Kinaara Malawana has loved ballet since she was a young child and it became a passion that grew stronger over the years. The turning point in her dance journey came when she met a visiting graduate from the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and was inspired by her infectious enthusiasm. Kinaara then realised she wanted to do more with the artform: she wanted to learn to teach dance.
So Kinaara moved from Sri Lanka to London to join one of the world’s most influential dance education and training organisations. “Since arriving at the RAD, my experience has been nothing short of extraordinary. The transition to my life in London has been seamless thanks to the incredible support from my peers and RAD staff,” Kinaara says.
Founded in 1920, the RAD’s 100+ years of experience have led to its rise as a world leader in dance education and training. It operates in over 85 countries with 36 international offices – so you have plenty of opportunity to turn your passion for dance into an international career. Onsite in London, you’ll access state-of-the-art facilities like a purpose-built 200-seat theatre, dance studios aplenty, and one of the largest dance libraries in Europe. If you’re a working professional with many commitments, the opportunity to elevate your career remains just as rich with distance-learning options.
That said, RAD is the best gateway to a thriving teaching career. Want to shape the artists of tomorrow? With RAD’s expert tutors and their commitment to educational excellence and transforming aspirations into tangible teaching careers you’ll be prepared to do just that.
“My initial focus was solely on ballet, but my time here has exposed me to different styles such as jazz, modern, and a deeper understanding of contemporary dance,” Kinaara says. “This exposure has broadened my horizons and enriched my dance repertoire.”
Teaching placements in its partnership schools and visits from guest lecturers and speakers enhance your skills and readiness even more.
RAD’s global community spans more than 400,000 students. Source: Royal Academy of Dance
From RAD student to professional in the making
The RAD journey begins with selecting the right degree for you. With a strong passion for ballet, Kinaara decided to pursue the BA (Hons) Ballet Education, and she’s now in her final year. It’s a three-year full-time degree that combines intensive dance training and preparation for a career in dance education, informing students on ballet and contemporary techniques.
In the first year, you take technique and practical classes to build your foundation across dance repertoire, choreographic practices, applied dance science, alongside dance analysis and history. In the next two, you boost your teaching skills through education-focused taught sessions and supervised practical teaching placements.
“The close-knit and supportive environment is enhanced by the student-to-staff ratio, which ensures personalised attention for each of us,” Kinaara says. “The bonds I’ve formed with my peers and tutors are invaluable, creating a nurturing and inspiring learning atmosphere.”
If you’re looking for a programme that’s more diverse in genre, RAD offers the BA (Hons) Dance Education programme as a flexible distance-learning degree that can be completed from anywhere in the world, at any time. Students can pursue the programme either part-time or full-time, and at certificate, diploma, or degree level. Experienced dance teachers looking to further their expertise can opt for the Master of Arts in Education (Dance Teaching) programme, a great option for research and professional development.
Students who pursue a distance learning programme are able to tailor their schedule around their commitments. Source: Royal Academy of Dance
For Laura Schneider, the BA (Hons) Dance Education programme allowed her to maintain her commitments while striving for personal and professional growth. It was a six-year part-time pursuit for Laura, one that was ultimately rewarding, albeit a challenge at the start. “The part-time and online study format allowed me to apply new knowledge and ideas directly to my teaching practice, bridging theoretical concepts with practical situations for deeper understanding,” she says.
Through the BA, Laura developed her identity and confidence as a teacher. She took modules that covered dance anatomy philosophy, and pedagogy, and even received support from the staff as a non-native English speaker. Thanks to the Practical Teaching Placement module, Laura attained Registered Teacher Status, allowing her to become a teaching member of the RAD.
As a result of her positive experience, Laura decided to continue with the Master of Arts in Education (Dance Teaching) programme at RAD. “I greatly appreciated the RAD’s constant effort to make the content more inclusive, diverse, and aligned with contemporary pedagogies,” she says. “This approach inspired me to incorporate these values into my teaching practice and never settle for outdated ideas.”
Highly skilled and forward-thinking – the dance teachers of the RAD are strongly committed to lifelong learning and professional development. RAD graduates are highly sought-after, with a recent graduate destination survey reporting that 87% of graduates were teaching dance and performing arts, while 91% of them work in a teaching profession. They’re based all over the world, imparting their wisdom in different pathways like private dance schools, vocational schools, community settings, higher education, and more.
If you’d like to become one of them,
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