RAD hosts RADiate summer sharing

Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) recently hosted a RADiate summer sharing at its headquarters in Wandsworth, London.

The sharing took place in the RAD’s Aud Jebsen Studio Theatre, seeing school students showcase the skills they have learnt on the RADiate programme during the academic year, which enables children with additional learning needs and disabilities to access dance.

The event featured participation from several schools. TreeHouse School and Pears National Centre for Autism support pupils with autism diagnoses. Sherwood Park in Wallington serves students with profound and multiple learning disabilities as well as severe learning disabilities. Similarly, Sherwood Hill in Carshalton provides for pupils with autism and severe learning disabilities, including those with significant social and emotional challenges that impact their ability to manage daily activities.

Commenting on what it felt like to perform at the RAD, a representative from TreeHouse School said: “Thank you all at RAD. My colleagues and pupils have had an awesome time and had only wonderful things to say about the day. Thank you for a wonderful experience for all. This is how we remove barriers to social participation. Well done and have a great weekend!” 

A representative from Sherwood Park School said: “It was inspiring and a little humbling to come visit and see you all on your home turf, as it were. We really felt part of something very, very worthwhile, and it was such a well organised day, so thank you again.” 

Young people delivered a vibrant showcase featuring three distinct performances. They brought to life a piece based on the book My Many Coloured Days, exploring the connection between colors, animals, and emotions. Another performance, inspired by the book Where is the Sun?, highlighted the sun’s movement and its essential role. They also performed Shake, Swing and Slide, a lively celebration of key movements that united everyone in joyful, collective motion.

RADiate dance artist Kirsty Purnell led the creation of the works with all three schools. Kirsty was assisted by Zollien Dove at TreeHouse School and Annabell Duft at Sherwood Park and Sherwood Hill, and also joined by lead artist, Laura Heywood and supporting artists, Katie Tongue and Nicole Neolove. RADiate officers Vicki Busfield, Tarika Ingram and Emma Jones also helped facilitate the sharing.

Last year, RADiate worked with over 5,700 students across 13 schools, including primary, specialist and children’s hospital schools in and around London. Teaching sessions are also held at the RAD’s state of the art dance school in Wandsworth. In addition to the students a total of 3,568 staff took part in the programme, helping them learn new skills they apply back in the school setting.

For more information on RADiate, visit: https://www.royalacademyofdance.org/dance-classes/radiate/

RADiate, Photo credit Jimmy Parratt