WEBSITE
www.royalacademyofdance.org
DIRECTOR
Australian National Director: Shelley Yacopetti
HISTORY
With over 13,000 members in 85 countries The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is one of the largest and most influential dance education and training organisations in the world. Established in 1920 to improve standards and reinvigorate dance training, there are over 1,000 students in fulltime or part-time teacher training programs with the Academy each year, and the examination syllabus is taught to more than a quarter of a million students worldwide.
Our Mission is to inspire the world to dance by being a recognised leader in dance education and training. We believe in the power of dance to transform lives, and we welcome everybody to dance.
STYLES/GENRE
Classical Ballet + a special collaboration with Rambert Grades
GRADING/MARKING SYSTEM
Internationally recognised and progressive classical ballet syllabus offering Class Awards, Graded and Vocational Graded Examinations, Discovering Repertoire, and Solo Performance Awards — providing pathways for every dancer to achieve and excel.
TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS
Through our Faculty of Education, the RAD Offer a range of higher education and teacher training programmes delivered onsite and distance learning. The Certificate in Dance Teaching (Ballet) and The Professional Dancers’ Graduate Teaching Diploma are delivered in Australia
COMPETITIONS/AWARDS
The RAD celebrates excellence, artistry, and achievement through a series of state-based Awards Days held across Australia, with 12 events currently nationwide. Across these events, as well as the Australian Advanced 1 Bursary and the prestigious Fonteyn International Ballet Competition, dancers have the opportunity to receive cash prizes and training scholarships with leading Australian and international dance schools and companies.
Lia Cox
Head of Examinations and Regions, RAD Australia
What do you see as the real value of syllabus training and exams for young dancers?
The real value lies in the structure and sense of purpose it gives young dancers. A well-designed syllabus helps them build skills step by step, but it also nurtures confidence, discipline, and a genuine love of dance.
Exams aren’t just about passing or getting a certain mark, they’re about celebrating progress and giving students something to work towards. That feeling of achievement can be incredibly motivating. And along the way, they’re developing life skills too, things like focus, resilience, and self-expression, which serve them far beyond the studio.
In your view, what makes your syllabus distinctive compared to others?
What really sets the RAD syllabus apart is the balance we strike between tradition and innovation. We honour the classical roots of ballet, but we’re also very mindful of how dance, and the world, is changing. Our work encourages creativity, musicality, and individuality, not just technical skill. And because we’re such a global organisation, we make sure our syllabi can adapt to different contexts while still holding to a shared standard of excellence. We want every dancer, wherever they are, to feel supported, challenged and inspired.
How is your syllabus preparing dancers for the future of the artform and the profession?
The dance world today is incredibly diverse and fast-moving, so it’s vital that young dancers are adaptable and open-minded. Our syllabus helps prepare them for that by developing solid technical foundations, but also by encouraging creativity and curiosity. We want them to think, interpret, and express, not just replicate steps.
The RAD also keeps evolving; we draw on current research in dance science, pedagogy, and wellbeing to make sure what we’re teaching reflects where the artform is heading. Ultimately, it’s about equipping dancers not only for professional careers, but for a lifelong relationship with dance, in whatever form that takes.