Members’ Conference London 3-Day Pass
Friday 24 July 2026 – Sunday 26 July 2026
From 9am BST each day
Event Date:
Friday 24 July 2026 – Sunday 26 July 2026
Event Time:
From 9am BST each day
Country:
Location:
London
Available Online?
No
Who’s it for?
RAD Members
CPD hours:
20 hours Time-Valued CPD
Fee:
£260*
Contact:
*Subject to availability. Ticket price is inclusive of VAT and ticket transaction fees.
Headline Sponsor of the event
Join us at the Royal Academy of Dance headquarters in London for the RAD Members’ Conference 2026, a vibrant multi-day event uniting our global dance community.
Discover a brand-new RAD experience launching this year, packed with practical workshops and opportunities to connect with fellow RAD members, dance educators, and industry experts.
The programme will feature a rich mix of talks, CPD sessions, and creative tasters, providing 20 hours of Time-Valued CPD**. The event will also include the RAD Annual General Meeting, the RAD Awards, and a celebratory reception. A special highlight of the conference will be the launch of RAD’s new Musical Theatre syllabus.
Your ticket also gives you access to watch the recordings on-demand (only for those sessions that are available online). Session recordings will be available for 6 months after the conference. You can also add a non-member guest to your booking for an additional ticket fee.
To see the full programme, click on each day below and view what’s on.
Pay for your ticket in instalments
Members can now pay for their Members’ Conference tickets in instalments. Secure your ticket with a 50% deposit***.
This pass is to attend the Members’ Conference only. If you also wish to attend the Musical Theatre Introductory Training (CPD), please check out our bundle pass. To purchase an individual day pass and view other ticketing options, see below.
**Participants who have exceeded their required CPD hours for the 2025/26 CPD year can carry forward any additional hours gained from the Musical Theatre CPD course and Members’ Conference into 2026/27.
***Full payment must reach us before 8 July.
To see the full programme, click on each day below to expand and view what’s on for that day, or click here to view a PDF version of the programme.
Take a look at the sessions available on Friday
Ballet and Beyond: the road ahead for RAD
Available for in-person and online attendees
Join us as we kickstart the RAD Members’ Conference 2026. This session features a celebration of the launch of the new Musical Theatre syllabus and will set the stage for an engaging weekend which promises insights, inspiration, and an exciting look ahead at the future of dance.
Session speaker: Alexander Campbell
Alexander Campbell was born in Sydney, Australia. He was attracted to ballet at the age of five after seeing the work of his grandmother, a former examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance
Alexander won a silver medal at the 2003 RAD Genée International Ballet Competition (now renamed The Fonteyn), which was held in Birmingham. Through this experience, Alexander was introduced to Birmingham Royal Ballet, securing his first job with the company in 2005.
He joined The Royal Ballet as a Soloist in 2011 and was promoted to Principal in June 2016, a role he held until retiring to take up the position of Artistic Director of the Royal Academy of Dance in 2024.
Annual General Meeting
Available for in-person and online attendees
Our 89th Annual General Meeting is your chance to vote for our next Trustees. You can ask questions to the RAD’s Executive team, including RAD’s CEO, Elizabeth Honer and Chair of the Board of Trustees, Stephen Moss. Only Eligible Members (Teachers, RAD Member Plus, and Life Members) can participate in this session.
Stretch and Strength
Available for in-person attendees
A class that aids strength and assists with fluency of movement, body awareness and ballet qualities. An hour that will leave you lifted, toned and reset.
Session speaker: Sophie Auger
Sophie Auger is a professional ballet dancer, ballet teacher and movement specialist whose career spans elite performance, teacher training, and innovative fitness education. Upon graduating from vocational training at London Studio Centre, Sophie joined The Sarasota Ballet in Florida, where she performed professionally before returning to the UK.
Back in London, Sophie gained her teaching qualification through the Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma (PDTD)at the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), as well as completing the Affiliate Training and Assessment Programme (ATAP) through The Royal Ballet School. She has since taught at some of London’s leading private dance institutions, including English National Ballet Junior School and The Ballet School Notting Hill, working with young dancers to develop strong classical technique, musicality, and artistry.
Alongside her teaching career, Sophie is a Principal Trainer for Sleek Technique, a ballet-inspired training method that has been featured in Women’s Health and Vogue. Her passion for helping people achieve a long, lean dancer’s physique led her to create her own platform and school, Ballet With Sophie.
Through popular Ballet With Sophie workshops and classes, Sophie delivers a ballet-themed workout that promotes strength, fluency of movement, body awareness, and refined ballet qualities. This evolving technique leaves participants feeling lifted, toned, and reset, helping to sculpt lean, elegant bodies while reconnecting them with the joy and intelligence of movement.
The Art and Science of the Warm-up: Translating Dance Science into Practice
Available for in-person attendees
This practical session explores the art and science behind an effective dance warmup, blending current research with embodied expertise. Participants will examine the physiological principles that underpin physical preparation, injury risk reduction, and enhanced performance potential, while engaging in movement tasks that translate evidence into clear, usable practice. The workshop aims to equip teachers and dancers with the knowledge and tools to design warmups that are applicable, adaptable, and aligned with safe and effective, evidence-informed, best practice.
