Professional Dancers’ Postgraduate Teaching Certificate*

This program is under review 11/05/23

For dancers wishing to gain an internationally-renowned dance teaching qualification. Placing your professional experience at its core, the programme will enable you to move ahead in your career as a dance artist educator, equipping you with the skills to teach and train dancers of the future.

Why Study on the Professional Dancers’ Postgraduate Teaching Certificate?

This programme is designed for professional dancers wishing to prepare for a new career in teaching, or for dancers who are already teaching but wish to gain an internationally renowned RAD teaching qualification. Combining distance learning and an Intensive Study Period, this flexible programme of study accommodates your rehearsal, performance and work schedules or teaching commitments and provides you with a secure platform for a career in teaching.

How Does the Programme Fit into My Schedule?

Designed to be flexible and part-time, the programme will let you progress from dancer to dance teacher, giving you a qualification while you are still performing, or as you embark on a new career as a dance teacher. The programme begins with an online Induction Seminar in July, followed by a period of distance learning. In January (exact dates will be published nearer the start of the programme), students will attend an intensive study period (ISP), comprising of practical sessions, lectures, seminars, discussion groups and tutorials. The ISP will be a hybrid delivery with a minimum duration of two weeks on site at the RAD’s offices in Sydney . Taught sessions during the Induction and Intensive Study Period require full-time study over the course of the designated weeks. While the majority of sessions normally take place during the work day, some evening and weekend study is likely to be required.

What Else Do I Need to Know?

This is a one-year part-time distance-learning programme, including an online Induction Week and an Intensive Study Period delivered as two weeks on site in our Sydney studio and also by distance learning .
The programme is delivered in English, so you will need an English Language Proficiency test if this is not your first language.
The programme leads to the award of Professional Dancers’ Postgraduate Teaching Certificate and eligibility to become an RAD Registered Teacher.
Our graduates go on to work in the private vocational dance sector, in education internationally, and enrol for further postgraduate study.
Applications open on 31 October 2021 and close on 30 April 2022 for the 2022 programme.
At present the PDPTC is a biennial programme.

Recent graduate Abigail Boyle Principal Artist, Royal New Zealand Ballet

“Being surrounded by like-minded people that shared and challenged my viewpoints of dance, dance psychology, biomechanics and syllabus only enriched my experience further. Onsite tutors were out of this world and inspired me with their endless amounts of knowledge. I am now director of Abigail Dance Coaching and am able to teach, guide and coach dancers with new found pedagogy. What is more important though, is that the PDPTC installed a passion and eagerness to continue to research and study in my own time to further my teaching abilities.” Find out more about Abigail Boyle's teaching

Programme content

PTC701: Dance Teaching in Context
PTC702: Pedagogy in Practice
PTC703: Dance Teaching for the 21st Century: Practice and Innovation
Teaching Placement

Assessment

Modules are assessed through a range of practical and written tasks including, peer teaching, reflective journals, lesson plans, reports, PowerPoint presentations and an essay. The teaching placement is assessed through a practical teaching examination followed by a viva voce – critical reflection and discussion on the class examined.

All modules are compulsory.

Programme Specification

Entry requirements

We welcome applications from dancers with significant professional experience and advanced technical proficiency in dance. Applicants will also need to demonstrate their potential to study at postgraduate level. Initially, applicants will submit an application form in which they will provide a written statement and references. Applicants will then be invited to attend an online interview, and submit a short teaching extract and a short written task. Applicants will be given clear guidance as to the requirements of these submissions which are designed to assess their potential as a teacher and for study at level 7.

Students who do not have English as a first language
Applicants whose first language is not English and who are applying for a programme where an English Language Proficiency test is required must achieve one of the following qualifications:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS): For postgraduate programmes of study IELTS band of 7.0 overall, with a minimum of 6.5 in each of the subtests.

The IELTS must be the academic test and have been taken no earlier than two years before the date of the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies is issued.

Some other school leaving or matriculation certificates contain a compulsory examination in English and these may be taken as equivalent.

If you have another recently achieved English language qualification, please check with our Registry department at faculty@rad.org.uk to establish acceptability.

Award

Successful completion of the programme leads to the award of PDPTC and eligibility for registration as a teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance.

Further study and career opportunities

Graduates from the PDPTC are well placed to work in the private (vocational) dance sector and in a range of educational contexts internationally across Europe and/or to enrol for further study at postgraduate level.

The programme includes study of the syllabi and examinations of the RAD so that graduates are eligible to become teaching members of the RAD and can enter students for RAD examinations should they wish to do so.

PDPTC graduates may apply to transfer to the RAD’s Master of Arts in Education (Dance Teaching) providing they successfully complete an access module. PDPTC graduates who meet these requirements will be exempt from 60 credits of the Masters’ degree, which is delivered via distance learning.

Graduate Discounts

Faculty of Education graduates who go on to study for a postgraduate award delivered by the Royal Academy of Dance or further study of an RAD award can benefit from a 10% reduction in tuition fees.

The 10% discount is available for students who start their programme of study on or after 1 August 2018 and will be applied to their tuition fees for the full duration of the programme. To find out if you are eligible for a discount for further study, please read the Graduate Discounts criteria.

More Information

For more detailed information on course content please contact:

Shelley Yacopetti
T: +61 8 9272 3940
M: +61 416 366 633
E: syacopetti@rad.org.au

Izabella Olah-Jewell
Programmes Officer – Faculty of Education, Australia
T: 02 93801915
E: iolah-jewell@rad.org.au

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A Word From a PDPTC Graduate - Mitchell Rayner

"When I was dancing professionally and thinking about what I may want to do next I knew that I wanted to give back and have an impact on the next generation of dancers. Using my knowledge and skills I wanted to make a real difference in people’s lives the same way my teachers did. I studied the RAD syllabi as a young dancer and really resonated with the formulaic approach to technical and artistic values. I appreciate it’s evolution over the years to become an inclusive space for all types of dancers to enjoy ballet and to share their passion through a progressive approach that balances technique with performance and artistry." Find out more about Ballet with Mitch