History of the RAD: The 1920s

GenA©eQueenMaryPrincessRoyal1950H6a - Royal Academy of Dance

31 December 1920

Once the syllabus was agreed, The Association of Teachers of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain was born, now known as The Royal Academy of Dance. Dame Adeline Genée was confirmed as President; a position that she held for 34 years.

01FirstSyllabus1920DancingTimesrotated - Royal Academy of Dance — 01 First Syllabus 1920 Dancing Times rotated

November 1923

First Matinee performance at the Gaiety Theatre where Dame Adeline Genée performed for the first time in seven years.

1923ProgrammeCover-copy - Royal Academy of Dance — 1923 Programme Cover copy

March 1924

The first children’s (amateur) examinations were held.

Pauline-CrankshawGrade11926-copy - Royal Academy of Dance — Pauline Crankshaw Grade1 1926 copy

1925

Earliest recorded gift donation. The Reverend Stewart Headlam was an advocate of good relations between the church and the stage and a great educationalist. A great admirer of ballet, and friend of Adeline Genée, he attended many of the Dancer’s Circle dinners and was a great supporter of the move to obtain state recognition for the teacher of dancing.

Stewart-Headlam-Bequest - Royal Academy of Dance

1928

Queen Mary was interested in dance, and ballet in particular. With an approach from Dame Adeline Genée, Queen Mary became our First Royal Patron.