RAD and IDTA working together for the future of dance

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and the International Dance Teachers' Association (IDTA) announced today, 28 th September 2006, that from 1 st October 2006, the two organisations will work together to the mutual benefit of their members in both examinations, teacher education and training.

The RAD and the IDTA will formally grant teachers of the respective organisation the opportunity to enter candidates for its examinations thereby ensuring that both organisations recognise the right of qualified teachers to enter candidates for examinations of either awarding body.

RAD and IDTA membership categories and qualifications are structured quite differently. Under the new agreement RAD Registered Teachers will be admitted to membership of the IDTA at Associate level and will be entitled to use the letters AIDTA.

IDTA teachers qualified in one of the four core IDTA theatre branch subjects will be admitted to membership of the RAD in a specially created category of Mutually Recognised Teacher, and entitled to state that they are an RAD Mutually Recognised Teacher in publicity materials.

The International Dance Teachers' Association and the Royal Academy of Dance are two of the world's leading dance education, training and examining bodies. They have between them over 20,000 members worldwide and they examine over half a million candidates in a variety of genres internationally each year. In an increasingly challenging and competitive professional and commercial environment this new collaboration can only strengthen the two organisations to the benefit of their members and the wider dance community.

Keith Holmes, Chief Executive of the International Dance Teachers' Association commented

"The IDTA welcomes this joint venture with RAD. We live in an ever-changing world, which affects the world of dance. The opportunity for these two prestigious organisations to work together in this way can only be of benefit to the members of both awarding bodies and will strengthen their position in the dance profession."

Luke Rittner, Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Dance commented

"Given the increasingly competitive world in which we operate, the Academy looks to every possible opportunity for widening the scope and range of its activities. This new association with the IDTA will strengthen our ability to influence and play a leading role in the professional dance world."