Spring Intensive Syllabus Course

Royal Academy of Dance, 188 York Road, London SW11 3JZ. View our helpful travel information.

Students aged 11 years and above (there is no upper age limit), studying RAD Intermediate Foundation to Advanced 2, with a thorough knowledge of the complete syllabus, including their chosen variations.

Students attending the Spring Intensive have the opportunity to be entered into the exam session to take place from 22-27 February 2026, at the RAD headquarters.

Please enquire with exams@rad.org.uk for further details. Exam entries must be completed by 12 January. Entries must be submitted by an RAD teacher rather than the candidate themselves.

Pilates benefits Dancers: in fact, Pilates benefits every body.

So, what is Pilates?

Joseph Pilates was a man who created 34 moves in a system he called ‘Contrology’ or ‘Conscious Movement’. He worked with ballet dancers, often injured ones, who then took their understanding into their companies. And so, Contrology became an important discipline within these companies.

Why do Contrology aka Pilates?

Wendy grounds her teaching of Contrology in his moves, and everything she teaches is underpinned by robust scientific studies and understanding. She works the full body in every session by cueing you through flowing Pilates moves, often in discrete parts. With Wendy, you’ll discover every muscle group, and know how to maintain strength, while dancing with control and flexibility.

Pilates will show you any imbalances you might have, and the result will be that you become super aware and able to heal, giving your body balanced strength, literally from top to toe. You will feel and control the training you give to every body part. You will progress, because your body continually adapts and is fluid. You will access every part of your body, from the deepest layers outwards, and this is true whether you’re feeling fabulous, a bit stiff, or recovering from an injury. We are all fluid, and Pilates will heal you from the inside out.

As your knowledge develops, and your body adapts, you’ll perfect your tone and master the moves with a complete understanding of the why, how, where and what, and be fully aware of how it relates to ballet. Your training will enhance every moment of every ballet move. With this knowledge, dancers consciously call upon their muscles in their training and performance, which takes their technique and work to another level.

You will also learn how to use your breath – this tool alone enriches life skills, core and emotional connection, exam technique, and is deeply calming. Pilates enriches the body and mind.

You will find your body is balanced, stabilised, and aligned in every session, and you will take that knowledge into your everyday life too. You will always know how to maintain strength and flexibility in all that you do, without any stress or strains, and you’ll be equipped with the wonderful knowledge of how to consciously relax every muscle, easing body and mind. You’ll be life-ready and dance-ready with strength, awareness, and calmness, from the inside out.