School projects
Schools, colleges, and youth groups
At the RAD, we are passionate about building partnerships with schools, supporting the delivery of high-quality dance experiences, and opening dance to a young audience who may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate.
Dance is an excellent way of building pupils’ aspirations, confidence and self-esteem. We design opportunities that enable young people to experience dance as an art form, to perform and achieve.
The RAD has a long history of working with schools to develop their dance provision and supporting teachers to embrace a creative curriculum. Our sessions are inclusive and imaginative, and challenge the perception of what dance is and who it is for. We offer a range of activities for learners of all ages to develop their skills and confidence in dance.
Step into Dance
In partnership with the Jack Petchey Foundation, Step into Dance works with secondary schools and youth groups to enable young people to develop their dance skills through a programme of weekly classes.
RADiate (SEND)
RADiate provides subsidised, inclusive dance classes for children with special educational needs and disabilities in primary schools.
Insight days
Visit our global home for dance to explore our inspiring dance spaces, experience a practical workshop, and observe dancers training.
Teacher Events and CPD
Book a teacher event to join us at the RAD’s global home for dance, or online, to inspire your teaching! Enrich your classroom practice and creativity by working with our practitioners and dance experts to support your understanding of dance as a tool for embodied learning, storytelling and performance.
Trust Tag KS1 and KS2 project
The Faculty of Education at the RAD is delighted to welcome your school to the join us for the Dance Education Company’s latest outreach project, Trust Tag, encouraging students to develop TRUST through an interactive dance performance and supplementary movement workshop.
Your next performance venue
If you are looking for the perfect stage for your next performance, look no further than our Aud Jebsen studio theatre. Fully equipped with everything to make your event run seamlessly, we offer technical support and an unparalleled performance space to ensure your event is truly unforgettable.
Our building provides you with enhanced training facilities, including seven spacious studios, five meeting rooms, an amazing performance space, as well as a large reception area, plenty of changing rooms and restrooms, a shop and a café. All are available to hire for training, performances, and other events.
Insight days
Bring your school, college, or university to the Royal Academy of Dance for an inspiring visit where pupils can observe dancers training, explore our state-of-the-art spaces, and even take part in a practical dance session.
We offer tailored experiences to suit your learners, with workshops available in a variety of dance styles.
Further information
What activities can we choose from?
Practical workshop (minimum 1 hour – KS1 / KS2 1.5 hours – KS3 / KS4)
A practical dance session with one of our dance artists will help students explore their creativity and physicality and develop their self-expression.
Students can explore one of the dance styles: ballet, contemporary, creative dance, musical theatre, hip hop or street dance.
Within the chosen style uncover a piece of repertoire, looking at the themes of the work, the choreography and the creative process, or focus on key fundamentals of technique, this will depend on the workshop duration.
Teachers can request a specific focus for example, in a ballet session the focus could be Romeo & Juliet.
Building Tour and visit to The Wolfson Library (30 minutes)
A member of the RAD team will show your group around our building, with a chance to see the studios, theatre space, offices and The Wolfson Library collections.
Observation (15 minutes)
During term time, you’ll have the opportunity to observe trainee dance teachers in class as part of the Faculty of Education’s BA (Hons) Ballet Education programme, or watch senior students and pre-professional dancers from English National Ballet School in rehearsal.
How much does it cost?
The cost is £150 for a 1-hour practical workshop session, and each session can accommodate 1 class (maximum 30 students).
As part of your booking, we can also reserve a 30-minute lunch slot in our red café for your group. You’re also welcome to explore the RAD shop on a self-guided visit before or after your tour and/or workshop.
Get in touch with us at participate@rad.org.uk or complete the enquiry form and we’ll get back to you with a quote.
How do we book?
Complete our online enquiry form with all the details requested and hit submit. We will be in touch to confirm availability for your selected date(s) and provide a further outline of how we can meet your request.
What other information will you provide?
In your confirmation details, we will provide you with:
- Full venue address and travel information
- Venue visual access guide
- Named contact and their contact information to reach out on the day
- Time of arrival and detailed itinerary
- Information on suggested dress for a practical workshop (PE wear) and removal of outdoor shoes
- An agreement to sign with our cancellation terms detailed
Teacher CPD & Events
Book a teacher event to join us at the RAD’s global home for dance, or online, to inspire your teaching! Enrich your classroom practice and creativity by working with our practitioners and dance experts to support your understanding of dance as a tool for embodied learning, storytelling and performance.