Session speaker: Edel Quin
Edel is a former professional dancer, turned internationally recognised dance teacher, lecturer, and researcher. She co-authored ‘Safe Dance Practice: An Applied Dance Science Perspective’ (Human Kinetics, 2015), a cornerstone resource in the field of dance teaching and training. In 2021, Edel was awarded the prestigious International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) Dance Educator Award, honouring her work in integrating dance science into teaching and prioritising dancer well-being through evidence-based practice across styles, ages, and settings. Edel has worked at leading institutions across the globe, including Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (UK), Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (Hong Kong), Irish World Academy of Music and Dance (University of Limerick, Ireland), University of Bern (Switzerland), Beijing Dance Academy (China) and University of Wyoming (USA). Now based in Chichester, UK, Edel contributes to the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Dance Science, Dance, and Sport Science at the University of Chichester. As a freelance educator, her work continues to inform and support future generations of dancers and educators.
Exploring Character Dance: educating the 21st century dancer
Available for in-person and online attendees
This session explores the role of character dance in strengthening and enhancing classical ballet education for the contemporary dancer. Through discussion and practical reflection, the session will unpack key principles of character dance that support both technical and artistic development.
The session will also explore the influence and inclusion of character, folk, and national dance traditions within classical repertoire, with reference to works such as Raymonda, Dances at a Gathering, Onegin, and The Firebird.
Session speaker: Justine Berry PDTD RTS ARAD PGCE MA
Justine joined London City Ballet at the age of seventeen and enjoyed an international performing career spanning 19 years. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Dance’s Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma (PDTD) with Distinction.
Justine has taught for the Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet School, Central School of Ballet, Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, Laine Theatre Arts, amongst others. For the Royal Academy of Dance, she has taught across many programmes, summer schools, workshops and CPD activities.
She has also taught Benesh Movement Notation at the Royal Ballet School, anatomy at London Studio Centre and held the role of Ballet Mistress and répétiteur for many touring companies.
Justine has extensive experience in dance teacher education. She was a Lecturer in Dance Education for the Faculty of Education at the RAD from 2019 to 2022. She has taught on programmes including The Professional Dancers’ Postgraduate Certificate and the BA (Hons) in Ballet Education. She was significantly involved in the Royal Academy of Dance’s Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma (PDTD) UK for many years, including tutoring, assessing, and reshaping the programme. Justine was the PDTD Programme Manager (UK and China) from 2019 until 2022.
In 2022, Justine was appointed Subject Lead: Ballet and Contemporary at Bird College.
Justine taught Character technique and repertoire at the Royal Ballet School from 2018 until 2022. She was fortunate to study Maria Fay’s approach to character extensively with specialists Valerie Sunderland and Amanda Maxwell, both of whom worked closely with Maria Fay. Justine continues to teach Character for RBS Intensive programmes and auditions. She is a tutor for the Royal Ballet School’s Inspire seminars and has taught and assessed for the school’s Diploma in Dance Teaching.
Other roles include former Chairman of the Royal Academy of Dance’s London and Middlesex Regional Advisory Board and Trustee of the Academy, 2016 -2019. Justine returned as Trustee in 2024 and serves on the Artistic sub-committee.
Justine has a keen interest in music, in dance teaching and education. She holds a Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching (University of the Arts) and the Master of Teaching (Dance) from the University of Surrey/ Royal Academy of Dance.
Session speaker: Alexander Campbell
Alexander Campbell was born in Sydney, Australia. He was attracted to ballet at the age of five after seeing the work of his grandmother, a former examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance
Alexander won a silver medal at the 2003 RAD Genée International Ballet Competition (now renamed The Fonteyn), which was held in Birmingham. Through this experience, Alexander was introduced to Birmingham Royal Ballet, securing his first job with the company in 2005.
He joined The Royal Ballet as a Soloist in 2011 and was promoted to Principal in June 2016, a role he held until retiring to take up the position of Artistic Director of the Royal Academy of Dance in 2024.
Exploring the Karsavina Syllabus: Technique, Style and Expression
Available for in-person attendees
Step into the artistry and technical clarity of the RAD Karsavina Syllabus in this engaging and insightful session. This session offers valuable insights for those teaching, studying, or working with the Karsavina Syllabus, providing tools to enrich classroom practice, refine performance quality, and inspire a more expressive and informed approach to classical dance.
Session speaker: Holly Grace
BA(Hons) LRAD ARAD ABATD RAD RTS
Holly grew up in Yorkshire and studied ballet at the Scott Stevenson School of Dance, where she trained in RAD graded and vocational ballet alongside BATD tap and modern, winning multiple national scholarships during her training. After gaining her associate teacher’s status with the British Association of Teachers of Dancing, Holly then moved to London to continue her ballet studies. She graduated with a First-Class degree from the BA(Hons) Ballet Education course and gained Distinction in her Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance programme, receiving the prestigious Iris Truscott Scholarship to support her continued professional development. Holly is now a freelance ballet teacher, teaching a variety of genres at several well-established schools across London, including the RAD Dance School.
As part of her specialist training at the RAD, Holly had the privilege of studying the Karsavina syllabus under the guidance of Virginia Parkinson and Louise Jefferson and was awarded the Rachel Cameron Prize in recognition of her excellence in her studies. Holly continues to support the work of the Karsavina Heritage Award, having demonstrated at numerous CPD events with the honour of performing in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Camilla and Dame Darcey Bussell. She is passionate about preserving the Karsavina legacy and, through her involvement with the programme, is committed to sharing its unique artistic heritage through her own teaching and professional practice.
Musical Theatre: Putting it Together
Available for in-person and online attendees
We sing… we dance… we act… now we must do it all at the same time! Dr Nathan James will guide you through a rehearsal process of showing you how we can build on integrating the technical skills into one complete performance.
