The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is the leading international dance examination board specializing in classical ballet. RAD was established in London, England in 1920. It received its Royal Charter in 1936. The Royal patron of the RAD is currently Queen Elizabeth II. Initially formed to improve the standard of classical ballet training in the UK, RAD has become one of the world's leading dance education and training organizations, boasting over 13,000 members and operating in 79 countries.
Style of the RAD:
The basic style of the RAD is known as the English style of ballet, formed by merging various methods (Italian, French, Danish and Russian) to create a new one with higher standards. A well-known aspect of the RAD method is the attention to detail when learning the basic techniques of ballet. For beginners, the progression in difficulty is often very slow, with the difficulty of basic exercises only increasing slightly from grade to grade. The general thought is that if enough time is spent achieving the maximum level of technique before introducing new steps, the easier it will be for students to learn harder steps.
Training Programs:
The RAD offers two training programs, both of which are suitable for both male and female students. Each program represents a complete system of dance training and includes a series of difficult examinations.
The two programs are the Graded Examination Syllabus and the Vocational Graded Syllabus.
Graded Examination Syllabus:
The Graded Examination Syllabus consists of 10 grades, incorporating classical ballet, free movement and character dance. The syllabus is designed for students to progress in difficulty from one grade to the next, developing greater dance technique at each level. Students take examinations given by their dance teachers. In the examination, the students perform and are graded on certain techniques. Successful candidates receive a certificate printed with their name and the grade level passed.
Vocational Graded Syllabus:
The Vocational Graded Syllabus is mainly designed for older children or young adults who are considering a career in professional dance. The vocational syllabus is very demanding, consisting of only classical ballet and pointe work. Students must be competent in the fundamentals of ballet technique and vocabulary. Unlike the Graded Examination Syllabus, the vocational grades must be studied in sequence with students successfully passing examinations at each level before progressing to the next.
