Taking the best of the best...

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) was founded in 1920. The RAD method was designed to be inclusive and adaptable, drawing on the strengths of various established ballet schools, including those from France, Russia, and Italy. It sought to balance technical rigor with artistic expression, ensuring a well-rounded approach to training. Key figures in the RAD’s development included Adeline Genée, a celebrated ballerina who became the first RAD president; British dancers Phyllis Bedells and Edouard Espinosa; Italian dancer Lucia Cormani; Russian prima ballerina Tamara Karsavina; and Philip Richardson, who later became the RAD's first secretary and treasurer. These individuals collaborated to develop the syllabus of the Royal Academy of Dance, leading to the RAD method, which emphasizes clarity, precision, and versatility. By incorporating various techniques, these pioneers created a system that has had a lasting impact on ballet education worldwide, promoting high standards in both teaching and performance.

Adeline Genée

Edouard Espinosa

Tamara Karsavina

Lucia Cormani

Phyllis Bedells

Philip Richardson

Welcome to The Royal Ballet School

The Royal Ballet School was originally called the Association of Operatic Dancing in Great Britain when it was founded in 1920. The association's name changed to the Royal Academy of Dancing (RAD) after it received a Royal Charter from King George V in 1936.

Darcey Bussell and Marianela Nuñez on the challenges of Sylvia (The Royal Ballet)

This video is an introduction to the Royal Academy of Dance.

Two star ballerinas of the Royal Ballet go over the principal roles of the ballet Sylvia, a ballet involving Greek mythology. You can see the beautiful dancing of the dancers trained in the RAD method.