RAD archives catalogue
Welcome to the Royal Academy of Dance Archive
About the Archive | How to search | Visit the Archive | News and Resources
The collections comprise the institutional heritage archives alongside the personal archives of notable figures in the history of British ballet, and special collections arranged by subject or material type. Together they represent a rich source of material predominantly covering the development of British ballet teaching and performance from the 1920s onwards. Earlier material may be found in some of the personal archives and special collections.
The catalogue is a work-in-progress and more records will be added on a regular basis.
Explore the collections
Focus on our most popular archives
Special Collections
Identity area
Reference code
Publication status
Published
Level of description
Sub fonds
Extent and medium
200 boxes
Date(s)
- 1890s-2020s (Creation)
Context area
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The special collections encompass materials that have been artificially grouped to provide a convenient resource on a particular subject (usually an individual artist or company), or a collection of material types such as photographs, programmes or rare books. Subject-based collections include resources on Tamara Karsavina and Margot Fonteyn, both important figures in the RAD’s history. Collections of material relating to Anna Pavlova and Serge Diaghilev and their companies provide important contextual information about the ballet scene at the time the RAD was founded. Photographs include portraits of individual artists and international companies while the programme collections provide comprehensive coverage of UK and overseas ballet and dance company performances.
Conditions of access and use area
← Back to results