RAD United Kingdom | Intermediate Foundation: Focus on Variations Live Stream CPD Course

Event Date:

Sunday 1 February 2026 – Monday 2 February 2026

Event Time:

9.30am – 12.30pm GMT each day

Country:

United Kingdom

Location:

Online

Available Online?

Yes

Who’s it for?

This course is open to all ballet teachers. It is recommended for mid-career teachers.

Fee:

Members £115 | €134 | $156
Non-members £161 | €186 | $218

Contact:

cpd@rad.org.uk

Online

This practical course is designed to give participants a deeper understanding of the steps and movements in each variation of the RAD Intermediate Foundation (Male and Female) syllabus. The course will focus on the development of correct technique through the progression of vocabulary, differences in music and style for each variation. You will also have an opportunity to discuss the related examination assessment criteria.

Aim

The aim of this course is to boost participants’ confidence in teaching the Intermediate Foundation syllabus variations through enhancing their knowledge and understanding of technique, style and musicality.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course, participants will:

Be able to demonstrate, physically and/or through explanation, an understanding of the technique and movement quality in each variation,
Be able to demonstrate, physically and/or through explanation, an understanding of the correct style and performance elements for each variation,
Be able to discuss musical interpretation,
Have knowledge and understanding of approaches to help their learners develop expressive and confident performance,
Have knowledge and understanding of the relationship between elements of technique, style, musicality and overall performance outlined above, and
Have knowledge and understanding of the assessment criteria for examinations (Male and Female).

Dates and Times

This course will be split across two days:

1 February, 9.30am – 12.30pm GMT
2 February, 9.30am – 12.30pm GMT

You must attend both sessions. This course will not be recorded.

If you are booking outside of the UK, please check your time zone against GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).

Platform

This activity will be hosted on Zoom. You will be sent details of how to join the activity within five working days prior to the start date.

Resources

You will require the following resources:

A computer/laptop/tablet with internet connection, a camera, microphone and speakers

This is a practical course, please ensure you have space to move and have your camera turned on to actively participate.

Recommended Preparation

Participants should familiarise themselves with the variations through the word notes, Benesh Movement Notation (BMN), DVD/video on the RAD app and music for RAD Intermediate Foundation, and study the vocabulary in the variations and refer to The Foundations and Progressions of Classical Ballet publication to ensure that you have an understanding of how the movements and steps should be executed.

Tutor

Deborah Mercer ARAD BA Hons RAD RTS

Born in Hong Kong, Deborah began her dance training there before being invited to join the Hong Kong Ballet Group where she performed regularly, as both corps and soloist. She went on to train at the Académie Princess Grace followed by the Rambert School of Ballet. She gained a degree in modern languages from the University of Westminster and an MA in marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing and, following a period working in marketing and commerce, she re-trained as a dance teacher gaining qualifications from the RAD and ISTD.

Deborah has taught in Brighton and Hove for many years at various dance schools including Brighton College and The Brighton Academy. She was head of ballet at a private dance school, and senior ballet teacher at Brighton College before opening her own school in 2020. Over the years, she has choreographed for numerous shows and her pupils have gone onto prestigious vocational dance schools such as English National Ballet School, Elmhurst, Rambert, and Tring Park as well as gaining places as Associates at the Royal Ballet School and Central School of Ballet. In addition, her pupils have seen success in competitions with a finalist in the Genée International Ballet Competition (now The Fonteyn) and All England Dance.

In 2021 Deborah became an RAD Examiner and shortly afterwards a CPD tutor. She is passionate about passing on her knowledge to the next generation of dancers and teachers.

CPD Hours

8 hours Time-Valued CPD

Fees

Members of the Royal Academy of Dance receive discounts on all CPD activities.

How to book

For details on how your information is processed, please see the Cvent Privacy Policy and the CPD Privacy Notice. Please also read our Terms and Conditions.

This course will be hosted on Zoom. Please read Zoom’s Privacy Policy.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the above, please contact the CPD Team, cpd@rad.org.uk.

Contact

If you have any questions about this activity, please email cpd@rad.org.uk.

Book now

Special offer!

Book onto the Intermediate Foundation course and receive a 10% discount for the Intermediate course. Discount will be automatically applied.

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Intermediate Foundation: Focus on Variations Live Stream CPD Course

Aim