Session speaker: Dr Nathan James
Dr Nathan James PhD MA (Dist.)
Fellow and Examiner ISTD FIDTA ANATD MBBO Cert FE (QTLS)
Nathan trained in the Midlands in all musical theatre and dance disciplines, along with his initial teaching qualifications. As a performer, he appeared in several pantomimes at the Birmingham Hippodrome alongside several contracts for Celebrity and Princess Cruise Lines. Upon returning to England and settling in London, Nathan has performed in a range of regional productions, including ‘Copacabana’ and ‘Hello Dolly’ and various trade shows and TV commercials. He has toured the UK in the national tour of ‘Copacabana’ and Europe in the Irish dance show ‘Spirit of the Dance’. He also completed a season at the renowned Chichester Festival Theatre. Nathan last appeared in the revival of the Broadway Musical ‘42nd Street’, albeit in German, in the city of Stuttgart.
Following his first passion, teaching, Nathan established himself as a successful jazz and tap tutor and choreographer working at several vocational schools, including Arts Ed, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Bodywork Dance Studios, Sylvia Young Theatre School and Performers College, Birmingham. In 2008, Nathan joined the faculty of Urdang Academy, ultimately taking over the running of the degree programmes as Director of HE Programmes. Nathan has also taught at many private dance schools and taught workshops across the country. He has also delivered the ISTD teaching qualifications at various centres.
He completed an MA in Professional Practice (awarded with Distinction) at Middlesex University and was awarded a PhD in Dance in 2018 from the University of Roehampton. He is an examiner for the ISTD Modern and Tap faculties and has been part of the teaching and creative team for tap. As an External Examiner, Nathan has overseen the degree programmes at Shockout and currently Laine Theatre Arts.
An experienced adjudicator, Nathan represents the British Federation of Festivals and was a trustee and Artistic Director for All England Dance, where he chaired the Artistic Committee. Nathan was responsible for the accreditation and launch of the Dang Theatre and Dance Syllabus and its rollout into performing arts schools. After working with the RAD as a development consultant and creating their OFQUAL-regulated Musical Theatre, Nathan has been appointed as the Deputy Artistic Director (Education).
Syllabus Technique: Focus on Adage
Available for online attendees
This session will explore elements of adage and its pedagogy through the graded and vocational levels. You will gain insight into how to best support your students in their development of their physical, musical and artistic demonstration of adage.
Session speaker: Emily Koschyk
Emily Anne Koschyk (RAD Teaching Dip, Dip LCDD, ISTD DDE) trained at London College of Dance and Drama in Bedford and graduated with Distinction in Teaching Studies. In 1988, she moved to Germany and danced in national television and theatre productions. She taught in various schools around the country before opening her own school.
At this time, she also led a full-time 3-year teacher training programme, from which many young aspiring teachers successfully graduated. In 2020, Emily relocated back to the south of England and now teaches on a freelance basis. She conducts workshops and teaches at various summer schools in Europe.
Since its inception in 2004, Emily has been a tutor for a number of modules of the Royal Academy of Dance CBTS and also tutors on the PDPTC Programme based in Berlin. She is an examiner and was invited to be a CPD tutor for all levels from Pre-Primary to Advanced 2, and travels extensively in these roles. Emily is a tutor for the Royal Ballet School’s Inspire series.
Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Workshop
Session sponsor: Freed of London
Available for in-person and online attendees
A unique opportunity to work with leading New Adventures dance artists and explore movement from a Matthew Bourne production. The session will include learning choreography, creative tasks and provide an insight to New Adventures’ methodology and artistic approach.
Lesson Plan Lab
Available for in-person attendees
This interactive session brings dance teachers together to explore effective approaches to lesson planning and class creation. Combining expert guidance with peer discussion, the session is designed to support teachers in developing engaging, purposeful, and adaptable dance lessons. Whether you are looking for fresh inspiration, practical structure, or the opportunity to learn from fellow educators, this collaborative session offers a supportive space to reflect, share, and strengthen your teaching practice.
Session speaker: Vikki Allport
Originally from the northeast of England, Victoria began her dance training at age five, progressing through RAD grades and vocational examinations and embarking on the RAD Student Teaching Certificate at 16. Her professional career as a dancer and choreographer has spanned the UK and internationally.
After relocating to Mexico, Victoria founded a highly successful dance school and established Acadancers, a company producing seasonal classical ballets in collaboration with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Acapulco. Alongside this, she choreographed for Mexican pop artists, performed in music videos, and completed the RAD Teaching Diploma, gaining a high Distinction.
During her tenure in Mexico, she was the recipient of a distinguished honour recognising her exceptional contribution to the arts in the state of Guerrero.
On returning to the UK, Victoria became Head of Ballet at a leading independent school and an examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance. During this time, her students excelled in exams and at the prestigious Genee competition. She is also a recipient of the Phyllis Bedells Bursary choreographic award.
A Life Member of the RAD, Victoria is also a trustee and member of both the artistic and exams sub-committees. She is an experienced CPD tutor, a Silver Swans® tutor since 2017, and has contributed to RAD teacher training programmes, including the CDT and CBTS. Her former students include professional dancers and RAD Teaching Members working internationally.
Syllabus Technique: Focus on Ports De Bras
Available for in-person attendees
This session will explore elements of port de bras and its pedagogy through the graded and vocational levels. You will gain insight into how to best support your students in their development of their physical, musical and artistic demonstration of port de bras.
