The Royal Academy of Dance

With over 13,000 members spread across 79 countries, The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is one of the largest and most influential dance education and training organizations in the world.

The Graded Syllabus is designed to meet the needs of young people ages 6 and up who attend ballet class once or twice a week. The syllabus has been carefully structured by a panel of experts beginning with Pre-Primary and followed by nine levels of Primary through to Grade 8. These touch on the full spectrum of qualities a youngster may gain from the study of ballet such as: awareness of one’s own body and its capabilities for movement; expression and sensitivity; the sense of achievement which comes from mastering a goal and moving on to the next challenge.  These levels are all geared with a growing child’s physical, emotional and artistic development in mind. Above all, the Graded Syllabus is designed to be enjoyed. It should bring pleasure as well as sense of achievement of the student who progresses from one grade to the next. The natural delight in dancing is combined with the knowledge and self-discipline gained by the study of classical ballet. Annual examinations are not compulsory. Nevertheless, they are an invaluable yardstick by which parents and teachers can measure the student’s progress and level of achievement. Students are eligible for Affiliate Membership of the Royal Academy of Dance once they have completed the Grade 6, 7 or 8 examinations.

 Vocational (Major) Examinations are designed to measure the progress of students 11 years of age and older who wish to become professional dancers or teachers, and a very high standard of execution is required. The examinations fall into five levels:

Intermediate Foundation

Intermediate

Advanced Foundation 
Advanced 1

Advanced 2
Passing of the Advanced 1 confers Full Membership status of the Royal Academy. Holders of the Advanced 2 certificate may apply to the Executive Committee (London, England) for permission to become an Associate and to use the letters A.R.A.D. Students who have passed either Grade 8 or Intermediate may audition for the RAD teacher training program to become a qualified dance teacher.

There are currently over 1,000 students in full-time or part-time teacher training programs with the Academy and each year, the examination syllabus is taught to more than a quarter of a million students worldwide.