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Celebrating 100 years since the first RAD Exams
The RAD’s first teaching examination took place from May 8 – 10, 1921 at Madame Cormani’s studio, close to Goodge Street station in London, UK.
Our founders, Dame Adeline Genée, Tamara Karsavina, Lucia Cormani, and Phyllis Bedells were the examiners and Edouard Espinosa had set the work to be examined. The criteria was simple: there was no pointe work, and elevation was limited to changements, soubresauts and sissones.
From such small beginnings, today nearly a quarter of a million candidates across the globe choose to take their dance exams with us every year.
Join us in celebrating 100 years since the first RAD exam took place.
See a full timeline of RAD’s history.
“Never take your shoes off at the lunch interval…”
RAD Voices - June Christian
Exams around the world
Australia
Pre-school ballerinas from @jacintamurphyschoolofdance getting ready for their RAD exams in Australia. Photo by Nick Murphy. Find out more
Barbados
Students from Louise Woodvine Dance Academy in Barbados. Louise said: "This photo was taken immediately after we recorded our first video exams, Advanced 1. Thanks for making online examinations a reality in these trying times it gave us something to work towards and achieve." Find out more
Germany
We love this photo by Ballettschule Evi Ritter in Germany. Find out more
Australia
Pre-primary ballerinas from Murray Youth Performing Arts in Australia. Find out more
UK
RAD teacher Reena Bhattacharjee teaching students captured by Emir Hasham. Find out moreUniform evolution
RAD exam uniform has changed a lot over the years. We’ve delved into the Philip Richardson Library archives to see how.
Discovering Repertoire
"Discovering Repertoire offers students the chance to learn well-known adapted repertoire."Paula Hunt, former RAD Artistic Director.
Jennifer Back celebrates 40 years of teaching and returns to being a student
In 2018 when the RAD launched Discovering Repertoire, Jenny leaped at the chance to be a teacher on the pilot programme, teaching Discovering Repertoire to her students but also learning herself. She and her students successfully completed Levels 2 and 3 (there is no level 1) in 2018 and 2019 and were excited to continue in 2020 with the final Level 4. Unfortunately, the global COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruption to their studies and the students decided to focus all their efforts on working towards their RAD Advanced 2 examination instead. Undeterred, Jenny decided to take on the challenge of Level 4 alone. This is her story.
The bell