Session speaker: Emily Koschyk
Emily Anne Koschyk (RAD Teaching Dip, Dip LCDD, ISTD DDE) trained at London College of Dance and Drama in Bedford and graduated with Distinction in Teaching Studies. In 1988, she moved to Germany and danced in national television and theatre productions. She taught in various schools around the country before opening her own school.
At this time, she also led a full-time 3-year teacher training programme, from which many young aspiring teachers successfully graduated. In 2020, Emily relocated back to the south of England and now teaches on a freelance basis. She conducts workshops and teaches at various summer schools in Europe.
Since its inception in 2004, Emily has been a tutor for a number of modules of the Royal Academy of Dance CBTS and also tutors on the PDPTC Programme based in Berlin. She is an examiner and was invited to be a CPD tutor for all levels from Pre-Primary to Advanced 2, and travels extensively in these roles. Emily is a tutor for the Royal Ballet School’s Inspire series.
Seated Swans Workshop
Available for online attendees
This session will introduce the RAD’s Seated Swans resources. Whether you are a Silver Swans® Licensee or you are interested in learning more about chair-based dance, this session will give you examples of appropriate exercises which can be adapted and made relevant for your individual learners.
Session speaker: Sarah Platt
Sarah trained with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) from childhood grades, through the Teacher Training College, a distance-learning degree course and into postgraduate education. Research in ‘Inclusive Dance Practice’ at Postgraduate level instigated an interest in more diverse teaching. Sarah was part of the RAD Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing (DfLW) project in 2012, undertaking practice-based research into the benefits and considerations when teaching older learners to dance. Having contributed to the RAD Report (2013) and presented at the DfLW conference (2013), she participated in the second phase of the DfLW project (2017) and acted as mentor to other researching teachers. From these beginnings came the creation of the RAD Silver Swans Ballet programme, formally launched in 2017, the benefits of which Sarah is passionate about.
Sarah has had the opportunity to share the joy of Silver Swans in many contexts, particularly during the pandemic when there was a surge of interest in ways to keep fit and healthy whilst isolating or in lockdown. Sharing enthusiasm through various media and presenting in a range of situations contributed to her earning the RAD Advocacy Award in 2020. Her latest project has been developing the Seated Swans programme so that even more people can share the joy of dance. Sarah currently enjoys teaching Silver Swans in a wide range of contexts, from church halls, through Zoom (still!), at RAD HQ, and she has the great honour of teaching our prestigious Swan, Queen Camilla, whenever Her Majesty’s diary permits.
Take a look at the sessions available on Saturday
Creative Training
Available for in-person and online attendees
This session will introduce you to the Creative Training Syllabus: Ballet, a new framework designed to support technical progression, creativity, and musicality from Grade 1 to Grade 5. Through practical exploration and discussion, you will gain insight into the pedagogical intentions of the syllabus and how it allows for teacher autonomy while maintaining consistency in standards.
Session speaker: Alexander Campbell
Alexander Campbell was born in Sydney, Australia. He was attracted to ballet at the age of five after seeing the work of his grandmother, a former examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance
Alexander won a silver medal at the 2003 RAD Genée International Ballet Competition (now renamed The Fonteyn), which was held in Birmingham. Through this experience, Alexander was introduced to Birmingham Royal Ballet, securing his first job with the company in 2005.
He joined The Royal Ballet as a Soloist in 2011 and was promoted to Principal in June 2016, a role he held until retiring to take up the position of Artistic Director of the Royal Academy of Dance in 2024.
How to Promote Your Work
Available for in-person and online attendees
Join Isabel Sachs, founder of I LIKE NETWORKING, to explore strategies to promote your creative work or business.
The workshop will focus on:
- Communications Strategies
- Finding your audience
- Overcoming the fear of selling
- How networking can help
With time for Q&A and bespoke advice.
Session speaker: Isabel Sachs
Isabel Sachs is a D&AD & Lovie Award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, and strategist recognised as one of the top 21 most influential women by Startups Magazine and one of The Dots’ 100 women transforming the Creative Industry.
With over 20 years of experience, she has worked with brands, creatives, and organisations to drive organic engagement through strategic communications, community-building, and events.
She has delivered keynotes and workshops for Apple, The New York Times, The British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, KFC, Domestika, and more on topics including entrepreneurship, creative careers, and networking.
Isabel is the founder of I LIKE NETWORKING, an award-winning platform supporting 45k+ women and non-binary individuals in the creative industries, mentoring over 1,000 people since 2020, with features in the Evening Standard, Stylist, and The New York Times. She also leads Rahal/Sachs, a 360 creative agency focused on sports.
Previously, she founded an acclaimed cultural agency in Brazil, producing 50+ events annually, including international tours, and managing artists and a theatre company. Her work spans nonprofits, cultural organisations, and global brands such as Converse, Red Bull, and Lollapalooza.
Dynamics and Benesh Movement Notation: Finding the Narrative in the Score
Available for online attendees
Discover how to tell the story of a dance through Benesh Movement Notation and the use of dynamics, and how this contributes to your teaching practice.
Session speaker: Melanie Simpkin
DPBMN
Head of Benesh International
Melanie began her ballet training in Cheshire before attending the Arts Educational School, Tring. From there, she studied Dance at the University of Surrey. Choosing to specialise in Benesh Movement Notation, Melanie graduated as a professional choreologist in 2010. She has been a notation tutor and examiner at Benesh International since 2014.
Her notation credits include The Tsarina’s Slippers (Alastair Marriott), Serenade (David Justin) and Medusa (Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui). Most recently, Melanie assisted in the restaging of Enigma Variations, The Sleeping Beauty, Coppélia and Swan Lake at the Royal Ballet in London.
