My father, the late Dudley Simpson who passed away two years ago at 95, conducted for Dame Margot Fonteyn on her world tour and wrote numerous scores such as A Winter’s Tale and Marguerite and Armand for The Royal Ballet during the space of his career as Musical Director. He also worked for the BBC and wrote the incidental music for Dr Who for over 30 years. He is a very well-known musician who’s career is recognised worldwide.

My mother, Jill Bathurst (Australian born from Mascot/Sydney), became a soloist with London Festival Ballet having started her career with the Borovansky Ballet. She later opened an RAD school in Weybridge, Surrey in the UK where she taught for many years, entering hundreds of children into their RAD exams. Both Jill and Dudley are Australian-born but resided in the UK after touring due to ballet, and stayed for many years where their three children were born.

My mother, Jill Bathurst.

I was originally taught by my mother and completed my RAD exams through to Advanced whilst training at The Royal Ballet School in London. I was a London RAD Scholar under the direction of John Field and later Lynn Wallis, and the classes were conducted by June Mitchell. It was a wonderful scheme which gave students from all over England the very best training at the RAD in Battersea. I would attend the RAD twice a week and take classes with Miss June Mitchell. Each year we were assessed during Scholars’ week, and by the time I was 16 I was the only London scholar left in my age group, having won the overall trophy presented to me by John Field. Many RAD scholars went on to further their education and join full time ballet schools. I was accepted into The Royal Ballet School under the direction of Dame Merle Park, where I continued to train and continuing my RAD examinations for three years with some of the most prolific teachers in the world.

In 1986 our family moved back to Australia when I decided I wanted to teach and pass on the wonderful knowledge I had gained throughout my years of training.

I have been teaching for 30 years here in Australia in the suburb of Menai, NSW. I taught both of my daughters under the RAD, one of whom, Zoe Ioannou who has just turned 22, is in the international tour of West Side Story playing Rosalea, and she is also the alternate for the lead role of Maria. The show is touring and will be playing at The Sydney Opera House. Prior to West Side Story, Zoe performed in the Australian cast of The Wizard of Oz and was the understudy for the role of Dorothy.

A group of my students.

My eldest daughter is a lawyer and in her spare time (what little time she gets) choreographs for STUDIO A. Mia has also trained under the RAD and her passion is choreographing contemporary dance for which she has an incredible talent.

At STUDIO A we take our examinations very seriously and encourage all students to study RAD ballet as this is where the basis of all their technique is derived from. We enter students for their RAD exams which we hold at our own venue. We are holding our piano practise with our lovely pianist very soon and my mother, Jill Bathurst, will be coming along to sit in along with my two lovely RAD Registered Teachers.

I do hope you have enjoyed reading our story, a 50 year relationship with the RAD from London to Sydney. We have always held the RAD with such high regard  and have years and years of many fond memories with our association with the RAD in Battersea, London and here in Australia.

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