For further advice about these events or to enquire about INSET sessions, please contact cpd@rad.org.uk
Masterclass with Chris Fonseca: Where Sign Language Meets Dance
26 July
12.15 – 3.15pm BST
A masterclass with Chris Fonseca, dance artist and choreographer specialising in hip-hop art forms. Throughout the session, you will discover how to navigate creativity and sustainability while enhancing your movement with elements of British Sign Language to sign dance in a fun, safe, and friendly environment.
Psychological Skills Training for the Dance Studio – Motor Imagery
23 July
5 – 7pm BST
In this interactive and research-informed webinar, you will explore Motor Imagery (MI) as a tool to enhance both physical and mental performance in dancers. This session will introduce key concepts behind MI, how it influences movement execution, and its potential applications in dance training.
Enhancing Self-Awareness and Communication Skills
24 July
8 – 11am BST
This session aims to empower you with a deeper understanding of yourself and others through the use of the DISC assessment (a behavioural profiling tool), enabling you to enhance your self-awareness, communication skills, and collaborative effectiveness within your teaching and professional environments.
Developing Community in the Dance Class
24 July
1.30 – 3pm BST
This session will focus on the development of community in a dance class. We will look at what we mean by the term “community”, the positive benefits of interactive, community-building methods of teaching, and consider how these methods can be implemented into our own teaching practice.
Trust Tag Project
The Faculty of Education at the RAD is delighted to welcome your school to join us for the Dance Education Company’s latest outreach project, Trust Tag, encouraging students to develop TRUST through an interactive dance performance and supplementary movement workshop.
Prefer us to come to you? We are happy to bring the performance and workshop directly to your school’s hall/performance space!
Further information
Key stage 1 & 2
This particular performance and workshop (Trust Tag) is suitable for Primary Education students (KS1 and 2).
Watch this space… We are currently working on a separate project (cross-curricular links to science) that will be suitable for Secondary Education (KS3).
Timings
Trust Tag comprises of a 15-minute performance and a 45-minute workshop.
When joining us at the Royal Academy of Dance headquarters, this would be a 2-hour experience. Please find an example schedule between 9.30 – 11.30am:
| Time | Schedule |
|---|---|
| 9:30 – 9:45am | School arrival and entry to Aud Jebsen Studio Theatre |
| 9:45 – 10:00am | Trust Tag Performance (15 minutes) |
| 10:00 – 10:15am | Class photographs with performers |
| 10:15 – 11:05am | Workshop (45 minutes) |
| 11:05 – 11:15am | Schools prepare to leave |
| 11:15 – 11:30am | Departure from Main Reception |
PSHE Outcomes
The Trust Tag Performance and Workshop is a dynamic programme designed to help children understand the value of building trusting relationships. The performance offers a powerful visual representation of trust in action, setting the stage for deeper exploration through dance.
Following the performance, the interactive workshop invites children to engage with these concepts through movement, promoting teamwork, effective communication, and mutual support.
By working together in a creative and physically expressive environment, participants learn to rely on and respect one another.
This collaborative experience nurtures confidence, emotional safety, and strong social connections, all of which are vital to healthy social and emotional development.
Engaging and imaginative, Trust Tag provides a meaningful foundation for children to grow both individually and as members of a community.
All activities place emphasis on encouraging students to express themselves, share their ideas and make themselves heard.
SMSC outcomes
- Social Development: Appreciating others viewpoint; Developing communication skills; Developing an understanding of community and recognising the value of working together.
- Moral Development Deepening understanding of ourselves and our community responsibility to value, uphold and protect our rights and others.
- Cultural Development: Recognising that some values are universal and shared across communities around the world.
- Spiritual Development: Using imagination and creativity to explore important universal themes.
PE Outcomes
The workshops enable students to work towards the KS1/2 PE National Curriculum expectations by applying and developing a range of physical skills. Students learn how to use these skills in different ways and link them to create actions and movement sequences.
The workshops also promote communication, collaboration, and healthy competition through games and structured activities. In the plenary session, students have the opportunity to reflect on what they have learned and recognise their own achievements.
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