She was invited by the Royal Academy of Dance as a guest teacher to conduct a series of Benesh masterclasses throughout Mexico. She was also a guest speaker at the Benesh International BenMove Congress at the Conservatoire in Paris.
Melanie divides her time between London and Austin, Texas.
Session speaker: Angela Solazzo
Benesh International Lead Officer
Angela began her ballet training at the age of three in the south of Italy, completing all RAD exams up to Advanced 2. She then moved to northern Italy to pursue professional training at a Vaganova ballet Academy. Seeking to expand her versatility as a dancer, she completed a BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London.
After years of rigorous training and performing in various theatres, she began her journey in dance education by teaching in the private sector. In 2023, she enrolled in the MA (Education) Dance Teaching programme at the Royal Academy of Dance, which has deepened her interest in the institution and sparked her enthusiasm for joining Benesh International.
Dancing in Heels
Available for in-person and online attendees
A session focusing on across the floor work in heels, progressing to musical theatre based choreographic material.
Session speaker: Lucy Banfield
Lucy trained at The English National Ballet School and Laine Theatre Arts.
With over 25 years of industry experience, Lucy began her career as a professional ballet dancer before moving into musical theatre, film, television, and a range of work across the commercial arts sector. She has had the privilege of working with and assisting many renowned directors and choreographers, including Susan Stroman, Baz Luhrmann, Kenneth Branagh, Matt Cole, Arlene Phillips, Carlos Acosta, Rob Ashford, Twyla Tharp, Andy Blankenbuehler, Drew McOnie, Karen Bruce, Lucie Pankhurst, Adam Cooper, Javier Frutos, and Kim Gavin.
Lucy is a multifaceted dance professional. She is currently Head of Jazz at Laine Theatre Arts, and was formerly Head of Dance at ArtsEd and Head of Vocational Studies at Urdang. She has also lectured at numerous HE and FE institutions.
Lucy is an All England Adjudicator and has served on the All England Artistic Committee. She adjudicates, guest teaches and serves on panels at prestigious events in the UK and internationally. She is also the Choreographer and Movement Consultant for BLOCH photoshoots in the UK.
Lucy is an Independent Evaluator and Consultant for ENB’s Ballet Futures: The Pipeline Project, a member of the Black British Theatre Awards focus group, a patron of Melt Dance, and the founder of The Un-Boxed Collective.
Her choreography credits include Choreographer and Movement Director, G’Wed (ITV); Choreographer and Movement Director, A Thousand Blows (Disney+); Associate Choreographer, Guys and Dolls (West End, UK Tour, Tel Aviv); Resident Choreographer, Guys and Dolls (Chichester); Associate Choreographer, Grease (Royal Caribbean/David Ian Productions); Re-stager, Footloose (UK Tour); Associate Choreographer, Angelina Ballerina The Mousical (UK Tour, Australian Tour) and numerous Assistant Choreographer roles.
Her theatre dance credits include Sadler’s Wells, the London Palladium, ENO, the Royal Festival Hall and Chichester Festival Theatre. She has also performed with ENB.
Her television work includes Game of Thrones, Strictly Come Dancing for Kylie Minogue, The Royal Variety Show, The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff, Dancing on Ice, Dancing in the Streets and Strictly Dance Fever. Her film work includes Death on the Nile, Disney’s Cinderella and Disney’s Artemis Fowl for Kenneth Branagh, and Centre Stage for Susan Stroman.
Lucy was also Dance Captain/Dancer for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Closing Ceremonies. teacher training programmes, including the CDT and CBTS. Her former students include professional dancers and RAD Teaching Members working internationally.
Early Years – Dance to Your Own Tune
Available for in-person attendees
This session will explore the key learning outcomes of the Dance to Your Own Tune curriculum, and you will be given examples of suitable class content. By analysing class planning and delivery, you will have the opportunity to develop your own ideas and class plan in relation to content covered within the session.
Elevating Dance Teaching Education – supporting newly qualified teachers
Available for in-person attendees
This session is designed to equip newly qualified dance teachers with clear tools, strategies, and advice to support their transition into professional teaching. Ideal for early-career dance teachers, this session provides actionable insights and supportive guidance to help teachers feel prepared, empowered, and confident as they begin their teaching journey.
Syllabus Technique: Focus on Pointe Work
Available for in-person attendees
This session will explore elements of pointe work and its pedagogy through the vocational levels. You will gain insight into how to best support your students in their development of their physical, musical and artistic demonstration of pointe work.
Session speaker: Hilary Clark
Hilary Clark (ARAD (Dip PDTC), RTS), trained at Rambert School and after graduation joined Scottish Ballet, performing in all the major classics and new works, after which she toured extensively with London City Ballet and then graduated with Honours from the RAD’s PDTC course.
Hilary was Assistant Director at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance and has taught at Elmhurst, Laine Theatre Arts and London Junior/Senior Ballet, Central School of Ballet and at the RAD Dance School, where she continues to teach. Hilary has devised and conducted teachers’ CPD courses throughout the world, taught the Phyllis Bedells Bursary on-stage class and worked as the senior tutor for the PDTD London course and led and assessed the classical section of PDTD, China.
Hilary has been an external assessor worldwide, judged Dance Challenges in London, USA and Malaysia, choreographic awards, scholarships and the Solo Seal, London.
