RAD100
The Royal Academy of Dance at 100
Our centenary is an important time to recognise our roots, our achievements, our influence, and also to look to building our legacy. It is also the right time to show our gratitude to our dedicated membership and the part they have played in making the RAD the organisation, the authority, and even the family, that it has become.
From this December (and running throughout 2021), as we begin to resume events and activities, we will continue to tell the story of the RAD, an organisation that has been teaching the world to dance for 100 years, through the stories, experiences and remarkable achievements, of our teachers, examiners and students from children through to adults and Silver Swans from around the world.
RAD milestones
Travel through the decades and discover RAD’s milestone events throughout its 100-year history.
1920s
- Queen Mary was interested in dance, and ballet in particular. With an approach from Dame Adeline Genée, Queen Mary became our First Royal Patron.
Photo: Dame Adeline Genée with Queen Mary and the Princess Royal at the Stoll Theatre, 1950. The occasion was a performance by the newly-formed Festival Ballet given in honour of Genée and The Royal Academy of Dancing. - Once the syllabus is agreed, The Association of Teachers of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain is born, now known as The Royal Academy of Dance. Dame Adeline Genée is confirmed as the first President; a position that she held for 34 years.
- The first Children’s (Amateur) Examinations are held.
1930s
- The last great social occasion before World War II was a ball in aid of the building fund.
Photo: Phyllis Bedells, Dame Adeline Genée and Jean Bedells in the ‘Three Generations Polka’, performed at the RAD Ball. Photo by Douglas. - First edition of Dance Gazette – this publication is free to members and consists of six pages with no pictures. The main story is ‘The Story of The Association.’
- The first Genée International Ballet Competition is held in 1931, called the ‘Adeline Genée award.’
- The RAD gains its Royal Charter and is presented with armorial bearings (coat of arms) in 1937.
1940s
- After the war, a new spirit of determination inspires the Academy’s committee, prompting the introduction of what is more commonly known today as ‘Licentiate of the RAD’. 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).
- First exams in New Zealand and Canada. First Solo Seal in Canada.
- A new children’s syllabus is announced, bringing the teaching of ballet in line with modern educational development.
1950s
- A series of gala matinees took place between 1958 and 1969 to raise funds for the Academy. They were usually held at Drury Lane. Photo: Erik Bruhn and Maria Tallchief rehearsing the ‘Black Swan’ pas de deux for the 1960 RAD Gala Matinée at Drury Lane in December. Photo by GBL Wilson.
- First exams in Italy, Norway, Malaysia, Malta and the Caribbean. Kathleen Oliver is the first examiner to go to the United States. The first Australian Major Examiner Nellie Potts is appointed. Various regions of the RAD begin to develop throughout Great Britain.
- Queen Elizabeth II becomes Patron of the Royal Academy of Dance.
- Upon Dame Adeline Genée’s retirement, she presents a silver plaque to be known as the Coronation Award, given first to Dame Ninette and subsequently to a long line of distinguished contributors to the world of ballet.
- Dame Adeline Genée retires and Dame Margot Fonteyn becomes President of the RAD in 1954.
1960s
- Rudolf Nureyev performs Poème Tragique – a solo created for him by Frederick Ashton for his first appearance in London at the RAD Gala Matinée of Ballet in November 1961. Photo by GBL Wilson.
- The first Fellowship of the Academy is awarded to Tamara Karsavina and Stanislas Idzikowski.
- First Solo Seal and Gold Medal Competition held in public.
- Phillip Richardson bequeaths the majority of his book collection to the Royal Academy of Dancing.
- First course for teachers in Brazil runs in 1963. First summer school is hosted in 1965. First Canadian examiners are appointed (post-war). Students perform on a national stage in Malta for the first time.
1970s
- The Genée International Ballet Competition is revised in 1973; the main reason was the revision of the nature of the Adeline Genée Gold Medal Award. Photo: Genée International Ballet Competition, Medallists and Judges, 1973. Left to right: Anthony Dowell, Angailika MacArthur (Silver medal), Sheila Styles (Bronze medal), Phyllis Bedells, Jane Devine (Gold medal), Merle Park. Photo by Jennie Walton.
- The Academy appoints a National Administrator for the United States, Elaine Keller.
- RAD moves to its present headquarters in Battersea Square, officially opened by HM Queen Elizabeth II in 1974.
- Professional Dancers’ Teaching Certificate is set up.
