Dance Makes Me Feel: RAD Primary Schools Art Competition

The winner

On Thursday 10 March 2022, we awarded three budding primary school artists from across Wandsworth with top prizes for their images inspired by dance and how it makes them feel.

8-year-old Richard from Alderbook Primary School meeting The Duchess of Cornwall. Photo: David Tett.

Announced as part of the opening of our brand-new global headquarters, officially opened by the HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, the competition was designed to inspire children from across local primary schools to engage with the borough’s historic and deep-rooted connection to the world of dance.

A judging panel of RAD President Dame Darcey Bussell and Artistic Director, Gerard Charles and former English National Ballet dancer Shevelle Dynott choose Richard, aged 8, from Alderbrook Primary School as the competition winner for his colourful depiction of a dancer in motion. Not only will Richard’s work be exhibited in the new building later this year, but Richard wins a personalised dance workshop at RAD for his whole class, along with a special tour of the new purpose-built Academy.

With 48 entries submitted to the competition, following competitive judging, prizes have also been awarded to runners up:

• Genevieve from Finton House School, aged 9
• Indiana from Sellincourt Primary School, aged 9

Richard, alongside runners up Indiana and Genevieve were introduced to HRH The Duchess of Cornwall and had the opportunity to present their work to her as she formally opened our new state-of-the-art global headquarters.

Gerard Charles, Artistic Director, Royal Academy of Dance said: “We are delighted to announce the winner and runners up of the very first borough-wide RAD art competition for schools. With entries from pupils right across Wandsworth, we received an extremely high calibre of artworks. However, it was Richard’s work that really stood out to the panel, really capturing the sense of freedom of movement alongside a sense of light. All of which really show what dance means beyond the body”.

Dame Darcey Bussell, President, Royal Academy of Dance said: “I loved the energy and use of colours in Richard’s work, as well as how physical it felt. I particularly enjoyed how it flowed across the whole page, and the imaginative little details added to the mood of the picture”.

Shevelle Dynott, former English National Ballet dancer, said: “The judging process was very difficult given the outstanding quality of work submitted by schools. The winning work really captured the gradient from light to dark and the expressive movement of the subject that stretched across the page – showcasing the essence of joy that dancing can inspire”.