RAD United Kingdom | Junior Summer School

Booking Deadline:

Monday 1 June 2026

Event Date:

Monday 27 July 2026 – Saturday 8 August 2026

Country:

United Kingdom

Location:

London

Available Online?

Who’s it for?

Students aged 8 – 17, studying grade 2 – inter-foundation or equivalent.

Fee:

Members £480 per week
Non-members £530 per week

Contact:

participate@rad.org.uk

Booking opens 17 December 2025 →

Step into a world of dance this summer!

Come and enjoy a fun-filled week of dancing with us this summer. This programme is designed for young aspiring dancers. It provides an opportunity for students to immerse themselves in dance, learning within a creative environment, from top professional teachers in the industry whilst making friends with like-minded students from the UK and abroad. The week will enhance students’ dance technique and artistry and culminates in a sharing of work on the final day of the course—all taking place within the Academy’s world-class purpose-built studios and facilities.

Highlights of the programme include:

A West End theatre trip
Experience a variety of dance styles including ballet, group dance and creative and develop your skills in the performing arts
The chance to be taught by professional teachers with years of experience within the industry
The opportunity to perform to friends and family in the Aud Jebsen Studio Theatre at our purpose-built headquarters
Opportunities to share fun activities and classes with new friends

Classes

All students will take classes in:

non-syllabus ballet
classical group dance
creative dance
body conditioning, yoga or Pilates
and one other dance style that varies each week, the variable dance style will be one of the following: hip-hop, musical theatre or street dance.

All classes are compulsory and each dance class is 1 hour duration.

Please see an example timetable of what a day at the Junior Summer School may look like.

Who can attend

Students must be studying ballet, Grade 2 up to Intermediate Foundation, or the equivalent, and therefore be familiar with the ballet terminology and phrases at Grade 2 as a minimum. There is no audition, selection, or elimination process. Students will be grouped by the Artistic Team according to their age and the information provided on their application relating to their Grade in ballet and other dance experience. Please ensure your application is accurate.

Please review our syllabus vocabulary with your child’s ballet teacher if you are unsure what level they are currently studying. Students can be studying the RAD ballet syllabus or another ballet syllabus, and are not required to have RAD Membership to be eligible to attend the London Summer School.

Dates and Times

Dates

Week 1: Monday 27 July – Saturday 1 August 2026

Week 2: Monday 3 August – Saturday 8 August 2026

Booking deadline: Monday 1 June 2026

Times

Monday-Friday: 10.15am – 5pm
Saturday: Hours vary, students will finish no later than 4.15pm.

Students will have a short morning and afternoon break with a longer lunch break in the middle of the day.

The theatre trip day will be an earlier start, and on the Saturday tuition hours vary for the parent open day.

A full timetable will be included in the final Information Pack sent to all attendees following the closing date.

Early Bird Club

The Early Bird Club runs each morning (Monday – Friday) from 8.30am.

For an additional fee of up to £15.00 per day, students will be cared for by our dedicated and friendly team of chaperones and offered a choice of indoor activities. The aim is to provide an affordable, safe and stimulating environment before dance classes begin and to give parents added flexibility. Fresh fruit and milk will be provided, students are welcome to bring their own breakfast cereal, or purchase something from the onsite cafe.

Faculty

To be announced soon.

Lunch

Students must bring a packed lunch each day as this will not be provided. Snacks and drinks will be available for students during the breaks. All dietary requirements should be submitted at the time of application.

Venue

The Summer School will be held at our purpose-built studios in London.

Royal Academy of Dance
188 York Road
London
SW11 3JZ

See helpful information on how to find us here.

Theatre Trip

As part of the Junior Summer School students will attend a matinée West End performance one afternoon. Please note, coaches will be provided to escort all students to the theatre and parents will collect students from the theatre after the show. See details of the show each week below.

Week 1 – Oliver!

Thursday 30 July 2026, 2.30pm

Gielgud Theatre, 35-37 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6AR

Junior Summer School students must be between the age of 8-17 years when they commence the course.

