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 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.
Further Information
Using the Library and Archives
Find out about our services, opening hours, and admission fees
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Library Catalogue
The online library catalogue contains details of the library’s general reference collections, including books, journals, articles, CDs, DVDs, Benesh Movement Notation Scores and resource packs.…
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Archives and special collections
The archives of the RAD include past copies of exam syllabi, minutes of committee meetings, prospectuses, course brochures and annual reports alongside various documents, papers…
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The History of the Philip Richardson Library
A look back at the history of the Royal Academy of Dance Library and Archive Earliest records show that in 1924, the Academy received a…
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Contact & FAQs
Find out how to contact us and read our privacy policy and some frequently asked questions
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RAD Book Club Archive
RAD Book Club regularly meets to discuss books suggested and chosen by its members. Follow the links below to read what our members thought of…
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RAD Book Club latest review
This is Going to Hurt