Inspire your creativity. Elevate your practice. Connect with your community.
Join us at the Royal Academy of Dance headquarters in London or online from anywhere in the world for the RAD Members’ Conference 2026.
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. This vibrant, multi-day event unites our global community of members and is an exclusive opportunity to be the first to hear the latest updates from the RAD, including the launch of our new Musical Theatre syllabus.
Attending the conference also gives you the chance to gain valuable CPD hours while exploring the sessions that matter most to you.
A three-day Musical Theatre Introductory Training (CPD) will also take place during the same week of the conference, and a bundle pass is available to those who wish to attend both. Completing this course enables RAD active members holding RTS to enter students for exams.
Be part of One RAD at the Members’ Conference 2026 and book your tickets now.
Conference schedule
Musical Theatre Introductory Training (CPD)
Wednesday 22 – Friday 24 July 2026
Across three days, the course will cover how to teach singing, dancing, and acting. You don’t necessarily need to have had previous experience in all three areas: you will take away the skills and confidence to incorporate this exciting new genre into your studio.
This event is in person only.
Members’ Conference sessions
Friday 24 – Sunday 26 July 2026
The programme will feature a rich mix of talks, CPD sessions, practical workshops, creative tasters, as well as the RAD Annual General Meeting, the RAD Awards Ceremony, and a celebratory reception.
This event is for RAD Members and is available both in person and online.
Ticketing options
Whether you want to attend the full Members’ Conference, just the Musical Theatre Introductory Training (CPD), or only one day of the conference, there is a ticketing option available for you. Online-only options are also available for selected sessions. Recordings are available for those who purchase both in-person and online tickets, available up to 6 months after the conference. Members can now pay for their tickets in instalments. Choose your ticket type below.
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*
Members’ Conference London 3-Day Pass
Friday 24 July 2026 – Sunday 26 July 2026
From 9am BST each day
£260*
Check out our programme
Get ready for a programme that’s as dynamic as our community. Across the week, members can dive into a rich mix of sessions designed to inform, inspire and energise — from thought‑provoking talks and practical workshops to high‑energy activities and celebratory moments. CPD opportunities are also woven throughout the schedule.
Once you’ve secured your ticket, you’ll unlock access to our booking platform, where you can reserve your individual sessions and tailor your week to your interests. Build your own experience, mix and match formats, and make the most of everything on offer.
Take a look at some of our session highlights!
Ballet and Beyond: the road ahead for the RAD
Bridging Performance Psychology and Neurodiversity in Dance Education
Exploring Character Dance: educating the 21st century dancer
The RAD Awards 2026
This year, the Members’ Conference will also feature exhibitors from Diptyque, Freed of London, Gallagher, Minerva Virtual Academy, One Dance UK, and International Dance Supplies.
Headline Sponsor of the event
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.
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.
Choreographing History: Inside the MacMillan Archives
Available for in-person and online attendees
Step behind the scenes into the world of one of ballet’s most influential choreographers. This session offers a unique opportunity to explore Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s archive, which the RAD received at the end of 2024. The archive comprises a diverse and rich range of material covering the personal, artistic and business archive of one of the most significant ballet figures of the 20th century.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Safeguarding Your Students and Yourself
Available for in-person attendees
Safeguarding isn’t just about protecting the student; it is about protecting everyone, which includes you, from misunderstanding, false allegations, and liability. A safe student learns faster, and a safe teacher lasts longer. Topics include:
- Boundaries and Tick boxes: Going beyond compliance.
- Constructive vs. Destructive language.
- Misinterpreted past: The safeguarding resistance.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Exploring Benesh Movement Notation and Building a Score Together
Available for in-person attendees
This interactive session gives participants an insight into how a Benesh score is written. Learn how to recognise individual positions on the score and how to link them together to create a complete sequence.
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.
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.
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.
Talk ‘techy’ to me: Lighting for Dance
Available for in-person and online attendees
A practical session on how to communicate technical ideas to theatre technicians. Learn how to translate creative intent into clear, buildable notes – what you want the audience to see, where, when, and how it changes – so tech rehearsals run faster, cues land reliably, and you get the stage picture you intended.
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.
Creative Beginnings: supporting young dancers develop their choreographic voice
Available for in-person attendees
This session explores how young dancers can be supported in discovering and developing their own choreographic voice from the earliest stages of their creative journey. It focuses on nurturing imagination, individuality, and confidence while providing age-appropriate structures that encourage meaningful movement exploration.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Visiting our headquarters and accommodation for attendees
The RAD is located in Battersea, London. There are various ways to get to us, including bus, train, or ferry.
To explore travel options for getting to our headquarters, please click here
For accommodation suggestions, we have put together a list of options near our HQ. View the list of accommodation
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