Josephine Bradley
Encyclopedia
Josephine Bradley MBE
(24 March 1893 – 1985) was a ballroom dancer and dance teacher. Though born in Dublin, she was raised from an early age in London
, the youngest of eight children. Bradley was among the first ballroom dance professionals of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
(ISTD) who standardised the basic techniques of foxtrot, tango, quickstep and waltz. These are the English ballroom dances of what is now the World Dance Council
's International Dancesport category. For her activities she had earned herself an informal title "The First Lady of the Ballroom".
. He died when she was ten, and an older sister subsequently succumbed to tuberculosis
. It was feared that Josephine might be infected, so the family moved from London to Chorley Wood, at that time a rural village.
, G.K. Anderson, in a competition at the Embassy Club in Regent Street
. She was the professional dancer of the two. They won that, and went on to win the Daily Sketch Foxtrot competition, for which pro-am couples were eligible. In the 1924 World Championship at the Queen's Hall, the couple won again, to become World Foxtrot Champions. In the overall World Championships for 1924 (professional), and again in 1925, Maxwell Stewart and Barbara Miles won, ahead of Victor Sylvester and Phyllis Clarke.
That same year (1924), Bradley started her first dance school in the Knightsbridge Hotel. She was asked by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
(ISTD) to join a working group to codify the dances and develop a syllabus for teachers. The ISTD formed its Ballroom Branch with Eve Tynegate Smith, Murielle Simmons, Cynthia Humphreys, Victor Silvester and Josephine Bradley as members. From that moment on, she was a leading figure in the British ballroom dance world.
Bradley was active in ballroom dancing in general, and the ISTD in particular, right up to the end of her long life. Bradley was Chairman of the ISTD Ballroom Branch from 1924–1947. As an examiner for the ISTD, she toured Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
(MC) in World War I
, as a Captain in the 1st Battalion, the Lincolnshire Regiment. He had been twice wounded by bayonet
thrusts, and they met when he was convalescing. Needing some light exercise, he came to her for dance lessons. They became regular dance partners in 1925. Their marriage lasted only four years until his death at the age of 35. She later found a dancing partner in Frank Ford, but she never married again.
. His 'big idea' was to provide strict-tempo music for dances and dance teaching studios, and he succeeded to an almost unbelievable extent. A feature of all the strict tempo bands was the absence of a singer, who might have interfered with the clarity of the rhythm. With record sales reaching 75 million, and his orchestra regularly on BBC radio (and later, television), Silvester was the dominant public figure in the dancing world.
Bradley became one of the few women to lead a British band between 1920–1950; others included Ivy Benson
and Mrs. Jack Hilton. Bradley set up her group in 1935,p35 mainly as a recording band for Decca
: Josephine Bradley and her Ballroom Orchestra. She had already, in 1930, directed the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra for HMV
. Between March 1937 and October 1945 she recorded over 200 sides for Decca. Bradley's recordings sold well, and represent "the very best of ballroom music over half a century after they were made".
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(24 March 1893 – 1985) was a ballroom dancer and dance teacher. Though born in Dublin, she was raised from an early age in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the youngest of eight children. Bradley was among the first ballroom dance professionals of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing is a leading dance teaching and examination board based in London, England and operating internationally. Established on 25 July 1904 as the Imperial Society of Dance Teachers, it changed to its current name in 1925 and is now a registered educational...
(ISTD) who standardised the basic techniques of foxtrot, tango, quickstep and waltz. These are the English ballroom dances of what is now the World Dance Council
World Dance Council
The World Dance Council Ltd , is a registered limited company, and the legal successor to the International Council of Ballroom Dancing, and was established at a meeting organised by P.J.S Richardson on 22 September 1950 in Edinburgh...
's International Dancesport category. For her activities she had earned herself an informal title "The First Lady of the Ballroom".
