History of the RAD: The 1940s

1940

Lorraine Norton examined five children in New Zealand as the first exams to take place.

1941

New Zealand began awarding a biennial overseas scholarship to enable a New Zealand student to undertake a year’s tuition at an overseas training school.

The first exams are held in Canada.

1945

After the war, a new spirit of determination inspired the Academy’s committee, prompting the introduction of ‘Miss Gwatkin’s Teachers’ Training Course’ which was inaugurated in October 1945 (this is more commonly known as ‘Licentiate of the RAD’ in the present day).

Photo: An early ‘Diploma Day’ image. Diploma day was the ‘awards day’ of its time and ‘Licentiate’ was the RAD status conferred on the graduating students. Tamara Karsavina is in centre standing, the graduates are named as Cherry Williams, Sheila Grant, Christine May and June Wintle (standing L-R) and Julia Cross, Ann Smith (seated).

1947

The first RAD exams are held in Canada.

The RAD purchases Fairfield Lodge to house the Three Years Teachers’ Training Course.

Photo: Dame Adeline Genée at the Hoop-La stall, at the RAD Garden Party at Fairfield Lodge, 1947. Photo by GBL Wilson.

A new children’s syllabus was announced, bringing the teaching of ballet in line with modern educational development. The ‘Ballet in Education’ syllabus was designed to provide the child with a basic vocabulary of steps while encouraging self-expression and musicality in performance.

The ‘Children’s Revised Syllabus’ (Dance Gazette, 1946) with the aim to give children a basic vocabulary of steps and allowing them to make use of what they learned in simple dances.