Royal Academy of Dance

A new home for dance

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) has been inspiring the world to dance for over a century. This year, we’re supporting them to look to the future with funding for their new state-of-the-art headquarters in Wandsworth.

Our grant of £200,000 covers most of the costs of building and equipping a studio, which will be used by everyone from toddlers to nonagenarians. The ‘Kusuma Studio’ will feature sprung floors, a piano and high specification sound equipment – perfect for the wide range of dance classes it’ll host, including ballet, contemporary, hip hop and musical theatre. 

  • The RAD supports a global community of more than 400,000 dancers in more than 80 countries.
  • Over 1,000 people dance in the RAD’s London headquarters each week.
  • RAD outreach programmes reach over 8,000 people each year in schools across London and Essex.

Welcoming the neighbours

By creating this new building, RAD can open their doors to more people who live locally, providing new cultural resources and opportunities and celebrating the area’s diverse communities.

In term time, the Kusuma Studio will welcome Silver Swans classes that improve wellbeing, movement and balance for people aged over 55 and RADiate classes for young people with special education needs. In the summer, the studio will host summer schools and workshops, including Move to the Musicals for over 55s to improve posture and balance. 

The new building also offers space for community engagement events, open days, talent development programming and mentoring. The result will be an arts engagement and outreach programme that has been co-created and co-curated by the RAD and their local community.

“I know first-hand the remarkable contribution the Royal Academy of Dance makes to the art of classical ballet worldwide and to so many forms of dance. It is very important that the RAD continues to provide the very best quality of training, but also that it instils the enjoyment and love of dance in as many people as possible by offering a wide range of opportunities to get involved.”

Dame Darcey Bussell, DBE, President, Royal Academy of Dance

More Success Stories

Community & Environment
Geography: Gibraltar | Year: 2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016

Gibraltar International Dance Festival

It’s hosted in Gibraltar – but attracts dancers from around the world…
Access to Opportunity
Geography: United Kingdom | Year: 2021,2022,2023

Create (Arts) Limited

Autistic children are getting the chance to work directly with professional artists and learn more about climate change.
Access to Opportunity
Geography: United Kingdom | Year: 2022,2023,2024

Ambitious about Autism

Ambitious about Autism is making sure that more autistic young people find fulfilling work.