Youth
Her father was a strict Roman Catholic, who abhorred dancing and the theatreTheatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
. He died when she was ten, and an older sister subsequently succumbed to tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. It was feared that Josephine might be infected, so the family moved from London to Chorley Wood, at that time a rural village.
Ballroom dance
In 1924 she danced with an AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, G.K. Anderson, in a competition at the Embassy Club in Regent Street
Regent Street
Regent Street is one of the major shopping streets in London's West End, well known to tourists and Londoners alike, and famous for its Christmas illuminations...
. She was the professional dancer of the two. They won that, and went on to win the Daily Sketch Foxtrot competition, for which pro-am couples were eligible. In the 1924 World Championship at the Queen's Hall, the couple won again, to become World Foxtrot Champions. In the overall World Championships for 1924 (professional), and again in 1925, Maxwell Stewart and Barbara Miles won, ahead of Victor Sylvester and Phyllis Clarke.
That same year (1924), Bradley started her first dance school in the Knightsbridge Hotel. She was asked by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing is a leading dance teaching and examination board based in London, England and operating internationally. Established on 25 July 1904 as the Imperial Society of Dance Teachers, it changed to its current name in 1925 and is now a registered educational...
(ISTD) to join a working group to codify the dances and develop a syllabus for teachers. The ISTD formed its Ballroom Branch with Eve Tynegate Smith, Murielle Simmons, Cynthia Humphreys, Victor Silvester and Josephine Bradley as members. From that moment on, she was a leading figure in the British ballroom dance world.
Bradley was active in ballroom dancing in general, and the ISTD in particular, right up to the end of her long life. Bradley was Chairman of the ISTD Ballroom Branch from 1924–1947. As an examiner for the ISTD, she toured Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Marriage
In 1927 Bradley married Douglas Wellesley-Smith, whom she had met in 1919. He had won the Military CrossMilitary Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(MC) in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, as a Captain in the 1st Battalion, the Lincolnshire Regiment. He had been twice wounded by bayonet
Bayonet
A bayonet is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear...
thrusts, and they met when he was convalescing. Needing some light exercise, he came to her for dance lessons. They became regular dance partners in 1925. Their marriage lasted only four years until his death at the age of 35. She later found a dancing partner in Frank Ford, but she never married again.
Ballroom orchestra
Bradley was one of several top-class dancers who sought to rival Victor SilvesterVictor Silvester
Victor Marlborough Silvester OBE was an English dancer, author, musician and dance band leader. He was a significant figure in the development of ballroom dance during the first half of the 20th century, and his records sold 75 million copies from the 1930s through to the 1980s.- Early life...
. His 'big idea' was to provide strict-tempo music for dances and dance teaching studios, and he succeeded to an almost unbelievable extent. A feature of all the strict tempo bands was the absence of a singer, who might have interfered with the clarity of the rhythm. With record sales reaching 75 million, and his orchestra regularly on BBC radio (and later, television), Silvester was the dominant public figure in the dancing world.
Bradley became one of the few women to lead a British band between 1920–1950; others included Ivy Benson
Ivy Benson
Ivy Benson was an English musician and bandleader, who led an all-female swing band. Benson and her band rose to fame in the 1940s, headlining variety theatres and topping the bill at the London Palladium, and became the BBC's resident house band.-Early years:Benson was born on 11 November 1913 in...
and Mrs. Jack Hilton. Bradley set up her group in 1935,p35 mainly as a recording band for Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
: Josephine Bradley and her Ballroom Orchestra. She had already, in 1930, directed the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra for HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
. Between March 1937 and October 1945 she recorded over 200 sides for Decca. Bradley's recordings sold well, and represent "the very best of ballroom music over half a century after they were made".
Other events
She danced in the British film Let’s Make a Night of It (1937), which contained the first sequence of formation dance. In it she and Frank Ford, together with Victor Silvester and his wife and two other couples, danced to Jack Jackson and his band.Sources
- Josephine Bradley & her Ballroom Orchestra: Dancing in the Dark. Vocalion CD EA6088