In 2013, Hilary was invited to teach and coach candidates of The Fonteyn (Genée) International Ballet Competition in Glasgow and again in London 2015, Lisbon 2017, and Toronto 2019. At Antwerp in 2014 and Hong Kong in 2018, she was privileged to have been invited to produce the competition, coach, and teach the ‘on stage’ Ballet class. In 2021, Hilary was part of the international online team conducting Dancer’s Own and Classical Repertoire coaching in 10 countries on Zoom.
In 2017, Hilary worked as the Artistic Consultant for Dance Proms at The Royal Albert Hall.
Between 2018 and 2020, Hilary was the Artistic Adviser to the RAD.
Hilary was a Trustee of the Royal Academy of Dance and a member of both the Artistic and Educational sub-committees 2016 -2023.
In 2025, as well as her regular teaching and delivering on the Examination Intensive course in London, Hilary travelled to Kuala Lumpur to deliver the same course and to China to sit on the panel of their prestigious Youth Ballet Challenge and deliver CPD at their 2oth anniversary conference.
By annual invitation, Hilary is an external assessor for Central School of Ballet’s Associate Programme and continues to be a consultant for the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre.
Bridging Performance Psychology and Neurodiversity in Dance Education
Session sponsor: One Dance UK
Available for in-person and online attendees
The session will provide practical, embedded strategies for the studio, covering communication differences, sensory and emotional regulation, and the use of performance psychology tools, with the ultimate intention and invitation to creating inclusive, supportive, and differentiated learning environments where every learner can achieve their full artistic and individual potential.
Session speaker: Dr Irina Roncaglia
Dr Irina Roncaglia is a Chartered Psychologist and HCPC-registered as a Practising Sport & Exercise Psychologist. An Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a Committee Member for the London Home Counties Branch (LHC), she is also a Chartered Coaching Psychologist. She is a member of the International Association of Dance & Medicine (IADMS) as well as a Health Practitioner with One Dance UK (ODUK). Irina is a British Association Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) Registered Practitioner. She also holds Editorial roles within the Journal of Dance Medicine & Science (JDMS) and Psychological Thought publications. A former Soloist Artist with the English National Ballet (ENB). Irina has held a Psychology Clinical Lead role with the National Autistic Society (NAS) for the last 24 years. She currently works in her private Consultancy (IRC) and is an Associate Consultant with AT-Autism.
Pre-pointe Assessment
Available for in-person attendees
This session charts the preparations which underpin the requisites of pointe work. Examples of training exercises which prepare students for the progressive demands of pointe work, as well as strategies for implementing training exercises, will be explored.
Session speaker: Hilary Clark
Hilary Clark (ARAD (Dip PDTC), RTS), trained at Rambert School and after graduation joined Scottish Ballet, performing in all the major classics and new works, after which she toured extensively with London City Ballet and then graduated with Honours from the RAD’s PDTC course.
Hilary was Assistant Director at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance and has taught at Elmhurst, Laine Theatre Arts and London Junior/Senior Ballet, Central School of Ballet and at the RAD Dance School, where she continues to teach. Hilary has devised and conducted teachers’ CPD courses throughout the world, taught the Phyllis Bedells Bursary on-stage class and worked as the senior tutor for the PDTD London course and led and assessed the classical section of PDTD, China.
Hilary has been an external assessor worldwide, judged Dance Challenges in London, USA and Malaysia, choreographic awards, scholarships and the Solo Seal, London.
In 2013, Hilary was invited to teach and coach candidates of The Fonteyn (Genée) International Ballet Competition in Glasgow and again in London 2015, Lisbon 2017, and Toronto 2019. At Antwerp in 2014 and Hong Kong in 2018, she was privileged to have been invited to produce the competition, coach, and teach the ‘on stage’ Ballet class. In 2021, Hilary was part of the international online team conducting Dancer’s Own and Classical Repertoire coaching in 10 countries on Zoom.
In 2017, Hilary worked as the Artistic Consultant for Dance Proms at The Royal Albert Hall.
Between 2018 and 2020, Hilary was the Artistic Adviser to the RAD.
Hilary was a Trustee of the Royal Academy of Dance and a member of both the Artistic and Educational sub-committees 2016 -2023.
In 2025, as well as her regular teaching and delivering on the Examination Intensive course in London, Hilary travelled to Kuala Lumpur to deliver the same course and to China to sit on the panel of their prestigious Youth Ballet Challenge and deliver CPD at their 2oth anniversary conference.
By annual invitation, Hilary is an external assessor for Central School of Ballet’s Associate Programme and continues to be a consultant for the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre.
Musical Theatre Repertoire
Available for in-person and online attendees
A high-energy repertoire-based session exploring musical theatre dance technique, style, musicality, and narrative intention.
Session speaker: Lucy Banfield
Lucy trained at The English National Ballet School and Laine Theatre Arts.
With over 25 years of industry experience, Lucy began her career as a professional ballet dancer before moving into musical theatre, film, television, and a range of work across the commercial arts sector. She has had the privilege of working with and assisting many renowned directors and choreographers, including Susan Stroman, Baz Luhrmann, Kenneth Branagh, Matt Cole, Arlene Phillips, Carlos Acosta, Rob Ashford, Twyla Tharp, Andy Blankenbuehler, Drew McOnie, Karen Bruce, Lucie Pankhurst, Adam Cooper, Javier Frutos, and Kim Gavin.
Lucy is a multifaceted dance professional. She is currently Head of Jazz at Laine Theatre Arts, and was formerly Head of Dance at ArtsEd and Head of Vocational Studies at Urdang. She has also lectured at numerous HE and FE institutions.
