RAD in 2012

Another year is coming to a close. 2012 has been busy and exciting for the Academy with new projects, significant achievements benefitting our members and students, and a variety of events taking place around the world. Below are those that stood out.

January
On 3 January in London and 16 January in Sydney, the RAD launches its new Grades 1-3 syllabi. Luke Rittner, RAD's Chief Executive, opens the proceedings introducing the Guest speakers, Dame Monica Mason, then Director of The Royal Ballet in London and David McAllister AM, Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet and RAD vice-president in Sydney. 

RAD Canada launches its 2 the POINTE! monthly e-newsletter on 24 January.

The Western Australia panel holds its 30th Anniversary celebrations on 29 January, at which Luke Rittner presents two President's Awards, to Diana de Vos and Barbara Thomas.

February
The redeveloped RAD Australian head office in Darlinghurst, Sydney, is opened to much excitement by Darcey Bussell CBE and David McAllister AM, on 15 January. Staff move to the refurbished premises in February and the building opens to business in March.

Mrs Tanya Pearson is awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division for service to the performing arts, particularly ballet, as a teacher and mentor to young dancers.

March
Once again the RAD takes part in the programming of MOVE IT, the UK's biggest dance event, with a range of classes and workshops. We also present a range of seminar sessions as part of the Dance Teachers' Convention, a performance by the Step into Dance Youth Company and host an interview on the Big Dance MOVE IT Sofa with Kirsty Swain, SEN Patron for Step into Dance.

Following the announcement in November 2011 that RAD examinations in Scotland have been accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) confirms that these new qualifications will be subsumed within the UCAS points tariff on the same basis as their QCF counterparts.

Fifteen-year-old Chisato Katsura wins the prestigious Phyllis Bedells Bursary, held on 25 March at RAD headquarters.

April
The Academy celebrates Dame Antoinette Sibley's 21 year presidency on 26 April by hosting an elegant gala luncheon in the Genée studio at Academy headquarters. A commemorative bronze bust of Dame Antoinette is being revealed and the President's Award is presented to our departing figurehead. The Annual General Meeting is held on the same day.

The inaugural Faculty of Education Guest Speaker Series event takes place on 10 April, at RAD headquarters. Over 80 students, members and other guests attend a talk by Christopher Hampson, former dancer with English National Ballet, teacher, freelance choreographer and now Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet.

The Academy adds a dedicated Life Members' Area to the RAD website, celebrating the Academy’s Life Members and their many accomplishments.

May
On 23 May the four Royal Academies – of Dance, Arts, Music and Dramatic Art – stage a unique event at Burlington House, London, to pay tribute to Her Majesty The Queen on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee.

The Interim Report on the Academy's Professional Dance Teachers Registration Scheme is published and the scheme's launch date is revised to September 2014.

June
World-renowned ballerina Darcey Bussell CBE is elected President of the RAD, becoming only the fourth President in the organisation's 92-year history.

On 6 June, the National Arts Centre in Mexico City renders a special homage to Dulce Maria Silvera, RAD teacher and tutor, for her brilliant work as a dancer and teacher, and a lifetime dedicated to dance.

July
Over 780 secondary school children across the 32 London boroughs participate in Step LIVE! 2012, ‘A Celebration of Youth Dance across London’ which takes place on 7 July at Southbank Centre, London.

The annual RAD Awards ceremony takes place on 11 July in London. The graduation is an international celebration with over 179 students and guests travelling from 32 countries to collect their certificates, from as far and wide as Australia, Brasil, Canada, China and Hong Kong, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Mexico and USA. The President’s Award is presented to Miss Kathleen Burdon, Mrs Harriett Croft and Mrs Irene Hand, and the Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Dance is awarded to Professor Joan White CBE (posthumous).

August
London is in Olympic Games fever throughout the month of August (and beyond). The RAD is very proud to have its President Darcey Bussell CBE perform at the Closing Ceremony and a number of students from across the country taking part in both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

The RAD USA office is moving from California to Wisconsin.

A gala performance celebrating the life of Tanya Pearson OAM, RAD Registered Teacher since 1986, is held on 4 & 5 August 2012 at NIDA’s Parade Theatre, in Sydney, Australia.

September
New Zealand’s biennial 14+ Dance Scholarship takes place on 9 September. Thirteen contestants delight an audience of over 100. Riki Kudo is the winner of the $7,000 scholarship and Yayoi Matches the recipient of the $2,000 Alexander Grant Training Award.

October
We announce that the 2013 Genée International Ballet Competition will be held for the first time in Glasgow, from 20-29 September.

The second Faculty of Education Guest Speaker Series event takes place on 4 October in a full Genée studio at RAD HQ. Kevin O'Hare, Director of The Royal Ballet, gives an inspiring talk, recounting his training and performing career, but also talking about his plans for the company he now manages.

The RAD’s Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing project secures funding of £49,979 from the Skills Funding Agency as part of the new Community Learning Innovation Fund, to work with adult learners in the community and improve their health and wellbeing through dance. A conference is being organised for April 2013.

The United Dance Merchants of America (UDMA), an organization that encourages the growth and development of dance, names the Royal Academy of Dance as the 2012 recipient of the Dedicated to Dance Award.

RAD Germany creates a new course, taking place in Berlin, focusing on a particular classical ballet production and the ways it can be read and interpreted.

Sarah Klukas becomes the inaugural recipient of the Dorothy Cox-Scruton Bursary in Canada on 23 October.

November
Almost 450 students from all over the UK take to the Royal Albert Hall's iconic stage on 4 November to dance in Dance Proms 2012. Twenty-six of the nation’s best young dance acts perform, coming together in a stunning finale which brings the already lively and enthusiastic audience to their feet.

On 11 November, 21 Advanced 2 (or equivalent) students take part in a masterclass led by Steven McRae, Principal of The Royal Ballet, which is then followed by a Q&A. The event, held at RAD HQ, is part of ‘Celebrating Dance 2012’, a fundraising initiative in aid of the Frank Freeman Scholarship fund.

The Faculty of Education Guest Speaker Series visits Birmingham on 18 November. Robert Parker, Artistic Director of Elmhurst School for Dance and former principal dancer with Birmingham Royal Ballet, gives an inspiring talk, recounting his training and performing career.

The RAD Exams Board is audited by SQA Accreditation in July, in respect of our status as an Approved Awarding Body in Scotland. The audit report is signed off and becomes available to view. Additionally, RAD qualifications in Scotland are now aligned to the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

The Australian Advanced 1 Bursary Final is held on 24 November at Sydney’s Wesley Institute. Shene Lazarus, student of Prudence Bowen Atelier, is the winner of up to $A7,000 for further training in the RAD method.

December
The 2012 Genée International Ballet Competition is taking place for the first time in Wellington, New Zealand from 6-15 December. Two Gold and three Silver medals are awarded, with New Zealand scooping three of these and Australia the other two.

Genée 2013 fundraising activities commence in earnest with a Christopher Hampson, In Conversation this Christmas event in Edinburgh on 6 December. Christopher shares anecdotes and talks about inspirational teachers. The attendees also participate in a class led by Julie Bowers, Regional Manager of Midlands & East England.