- First exams in Cyprus and Japan.
- The Phyllis Bedells Bursary is set up, named in honour of Miss Phyllis Bedells, Founder member and Vice President of the Academy.
1980s
- Developed over a period of five years by Julia Farron, The Pre – Elementary and Elementary Examinations Syllabus is first shown to Major Examiners around the world, and is greeted with enormous enthusiasm. Photo: Presentation of the new Major Syllabus work at RAD Assembly, January 1986. Photo by Chris Davies (licensed by ArenaPAL)
- The Academy’s Diamond Jubilee Dinner is held on 2 January 1981 to celebrate the last 60 years of the RAD.
- The RAD’s Australian head office in Sydney’s Darlinghurst opens.
1990s
- The college of the Royal Academy of Dance offers degrees for the first time. Photo: The first BA (Hons) graduates with academics at the graduation ceremony in Durham, June 1996. Susan Danby (left) and Dr Mollie Davies (right) are in centre front row (red robes).
- The Academy’s RADiate project begins with funding from the Ward Blenkinsop Trust, establishing the benefits of dance for children with special needs.
- When Dame Margot Fonteyn passes away on 21 February 1991, Dame Antoinette Sibley CBE (now DBE) is elected President of the Royal Academy of Dancing.
- Higher grades are added from 1992, providing an alternative to the vocational training route and prompting another worldwide roll-out of courses for teachers.
- The Benesh Institute (now Benesh international) is incorporated within the RAD.
2000s
- The ‘International’ Genée Ballet Competition to be held overseas in alternate years starting in 2002 with Sydney, Australia. Photo: Genée Candidates of Athens 2004, Photo by Helen Grigariadou.
- Her Majesty The Queen consents for the ‘Royal Academy of Dancing’ to change its name to ‘Royal Academy of Dance.’ Newly appointed Chief Executive Luke Rittner, launches an all-encompassing strategic review of the Academy’s activities.
- The Step into Dance programme is piloted in 2007 in partnership with the Jack Petchey Foundation.
- The Genée International Ballet Competition is held in Singapore for the first time.
- Brazil focuses on the qualifications of teachers, with summer teaching courses gathering as many as 300 teachers in one week.
2010s
- The Silver Swans initiative is born. Photo by David Tett.
- Dame Darcey Bussell DBE is appointed President of the Royal Academy of Dance.
- The Australian head office in Sydney is refurbished.
- Singapore organizes the RAD Dance Challenge.
- The ongoing collaboration between RAD and Singapore Dance Theatre (SDT) in “Celebration in Dance” begins running in 2016.
- The RAD creates a programme of weekend workshops entirely for boys and young men, called Boys Only!
- Discovering Repertoire launches.
2020s
- Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall announced her new role as Vice Patron of the RAD in a special video call with the RAD’s President, Dame Darcey Bussell DBE, and Silver Swans Ambassador, Angela Rippon CBE. The Duchess will join Her Majesty The Queen, who has been Patron of the RAD since 1953. Photo: David Tett.
RAD Trivia
Dive into all facets of RAD history, and find some unexpected stories about the Academy along the way.
Find out more
On Point: Royal Academy of Dance at 100
A free display at the V&A in London celebrating 100 years of the RAD’s significant contribution to the development of British ballet.
Find out more
RAD Voices
Over 100 stories from extraordinary people, past and present, who have shaped the RAD and continue to support and shape the future.
Find out more
Pioneers of the RAD CPD webinars
A series of webinars on some of the RAD's pioneers and founders, including Tamara Karsavina, Phyllis Bedells, Felix Demery and Ruth French, and Keith Lester.
Book now
Royal Academy of Dance: Celebrating 100 Years
Order our commemorative book online at RAD Enterprises - out now.
Buy now
Centenary merchandise
Help us mark our Centenary with products and gifts for a range of budgets.
Buy now
"We are not only looking backwards at all the wonderful people who made this important milestone possible, we are also looking forwards, at the next hundred years."Gerard Charles, RAD Artistic Director
"It's such a proud moment for you all. And I know it's been a tough year, but we mustn't forget to celebrate."Dame Darcey Bussell, RAD President
Partners and suppliers
We are proud to be supported by our partners and suppliers in our Centenary year.
To find out more about the benefits of sponsorship, please contact: Esther McLaughlin, Director of Development and Fundraising, 020 7326 8957 or emcaughlin@rad.org.uk
