’t share that viewpoint at all. Wayne has always been very upfront and friendly with me. I have a great deal of respect for him.

HOW THE JOURNEY BEGAN FOR JOHN KIMMINS

Please share with us your background in Dance and how you ultimately became one of the most influential leaders and visionaries in the world of Ballroom Dancing and DanceSport?
I am originally from Australia, which is where I began dancing. I started with Tap and Ballet for a couple of years at the age of three. It wasn’t until 1960, when I was twelve years old, that I started taking Ballroom Dancing and getting involved in DanceSport in a studio in my hometown in Australia.

You mentioned Bill and the late Bobbie Irvine in your letter of resignation? What role did they play in your life? Were they your role models?
I had many terrific coaches in England as my role models, among them Bill & Bobbie. I was trained by Bill and the late Bobbie Irvine in England in 1971 with my ex-wife, Carol. We were the first couple that Bobbie had taught to move on to be the first non-English couple to win a British Amateur Championship.

Do you recall any advice from Bill and Bobbie Irvine that has stuck with you throughout your life?
Oh, most definitely. They told me to always sustain a great respect for the dancers because they are the ones that matter the most. Bobbie also helped a lot with sponsorship for dance and he always ensured that the money went to improving the competitions.

What are some of your most memorable and rewarding achievements as a former competitor?
Winning the British Amateur Championship in 1976 with Carol Kimmins, to whom I was married at the time. When I moved to the United States, I started dancing with and later married, Beverly. We came second in the United States Ballroom Dance Championships.

How did you become involved in the business side of Dancing and with Arthur Murray International?
I began first as a teacher for Arthur Murray Studio in Chicago. Bill and the late Bobbie Irvine were closely connected with Arthur Murray and they recommended that I should start teaching there when I arrived in America. I eventually took over management of the studio and caught the attention of the executives of Arthur Murray International, who asked me to consider working for their head office. I started there on January 2nd ,1983.

TURNING TO THE FUTURE

Do you have advice for up and coming dancers?
Get the best possible advice you can, and practice at every opportunity!

Do you have advice for those people who are considering entering the business side of Dance?
I think it is important to find their niche, or proper place, within the dance profession. From there, it is important to become decently capitalized. Take care of the people, students and everybody who works for you.

Another important point I’d like to make is that people need to advertise more! Not enough dance businesses do this and too many people rely on people just walking in the door.

Do you have a favorite quote that you live by?
I strongly believe that it is important to give it your all. Also, be sure to make the best of everything you do. That is what I have always tried to do with events that I have developed and been associated with.