The Philip Richardson Library

The Philip Richardson Library houses one of the largest specialist dance collections in the UK. We welcome visitors from around the world as well as Royal Academy of Dance members, students and staff.

The Royal Academy of Dance remains closed until further notice due to the COVID-19 situation. This means that Library and Archive staff are unable to access the collections and our services are limited. Phones are not currently being monitored, however you may contact Library and Archive staff at library@rad.org.uk and we will do our best to assist you remotely.

The open access collections include books, journals, CDs, DVDs, conference proceedings, resource packs, exhibition and auction catalogues and Benesh Movement Notation Scores. The dance collection is supplemented by resources in the related fields of pedagogy, music, anatomy and physiology.

Materials in the archives and special collections include rare books, theatre programmes, photographs, costume designs, pictures and artefacts, as well as audio-visual materials and paper-based documents and correspondence.