The Royal Academy of Dance

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) was started in 1920 after a meeting for important
figures in the dance world, organized by Philip Richardson. Some of the prominent dance
figures in attendance were Phyllis Bedells, Lucia Cormani, Edouard Espinosa, Adeline Gene,
and Tamara Karsavina, who were each representing main forms of ballet at the time. The
meeting was to discuss the poor quality of ballet training in Great Britain. After further
meetings, the group founded the Association of Teachers of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain (later
the RAD). Adeline Gene was chosen from among the association president, and by 1921, the
association held its first ballet exams.

The Association of Teachers of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain continued to grow in

the coming years, and in 1928 Queen Mary became a patron of the association. From there, the
association officially changed into the Royal Academy of Dance, after receiving its royal charter
from King George V, and with it, was given its coat of arms (Pictured above). When Queen Mary
died, Queen Elizabeth ll became a patron of the RAD.

The Royal Academy of dance continued to grow exponentially over the coming years,
and in the 1970s, opened a new headquarters in Battersea Square, London and also introduced
the Professional Dancer's Teaching Diploma, an intensive program which allowed dancers to
become certified RAD teachers.

In the 1990s, the royal academy of dance introduced the current Graded Examination
Syllabus which included Pre-Primary, Primary and Ballet 1-6, with Ballet six through eight
being added in the next few years. The RAD has been updating these levels since then, as well
as having added higher levels.

Approximately 250,000 students take part in RAD examinations worldwide each year.
When qualified dance teachers teach the RAD syllabus to their students, the students have the
option of taking part in ballet exams for each grade. Students perform the syllabus that they
have learned for one of 200 RAD trained and qualified examiners, and receive assessment
based on their execution of the syllabus, their musicality, technique, and performance.
Students are awarded a mark for their exam, and are given a title from that. The titles are Pass,
Merit and Distinction, with Distinction being the highest title.

The 79 countries where the RAD in present are highlighted.

Coming from a small union of influential dancers in the 1920s, it is incredible to see just
how far the Royal Academy of Dance has come. Today, The Royal Academy of Dance is present
in 79 countries and has 14,000 members worldwide.

Bibliography

http://www.rad.org.uk/about/about-the-rad/history

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Academy_of_Dance#1990-1992

http://www.radcanada.org/aboutus/canadianhistory.htm