RAD100

Celebrating the Royal Academy of Dance at 100

The RAD has been inspiring the world to dance for almost a century, and on 31 December 2020 will officially turn 100.

To celebrate this landmark in our history, we are planning a year-long programme of events and initiatives throughout 2020, leading up to that moment and focused on sharing our past, our present and our future with our global dance community.

For the first time we are unveiling highlights of the exciting year ahead and the one message that we want you to take away is that we want everyone, young and old to get involved in the celebrations.

More centenary news coming soon…

On Point: Royal Academy of Dance at 100

We are working with the V&A to curate a free display celebrating 100 years of the RAD’s significant contribution to the development of British ballet.

The display will present costumes, designs, photographs and more to explore the RAD’s story, from its foundation to its influence on ballet and dance internationally. It highlights the role of successive presidents, including Nureyev’s first performance in Britain in partnership with Dame Margot Fonteyn.

The opening of the display will coincide with the V&A’s annual Performance Festival (25 April – 3 May), which will celebrate dance in all its forms with a wide range of special events taking place throughout the museum. The programme includes a special RAD Weekender from Friday 1 – Sunday 3 May 2020. The full programme of live performance, screenings, workshops, talks and tours will be announced soon.

The display will open in May 2020 and run until February 2021. Entry is free.

The Genée will be renamed the Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition

In what would have been the 100th birthday year of Dame Margot Fonteyn, the Genée is being renamed in honour of our longest-serving president and world famous Prima Ballerina Assoluta. From 2020, the Genée International Ballet Competition will become the Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition. Also, for the first time the centenary competition will be held at the Royal Opera House, in London’s Covent Garden, where Fonteyn herself performed many times. The semi-finals take place on 2 and 3 September at the Linbury Theatre, with the final on 5 September, on the main stage of the Opera House.

Our current President, Dame Darcey Bussell, will be chair of the international jury for the 2020 competition.

Tickets for the final will go on sale to members at the end of October 2019.

Dance Gazette guest editors

Throughout 2020, three guest editors will take the helm of Dance Gazette, and will be invited to present the RAD and its work through the lens of another industry, providing an alternative perspective. We also hope that this will widen the reach and readership of the magazine, enabling us to forge new and lasting partnerships and collaborations. We’ll be revealing our exciting line-up of guest editors nearer the time.

100th birthday gala dinner

In what promises to be a grand affair, we are also in the planning stages for a special gala dinner. The evening will both celebrate 100 years of the RAD and act as a memorable fundraiser for future projects. Date and details will be confirmed in due course.

Partners and suppliers

We are proud to be supported by our partners and suppliers in our Centenary year

Join us

To find out more about the benefits of sponsorship, please contact Matthew Cunningham, Director of Fundraising and Development, by email at mcunningham@rad.org.uk or by telephone +44 (20) 7326 8957.