Royal Academy of Dance celebrates 100 years since the establishment of its Children’s Scholarship Scheme, which ran from 1925 to 1984, with former scholars including Wayne Sleep OBE.
The scheme offered more than 2,000 young people across the UK two free RAD-syllabus ballet classes a week, beginning at a time when very few schools gave professional training to young students. With the Children’s Scholarship Scheme however, areas across the breadth of the UK, including Leeds, Edinburgh, Cardiff and London, were able to run classes.
RAD Vice President Wayne Sleep OBE said (his address can be watched on YouTube), “the scheme gave me the chance to get a place at the Royal Ballet School when I was 12 years old, because I’d been trained rather well with the RAD syllabus. When I auditioned, it stood me in good stead, and I got a place out of 250 other kids!”
Other RAD scholars include Pamela May OBE, Lynn Seymour CBE, Kevin O’Hare CBE, Russell Maliphant OBE and Will Tuckett.
Material about the Children’s Scholarship Scheme is housed in the RAD’s Wolfson Library. RAD has launched a series of monthly spotlights on notable scholars, sharing their stories and rare photos, and an exhibition will open to the public later this year. In the autumn, there will be a panel discussion with former scholars chaired by RAD’s Artistic Director Alexander Campbell.