Bringing Charles Dickens’ beloved novel to life, Lionel Bart’s Oliver! takes audiences on a wild adventure through Victorian England. Join young, orphaned Oliver Twist as he navigates London’s underworld of theft and violence, searching for a home, a family, and – most importantly – for love. When Oliver is picked up on the street by a boy named the Artful Dodger, he is welcomed into a gang of child pickpockets led by the conniving, but charismatic, Fagin. When Oliver is falsely accused of a theft he didn’t commit, he is rescued by a kind and wealthy gentleman, to the dismay of Fagin’s violent sidekick, Bill Sikes. Caught in the middle is the warm-hearted Nancy, who is trapped under Bill’s thumb, but desperate to help Oliver, with tragic results.

Week 2 – Disney’s The Lion King

Wednesday 5 August 2026, 2.30pm

Lyceum Theatre, 21 Wellington Street, London, WC2E 7RQ

Disney’s award-winning musical The Lion King explodes with glorious colours, stunning effects and enchanting music. It follows the powerful story of Simba as he journeys from wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Pridelands.

Now in its 27th year at London’s Lyceum Theatre, visionary director Julie Taymor’s acclaimed reimagining of Disney’s beloved film will redefine your expectation of theatre.

Please see the travel guide to get to our studios.

Booking opens 17 December 2025 →

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Further information

Accommodation

The RAD does not organise accommodation for students, however, if you are looking for somewhere close by to stay, you may find our List of Accommodation below, helpful.

Tuition Award

One tuition award will be presented to a student (at any level) who has shown significant improvement at the RAD Junior Summer School. The award is one week’s tuition at an RAD Summer School in 2027 or 2028.

Discounts

RAD members discount: students who are members of the RAD will receive a discounted price. Please enter your RAD ID when prompted to do so during the booking process to receive this discount.
Sibling discounts: Two sibling students: 10% off total cost of tuition fee, and three or more sibling students: 20% off total cost of tuition fees. Please contact the Learning and Participation Team by emailing participate@rad.org.uk to retrieve the discount code prior to booking.
Group discounts: A 10% discount will be applied to the tuition fee for groups of 10-15 students. Please contact the Learning and Participation Team by emailing participate@rad.org.uk to secure places. Please note, group bookings are subject to availability.

Discounts cannot be combined; only one discount option is allowed per booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

For further questions, please see our FAQs here or contact participate@rad.org.uk

Booking Process

Places are limited in each class and secured on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment is required at the time of booking.
An automatic email will be sent via the booking platform CVENT to confirm your registration and payment were successful.
Please quote the CVENT order no/ticket reference when contacting the RAD with any queries related to your booking.
Please ensure you have read the Terms and Conditions, which includes the RAD’s cancellation policy.
When a class is fully-booked, a waiting list will be activated. The Learning and Participation Team will contact you via email should a suitable place become available.
After the closing date, you will receive an additional confirmation by email, detailing registration times, suggested dress, and all other relevant information for the course and venue.
For all queries, please email participate@rad.org.uk

Please ensure you check the ticket details carefully. If the ticket you wish to book appears sold out, please apply online for the ‘Waiting List’ ticket. The will contact you should a suitable place become available.

Please ensure you have read our Courses and Workshops Terms & Conditions carefully before you apply. You will need to confirm your acceptance of these terms when you register your place.

The RAD uses Cvent for ticketing and registration for events (including workshops, masterclasses, CPD, and a range of free activities). We only store your personal information in order to facilitate your attendance and to request feedback. We will not use your information to contact you unless you have opted to receive marketing materials or have signed up for our e-newsletter. For further details on how your information is processed, please see the Student Activities Privacy Notice.

Please note, in the event of injury or medical emergency during the activity a qualified First Aider from Royal Academy of Dance will provide necessary treatment and assistance to the participant. Please see our Terms & Conditions for further information on this.

Junior Summer School