Conferences

The Faculty of Education celebrates the diversity of perspectives on dance and our conferences showcase our interest in bringing together a collection of leading voices in the field of dance and dance education.

Past conferences

Mapping Dance and Dance Teaching: past(s), present and future(s)

3+4 September 2021, London, UK

This online conference focused on how histories and practices of dance and dance teaching from the past have and informed current and future knowledge, understanding and practices.

Shaping Bodies, Shaping Minds

17-19 January 2020, Melbourne, Australia

One in a series of events in the Royal Academy of Dance’s centenary year, Shaping Bodies, Shaping Minds brought together performers, teachers, practitioners and scholars from the fields of dance, education, history, science and cultural engagement for an exciting and thought-provoking programme.

Unravelling Repertoire: Histories, Pedagogies and Practices

20 & 21 January 2018, Brisbane, Australia

The RAD is committed to leading and innovating dance teacher education and training, particularly as it nears its Centenary anniversary in 2020. Unravelling Repertoire: Histories, Pedagogies and Practices, explored the role and value of dance repertoire. In today’s eclectic dance ecology, how does repertory work from past and current times inform our understanding of dance? How do different stakeholders engage with the concept of ‘repertoire’ in order to shape the way we learn and teach dance, and ensure that dance heritage is sustained?

The conference addressed:

  • The role of repertoire in various educational, professional, historical and cultural context including Higher Educational, professional and pre-professional, recreational and research settings.
  • Repertoire as resources for research as embodied practices in pedagogies for dance, education and training.
  • Current and past local models of repertoire practices in pedagogies for dance, education and training.
  • Exploration of technologies for the management of learning and teaching of dance repertoire.
  • Understanding the value of restaging, revising and reconceptualising repertory works as sources of histories, practices and pedagogies.
  • The role of repetiteurs, notators, dance foundations and organisations to support and facilitate the sustaining of dance heritage.
  • Repertoire as currency for local and global practices in established and emerging dance forms including ballet, contemporary dance, tap cultural dance, Indigenous dance, Broadway and musicals, popular dance forms such as street dance, social and folk dance, site specific or environmental work.
  • Approaches for inclusive pedagogies in dance teaching including dance for older participants, young adults and children.

Dance Teaching for the 21st Century: Practice and Innovation, 10 & 11 December 2016 – Sydney (Australia)

To coincide with the Genée Competition in Sydney, RAD Australia hosted an international conference on practices and innovations in dance teaching for the 21st century. The conference aimed to bring together dance teachers, educators, researchers, historians and scholars from across a variety of dance disciplines to discuss practices and innovations within the context of dance teaching in this century.

The conference addressed:

  • current local and international dance trends and practices in pedagogies for dance,
    education and training
  • the role of past models of dance teacher training and education in current day practice
  • the impact of innovation and technologies on the learning and teaching of dance
  • understanding the influence of dance heritage in today’s rapidly evolving dance ecology
  • approaches for embedding safe dance practice in dance teacher training and education
  • the role of other forms of training to support dancer and dance teacher education, and
  • global perspectives on the role of dance competitions in the training and education of children, adolescents and young adults

Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing Conference, 26 – 28 April 2013 – Headquarters in London

Conference Info and online video – Gillian Lynne and Kenneth Tharp and Robert Cohan
Our weekend conference was a celebration of life, dance and health and an exciting, enthusiastic and endlessly productive meeting of minds. Robert Cohan and Gillian Lynne (Keynote speakers) demonstrated just why they are admired and respected in the dance world – consummate professionals, infinitely creative individuals and enlightened human beings. The discussion panels proved to be another highlight of the weekend, bringing together professionals from dance, education, sociology, health and fitness and community arts. The discussions provided endless food for thought on the three key themes of the conference: the health and wellbeing of professional dancers, the enrichment of young lives through dance, and dance for older learners. The RAD’s current outreach work was also represented with a panel on Step into Dance, RADiate, the Faculty of Education project with older learners and the RAD’s Continuing Professional Development scheme.

A dedicated Sunday audience listened to Gary Avis, Principal Character Artist and Ballet Master for the Royal Ballet, contemplate his career transitions with Faculty of Education Lecturer Dennie Wilson, whilst fellow colleagues shared their research on teaching dance anatomy (Janine Streuli) and adult ballet practice (Rosie Gerhard). Continuing the theme, Jennifer Jackson shared her work in ballet for mature performers, whilst Holly Price, showed how the experienced ballet teacher can provide an environment for children’s social education.

A ‘performance showcase’ included the Company of Elders, Growing Older (Dis)gracefully, Step into Dance, and students from Elmhurst School for Dance.

Continuity & Change in Dance Teacher Education Conference, Saturday 24 October 2009 – Headquarters in London

Digital dance exhibitions

Video clips from event

  • Prof Joan White
  • Rachel Cameron

Dance teacher education and training has been at the heart of the Royal Academy of Dance’s mission to uphold the standards in the teaching of dance since the launch of the first Teacher Training Course in 1946.

Ten years ago, the Royal Academy of Dance set up the Faculty of Education to build on this legacy and attain new heights in dance teacher education. From its inception in 1999, the Faculty of Education has developed on-site and distance learning degree programmes, upgraded the certificate and licentiate programmes and introduced postgraduate programmes including the Postgraduate Certificate in Dance Teaching, PGCE: DT and the first Masters programme in Teaching (Dance).

To celebrate our 10th Anniversary and achievements to date, we hosted a Conference, Exhibition and a Reception. The event focussed on the histories and legacies of teacher education and training at the RAD, providing an opportunity to reflect on past and present practices as well as speculating on the future of teacher education and training in the 21st Century. Professor David Carr (University of Edinburgh, Moray House School of Education) led the series of paper presentations and lecture demonstrations with his keynote speech.