1920 – Founding of The Association of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain (now the Royal Academy of Dance, (RAD))

On 31 December, 1920, Philip JS Richardson and Edouard Espinosa established The Association of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain, which would later become the Royal Academy of Dancing (RAD) in 1936 after being granted Royal Charter. Selecting Adeline Genée as its first president and drawing on the support of the other founders – Phyllis Bedells, Lucia Cormani and Tamara Karsavina – the association aimed to improve the standard of ballet dancing in Britain and the Commonwealth. The RAD launched its first syllabus in 1920, holding its first examinations in 1921. A Teacher Training Course was established in 1947 and a variety of scholarship funds were established to advance the training of dancers. The RAD moved from its premises in Holland Park in 1972 to Battersea, and in 2022 to purpose-built studios, offices and library on York Road, London SW11. Margot Fonteyn became the RAD’s President in 1954, followed by Antoinette Sibley in 1991 and Darcey Bussell in 2012.