Lucy is an All England Adjudicator and has served on the All England Artistic Committee. She adjudicates, guest teaches and serves on panels at prestigious events in the UK and internationally. She is also the Choreographer and Movement Consultant for BLOCH photoshoots in the UK.
Lucy is an Independent Evaluator and Consultant for ENB’s Ballet Futures: The Pipeline Project, a member of the Black British Theatre Awards focus group, a patron of Melt Dance, and the founder of The Un-Boxed Collective.
Her choreography credits include Choreographer and Movement Director, G’Wed (ITV); Choreographer and Movement Director, A Thousand Blows (Disney+); Associate Choreographer, Guys and Dolls (West End, UK Tour, Tel Aviv); Resident Choreographer, Guys and Dolls (Chichester); Associate Choreographer, Grease (Royal Caribbean/David Ian Productions); Re-stager, Footloose (UK Tour); Associate Choreographer, Angelina Ballerina The Mousical (UK Tour, Australian Tour) and numerous Assistant Choreographer roles.
Her theatre dance credits include Sadler’s Wells, the London Palladium, ENO, the Royal Festival Hall and Chichester Festival Theatre. She has also performed with ENB.
Her television work includes Game of Thrones, Strictly Come Dancing for Kylie Minogue, The Royal Variety Show, The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff, Dancing on Ice, Dancing in the Streets and Strictly Dance Fever. Her film work includes Death on the Nile, Disney’s Cinderella and Disney’s Artemis Fowl for Kenneth Branagh, and Centre Stage for Susan Stroman.
Lucy was also Dance Captain/Dancer for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Closing Ceremonies. teacher training programmes, including the CDT and CBTS. Her former students include professional dancers and RAD Teaching Members working internationally.
RAD Awards
Available for in-person and online attendees
Join us for a ceremony of celebration and recognition as we gather for the RAD Awards ceremony. This special event is dedicated to honouring individuals who have made significant and sustained contributions to dance.
Guest speaker: Beatriz Stix-Brunell
Beatriz Stix-Brunell is a former First Soloist of The Royal Ballet and is now completing her Bachelor of Science at Stanford University. Her work with The Royal Ballet includes title and originated roles that span the breadth of the company’s repertoire. Having transitioned from ballet to higher education, Stix-Brunell understands firsthand how to leverage the rigour, skills, and discipline honed through dance to pursue a new direction. Her educational philosophy is grounded in the belief that artistic excellence and intellectual inquiry are mutually reinforcing and essential to high-quality dance training.
Take a look at the sessions available on Sunday
Working creatively with older learners
Available for in-person and online attendees
Join Simona Scotto, Rehearsal Director for Sadler’s Wells’ Company of Elders, for a workshop focused on working creatively with older learners. Drawing on two recent works performed at Elixir Festival, Simona will share insights from the rehearsal process, followed by an open Q&A.
Session speaker: Simona Scotto
Simona Scotto is a renowned dancer, choreographer, and educator specializing in community engagement and dance with older people. Born in Sardinia, she trained extensively in classical and contemporary dance across Italy, London, and New York.
Simona has performed and choreographed internationally at venues including theatres in Turin and Rome, Il Teatro del Conservatorio (Cagliari), The Place Theatre, and the Lilian Baylis Theatre at Sadler’s Wells.
For over two decades, Simona has dedicated her career to dance and older adults, initially training with the Camden Active Health Team and evolving her practice to focus on the artistry of movement and fun for active groups. She is currently the Rehearsal Director of Sadler’s Wells Company of Elders, a role that involves collaboration with globally recognized artists such as Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Hofesh Shechter, Jasmin Vardimon, and Wayne McGregor. Her choreographic work with the company has toured across the UK and Europe.
In addition, Simona is the Director of her own company, Counterpoint Dance Company, which focuses on challenging older dancers. She has also acted as a Social Entrepreneur and Creative Producer for the Claremont Project, an arts centre for individuals over 55, developing multiple intergenerational productions.
Jazz Masterclass: The Spirit of Expression
Available for in-person and online attendees
Renowned for her powerful artistry, musicality, and expressive storytelling, Dollie Henry MBE invites dancers to explore jazz as a deeply expressive and dynamic art form. This masterclass goes beyond steps and technique, focusing on individuality, performance quality, and connecting movement to emotion and rhythm.
Session speaker: Dollie Henry MBE
Dollie is a pioneering choreographer, director, and educator whose career spans over four decades. Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading exponents of Artistic Jazz Dance, her work is defined by a unique fusion of theatrical narrative and the profound heritage of the jazz lineage.
In 1996, Dollie founded the Body of People (BOP) Jazz Theatre Company, a creative hub dedicated to the evolution of jazz as a concert art form. Alongside her creative partner, jazz composer and trumpeter Paul Jenkins, she has produced a prolific body of work that emphasises the vital marriage between live jazz music and dance. Her choreography is celebrated for its technical precision, emotional depth, and unwavering commitment to the Africanist roots of the genre.
Dollie’s extensive professional credits include choreography and movement direction for the West End stage, film, and television. She is a sought-after creative collaborator for major theatrical institutions and has served as a guest lecturer and choreographer at prestigious conservatoires, including Trinity Laban, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, and PPA Guildford.
A tireless advocate for dance education and mentorship, Dollie has travelled the globe sharing her jazz dance aesthetics through masterclasses, workshop programs and residencies. She continues to lead the way in jazz advocacy, producing and curating the bi-annual Jazz Arts Rewired Conventions at The Place, London. Dollie has also published the highly recommended book ‘The Essential Guide to Jazz Dance’, available direct from their publishers, Crowood Press: Essential Guide to Jazz Dance by Dollie Henry & Paul Jenkins.
