Classical Ballet
The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) was founded in 1920 with a single purpose: to raise the standards of dance teaching in the UK. 100 years later, excellence in dance teaching is still at the heart of everything they do. Today, the RAD is a world-leading dance, education and training organisation, with dance teachers and students in 85 countries, enriching the world’s arts and cultural communities. From three to 93-year-olds, the RAD believes in the transformative power of dance to enhance our health and happiness.
Graded Syllabus
The graded syllabus consists of Pre-Primary in Dance, Primary in Dance and Grades 1-8. It provides a brilliant introduction to the world of classical ballet, with students progressing through a clearly structured syllabus, with each grade building upon the next. The graded syllabus develops dancer’s technical, musical and performance skills, as well as incorporating character work and free movement dances.
Vocational Graded Syllabus
The vocational graded syllabus is designed for the serious student who is looking to further their dance performance skills. Students gain an advanced ballet vocabulary and develop strong, precise technique. The syllabus provides an in-depth study of classical ballet and includes pointework for girls. By the time a student reaches Advanced 2 they are technically proficient, mature dancers, with an excellent knowledge of ballet. The Vocational Graded Syllabus classes are often taken alongside the graded syllabus, with most students completing Grade 4 or 5 before beginning Intermediate Foundation. The vocational syllabus is more challenging than the graded syllabus, thus requiring greater commitment from the dancer.