Celebrating the Royal Academy of Dance at 100

The RAD has been inspiring the world to dance for a century, officially turning 100 on 31 December 2020.

To celebrate this landmark in our history, we planned a year-long programme of events and initiatives throughout 2020, leading up to that moment and focused on sharing our past, our present and our future with our global dance community. After a wonderful start to the year including our Summer Dance/Boys Dance workshops in Adelaide and a successful and inspiring Shaping Bodies, Shaping Minds conference in Melbourne, unfortunately, due to the outbreak of Coronavirus COVID-19 we had to press pause on our Centenary celebrations in Australia. Now we have reached our landmark officially and are able to resume activities once more, we are pleased to share with you how we plan to mark this milestone throughout 2021.

The Royal Academy of Dance at 100

Our centenary is an important time to recognise our roots, our achievements, our influence, and also to look to building our legacy. It is also the right time to show our gratitude to our dedicated membership and the part they have played in making the RAD the organisation, the authority, and even the family, that it has become.

Throughout 2021 we will continue to tell the story of the RAD, an organisation that has been teaching the world to dance for 100 years, through the stories, experiences and remarkable achievements, of our teachers, examiners and students from children through to adults and Silver Swans from around the world.

Photo: Dame Adeline Genée with Queen Mary and the Princess Royal at the Stoll Theatre, 1950.

RAD milestones

Travel through the decades and discover RAD’s milestone events throughout its 100-year history.

See a detailed timeline here

My #RADFamily

The Royal Academy of Dance is a global dance family made up of generations of dancers, dancing siblings, and studio families. As part of RAD Australia’s centenary celebrations, we want to hear all about your dance family and its history as part of ours.
One BIG happy dance family

RAD Voices

Over 100 stories from extraordinary people, past and present, who have shaped the RAD and continue to support and shape the future.
Find out more >

On Point: Royal Academy of Dance at 100

A free display at the V and A in London celebrating 100 years of the RAD’s significant contribution to the development of British ballet.
Find out more >

RAD Trivia

Dive into all facets of RAD history, and find some unexpected stories about the Academy along the way.
Find out more >

Centenary Merchandise

Show you are #ProudtobeRAD with our Centenary products and gifts for a range of budgets.
Purchase now >

RAD Australia Centenary Medal

To commemorate the Royal Academy of Dance teaching the world to dance and supporting young dancers’ development for 100 years RAD Australia will introduce the Centenary Medal. The Centenary Medal will be awarded to the dancer who demonstrates exceptional artistry and performance for an audience. To find out more about the criteria and which events will incorporate the Centenary Medal discover more here.

A commemorative book

We are publishing a new book, Royal Academy of Dance: Celebrating 100 Years. This commemorative volume, released in December 2019, charts the history of the RAD, providing an overview of the Academy’s accomplishments up until the present, along with a sense of its plans for the future. Containing stunning archival and contemporary photographs, this is a fabulous celebration of exams, training, events and competitions, and the many personalities associated with the RAD over the years. Purchase your copy here

Join Our Celebrations

If you would like to know more about our centenary plans, or would like to be a part of them as a participant, sponsor or volunteer please contact Nichola Hall National Marketing and Communications Manager on marketing@rad.org.au. We’d also love to hear more about your own plans to mark the milestone.

 

RAD Australia 2021 Centenary Partners