Beyond her creative and educational leadership, Dollie holds several prestigious advocacy roles that champion excellence and representation across the arts. She is a proud Patron of the IDTA, The Hammond School, Ignite Dance Company and STEPPS.
Her commitment to industry reform and mentorship is reflected in her positions as an Artistic Guardian for the CGO Institute, Creative Advisor with Audition Circle and as a member and presenter of the Black British Theatre Awards. Through these roles, Dollie continues to shape the future of the British performing arts landscape, ensuring the integrity and diversity of the art form are preserved and integrated into the broader fabric of modern performing arts training for future generations.
In recognition of her extraordinary contribution to the British dance landscape and her dedication to the preservation of jazz culture, in 2021, Dollie was appointed with an ‘MBE’ for Services to Dance. She remains a transformative force in the industry, inspiring the next generation of performers to view jazz not just as a style, but as a sophisticated and expressive form of creative expression and art.
Syllabus Technique: Focus on Allegro
Available for in-person attendees
This session will explore elements of allegro and its pedagogy through the graded and vocational levels. You will gain insight into how to best support your students in their development of their physical, musical and artistic demonstration of allegro.
Session speaker: Thérèse Cantine ARAD
Thérèse Cantine was born in Woodstock, New York, USA and now holds dual citizenship. She trained at the Royal Ballet School and Rambert School of Ballet, and upon graduating, danced for six years in Germany, the last three as a soloist in Essen. On returning to England she joined Northern Ballet Theatre as a Soloist. She then retrained as a teacher, graduating from the Royal Academy’s then PDTC course in 1979.
Thérèse’s first full-time teaching post was at Elmhurst Ballet School, where she later became Deputy Head of Dance. In 1982, she joined the staff at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, becoming Deputy Artistic Director until summer 2007. She has also taught at many of the leading Ballet Schools in London. Now as a freelance teacher and lecturer, Thérèse continues to teach on many international summer schools and courses throughout the world and has been a consultant for the CDMT since 2011. For six years from 2009 to 2014, she taught extensively on the PDTD and from 2009-2020, she also taught on the LRAD each year. She was on the Board of Trustee of the Royal Academy of Dance from 2012- 2023. Thérèse has been a Tutor and Examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance from 1992 and was awarded the Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Dance in 2025.
Your Voice Matters: updates, insights and your say with RAD’s Chief Executive
Available for in-person and online attendees
This open and informative session offers members the opportunity to hear directly from Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Honer on the latest updates, priorities, and developments across the organisation. Elizabeth will share key insights into current work, future plans, and the wider landscape shaping the dance sector.
Session speaker: Elizabeth Honer CBE
Elizabeth has had a lifelong love of dance, starting her career at Sadler’s Wells and most recently through classes at RAD headquarters, membership of the London Ballet Circle, as a supporter of the Acosta Dance Centre and, most pertinently, as a member of the RAD’s Finance Committee, which has given her a deep insight into the role and workings of the charity and its members.
Elizabeth has had an illustrious career in the public service, latterly as CEO of an HM Treasury commercial agency, where she led 500 people across over 40 locations with a diverse range of stakeholders, successfully developing a compelling vision that led to business growth with significant increases in both staff engagement and customer satisfaction. Before that, she was a director at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, engaging at senior levels around the globe. Throughout her career, she has been involved in setting strategy, organisational transformation, stakeholder and employee engagement and improvements in financial performance.
Elizabeth has also served on the global board of a professional institute, so she has a good understanding of an international membership body. Her expertise in strategy, governance and improving organisational performance led to her appointment as a visiting fellow at the Cranfield School of Management. Her roles in the charity sector include trusteeships at the Vision Foundation and the Dartington International Summer School Foundation. Her early career also involved fundraising for the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Elizabeth was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours. The opportunity to serve as Chief Executive of the RAD perfectly combines her love of dance with her wide-ranging and international leadership experience.
Exploring ‘Storytellers’ with Rambert Grades – ZooNation repertoire for Grade 1
Available for in-person and online attendees
Storytellers is an exciting collection of solos, choreographed by some of the most celebrated and influential voices in contemporary dance today. In this session, explore ZooNation’s Grade 1 solo and basic HipHop fundamentals with Rambert Grades artist Natalie Dodd, gaining tools to understand how Some Like it HipHop fits within the Rambert Grades syllabus.
Session speaker: Jatie Tucker
Jatie is a dance mover, maker and mentor whose career spans stage and screen.
Their practice centres trans experiences through interdisciplinary collaboration. Some recurring themes in their work are; relationships between human and nature; creating movement for wearable sculptures; and teetering the line between beauty and grotesque.
They are currently a Guest Dance Artist for Shobana Jeyasingh Dance.
Jatie has a portfolio of mentorship across secondary, further, SEND and higher education. They are a recognised Fellow of the High Education Academy, currently undergoing accreditation as a Teacher of Cunningham Technique®.
Jatie seeks to curate calm and accepting spaces without compromising rigour and excellence.
See other Members’ Conference ticketing options
Musical Theatre Introductory Training (CPD)
Wednesday 22 July 2026 – Friday 24 July 2026
From 9am BST each day
£350*
Members’ Conference Bundle Pass
Wednesday 22 July 2026 – Sunday 26 July 2026
From 9am BST each day
£505*
