About
CUTAZZ has been an extremely fast-growing society. In less than five years it has moved from running three classes - advance and beginners tap, and jazz - to its current array of classes which encompass not just traditional jazz but also lyrical and street.
The first show was joint with the ballet society and took place at the Fitz auditorium. The first and only night was completely sold out. From there the society went from strength to strength, introducing inter tap, and inter and beginners' jazz. The second production included a matinee performance as well as the evening show, and CUTAZZ began to diversify its activities, appearing at the Grafton Centre for Children in Need, and performing at the Selwyn Snow Ball.
This expansion soon required more committee members, so to the positions of President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary, today's current positions were also added.
This year's show was held at the Mumford Theatre and was a huge success, with reviews in both Varsity and TCS, over 400 tickets sold, and over 50 dancers taking part. The society today can boast an enthusiastic committee dedicated to ensuring that everything is running smoothly!
Photo on front page by Chris Thwaite.
Poster design for the 2008 show by Daniel Greaves.
1. NAME:
The name of the Society shall be 'The Cambridge University Tap and Jazz Dance Society' hereafter referred to as 'the Society'.
2. OBJECTS:
The Society's aims shall be to allow members of the University to either begin or continue classes in Tap Dance and Jazz Dance and to meet other people with a common interest in dance. The Executive Committee may also offer classes in other forms of dance at the request of members of the Society.
3. MEMBERSHIP:
(1) Membership of the Society shall be extended to all members of the University and any others who may apply to the Executive Committee.
(2) There shall be fees for membership.
(3) The Society shall not refuse an application for membership on the grounds of race, sex, sexuality, religion or political views. The Executive Committee may expel any member for behaviour likely to bring the Society into disrepute. Such expulsion shall be subject to conformation at the next General Meeting of the Society.
4. SUBSCRIPTIONS:
(1) The fees for membership shall be determined by the Executive Committee at the start of each academic year. There shall be two levels of membership fee; one for undergraduate and postgraduate students and one for all other members.
(2) The Committee shall have the right to offer honorary membership (free) and life membership (for a fee) to any person, as it sees fit.
(3) Each member will receive a receipt and be registered in the Society's records, upon payment of a membership fee.
(4) All fees are non-refundable, except in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Executive Committee
5. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
(1) The day-to-day management of the Society's affairs shall be in the hands of the Executive Committee ('the Committee'), which shall normally be elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
(2) The Executive Committee shall consist of:
President
Vice President
Junior Treasurer
Secretary
Social Secretary
Publicity and Events
Merchandise
In addition there shall be a Senior Treasurer, who shall be a resident member of the Senate or other person approved by the Junior Proctor. The Senior Treasurer shall be appointed by the elected members of the Executive Committee and shall be ex officio a member of the Committee.
(3) The Committee may, at its discretion, co-opt additional Committee members to itself where it perceives the need or to fill vacancies that may arise
(4) A majority of the elected members of the Committee shall be full-time undergraduate or postgraduate students of the University.
(5) Meetings of the Committee shall be held at their discretion and shall be chaired by the President or in his or her absence the Vice President. Voting shall be by simple majority.
6. GENERAL MEETINGS:
(1) The Society shall hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) each year in the Lent Term. The time and venue of this meeting will be determined and publicised by the Committee in writing to members at least fourteen days beforehand. All members shall have full voting rights at any General Meeting and via e-mail.
(2) The AGM shall approve minutes of the last General Meeting and the Society’s accounts for the preceding year, elect the Executive Committee for the year ahead and conduct such other business as is necessary. The President, or in his or her absence the Vice President, shall take the Chair at any General Meeting.
(3) Any member of the Society may be proposed and seconded for any Committee post by two other members of the Society. Nominations must be submitted to the President and Vice President in writing at least three days before the AGM.
(4) There may be hustings at the AGM. Voting shall be by secret ballot and if there are more than two candidates for a post or more than two options on a motion, voting shall be by Single Transferable Vote. Votes shall be counted by two persons chosen by the President, and who are not candidates for Committee posts.
(5) E-mail voting is also valid. All candidates shall prepare manifestos, which must be e-mailed to the Society's members by the President. The President and Secretary shall receive all votes and shall be responsible for counting them.
(6) No election shall be valid unless at least 25, or one quarter, or whichever is fewer of the Society's membership votes, either at the AGM or via e-mail. A written record of every General Meeting shall be kept.
(7) Should a member challenge the fairness of an election, the election shall be declared void and an AGM must be called at which another election shall take place.
(8) An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) may be held at any time. It may be called by the Committee or by the written request of at least ten members. An EGM shall have the same powers as an AGM.
7. FINANCIAL MATTERS:
(1) The society shall maintain a banking account with a suitable Bank or Building society to hold the Society's funds.
(2) It shall be the responsibility of the Junior Treasurer to ensure that monies received are properly accounted for and that the Society's financial records are kept in good order.
(3) A Senior Treasurer shall be appointed by the Committee each year to audit the Society's books. The Senior Treasurer shall not be liable for any debt or other obligation of the Society except where they have personally authorised it in writing.
(4) The Executive Committee shall not authorise any transaction involving financial liability unless they are sure it is intra vires and that sufficient funds are available. If there are doubts, the transaction shall not go ahead without all the members of the Society agreeing to it in advance and undertaking liability for it.
(5) For so long as the Society shall be registered with the Junior Proctor, it shall be the duty of the Committee to ensure that the Society complies with the requirements for Registration as a University Society.
8. CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION:
Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by any three members of the Society, and must be submitted to the Secretary in writing. This Constitution may only be amended at an AGM, or a meeting specially called for that purpose. No vote on a constitutional amendment shall be valid unless at least one quarter of the Society's membership votes, either at the meeting or via e-mail.
9. DISSOLUTION:
(1) The Society may be dissolved at a General Meeting provided that at least twenty-one days written notice of the intention to dissolve the Society has been given to the members. At least two thirds of those present and voting at the General Meeting must vote in favour of the motion for Dissolution for it to be effective.
(2) Any motion for Dissolution of the Society shall provide that assets remaining after all liabilities have been met shall be transferred to the Society’s Syndicate for the benefit of other societies with an enthusiasm for dance.
