After over 350 candidates competed in six regional heats, 73 candidates (three groups RAD Grades 2 & 3, Grades 4 & 5 and Grade 6 – Intermediate Foundation) went on to perform in front of an audience of parents and teachers at the Grand Final on Sunday 10 May at the Royal Academy of Dance.

For each group, the Judges, the esteemed Royal Ballet Principal Lauren Cuthbertson and renowned British choreographer Christopher Hampson gave four awards, two for effort, a runner-up prize and a winning prize of a place on an RAD summer school or Performance Course.

Christopher and Lauren both commended the students for their achievements and the teachers for their obvious guidance and support, ending the day with some valuable technical notes for the students to take with them.

Prizes Awarded

The heats which took place in February & March of this year were judged by Francesca Filpi, Nicola Tranah, Lynn Wallis, Darren Parrish and Stephen Wicks.

ENDS

Notes for Editors

The RAD South East England Regional Advisory Committee set up an Awards scheme two years ago to enable students from the South East Region to participate in county heats, from which selected students would be invited to attend a final at RAD headquarters.
Pupils from RAD registered teachers in the South East Region can be entered from Grade 2 to 8 and may include vocational students up to Intermediate level.
This scheme is entirely funded by the entry fees and fundraising by RAD teachers from the South East Region.

The Royal Academy of Dance is one of the world’s leading dance education providers and is a prominent contributor to the global dance community. The Royal Academy of Dance promotes knowledge, understanding and practice of dance internationally. It seeks to accomplish its mission through promoting dance, educating and training students and teachers and providing examinations to monitor and reward achievement. It has 13,000 members in 79 countries, approximately one third of its members are RAD Registered Teachers, training and inspiring young people every day. Although classical ballet is at its core the Academy offers a far wider range of dance and forms and works with renowned teachers and choreographers on a regular basis to ensure that delivery is always of the highest standard.

For more information and to request images from the event, contact the RAD Press Office