The Royal Academy of Dance is a leader in continuing professional development in dance that supports and promotes dance teachers at every step of their career encouraging their innovative contributions to dance and education throughout the world. The RAD helps and encourages teachers to perfect their teaching skills and pass on this knowledge to their students
ARAD: After successfully completing the RAD Vocational Advanced Examination, a dancer/teacher may take the title of Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance. ARAD is also awarded after successful completion of any of the professional teaching courses.
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PDTC: Professional Dancers Teaching Course; RAD Rgistered Teacher
The PDTC program is designed for professional dancers wishing to prepare for a career in teaching, or for dancers who are already teaching but wish to gain an internationally renowned RAD teaching qualification. Currently PDTC is arranged for distance learning with an onsite Intensive Study Period as a more flexible program. The PDTC was previously an intensive 6 month, full time training program in London, England which required the study and presentation of the entire RAD syllabus. The students were examined on their knowledge of the syllabus, techniques in effective and safe instruction, and ultimately their ability to do so at all levels (Pre-Primary - Advanced and Solo Seal).
Camilla Chiapuris successfully completed this program in 1978 and continues to maintain active certification as ARAD PDTC.
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RTS: Registered Teacher Status
Teachers who have successfully completed the RAD Certificate of Ballet Teaching Studies (CBTS) program may then apply for Registered Teaching Status. The 2 year CBTS program includes distance learning, and an Intensive Study Period with practical workshops and discussion groups with RAD Tutors. As in all of the Teaching programs students are examined on their knowledge of the syllabus, techniques in effective and safe instruction, and ultimately their ability to do so at all levels (Pre-Primary - Advanced). a minimum of 45 classes over the time frame of the module and are provided with additional tutoring and support from a Practical Teaching Supervisor. All programs include required research, class development and written papers.
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RAD Teachers study and are examined in areas including :
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The Code of Professional Practice for Teachers Registered with the RAD.
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Requirements of teachers for safe practice and professional responsibilities.
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Creating and maintaining safe dance environments.
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Government policies such as child protection, equal opportunities and rights for persons with disabilities.
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Functional anatomy, focus on the posture, supplementary conditioning
- The stages of physical, mental and emotional development for appropriate
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Key features and progressions of the RAD syllabi, focusing on Pre-Primary and Primary in Dance, Grade 1-5, Intermediate Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced levels. The units cover fundamentals of ballet and Character Dance technique, demonstration as a teaching tool and music for dance teachers.
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The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) graded program begins with two pre-ballet classes followed by 8 graded levels. Both age and accomplishment contribute to the teachers’ placement suggestions. Students in the upper grades may also elect to participate in RAD’s pre-professional (Vocational) syllabus which consists of an additional 6 levels.
The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus is taught in all of our children/teen classes. With its headquarters in London, England, and a presence in 79 countries, more than a quarter of a million students worldwide are taught using this teaching system. The Community School of Ballet is an approved center to host the Children's and Vocational RAD examinations. The syllabus outlines a progressive structure for learning and achievement in dance.
What does it mean to be a Registered Royal Academy of Dance Teacher: ARAD, PDTC, and RTS?
THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF BALLET
Alexandra Chiapuris O'Donnell
Alexandra (Chiapuris) O'Donnell, ARAD RTS graduated from the National Academy of Arts, a performing arts high school in Champaign, IL. Her teachers included Petrus Bosman, Valerie Taylor both former dancers with the Royal Ballet, London. She successfully completed the Royal Academy
of Dance vocational exams including the Advanced Executant Exam and went on to study with Marika Besobrasova at the Princess Grace Academy in Monte Carlo. Alexandra then moved to New York City to pursue a professional career and danced with the New York Theatre Ballet (Dir. Diana Byer) for several years. Her training in New York included teachers, Marjorie Mussman and Gabriela Darvash. Alexandra returned to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan (BA psychology 1997). She worked with the homeless and underserved populations at Washtenaw County Community Mental Health for 14 years while teaching at CSB with her parents. In 2017 she completed the RAD teaching certification program to become a Registered Teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance, London, England. Alexandra became director of CSB upon the retirement of her mother in 2020.
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Bohuslava (Slavka) Jelinkova
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Bohuslava (Slávka) Jelinkova, a native of the Czech Republic, received her early training at the National Conservatory of Dance in Prague, studying classical ballet technique and a variety of other dance forms. Upon graduation, she was invited to join the Opera Ballet of the National Theatre in Prague, where she performed and toured internationally for ten years. She subsequently earned a master’s degree in ballet pedagogy from the Prague Academy of Fine Arts.
In 1999, Slávka relocated to Michigan, where she continued her performing career as a freelance artist with regional choreographers and served on the faculties of several schools, including the Flint School of Performing Arts, Arts in Motion (Ann Arbor), the Russian Classical Ballet Academy, the Brighton Ballet School, and the University of Michigan. She also taught character dance and choreographed for the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive for three consecutive years.
Slávka is an ABT® Certified Teacher in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. In 2020–21, she achieved certification in all levels of Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) and currently teaches PBT courses at the University of Michigan, CSB and in private instruction.
In addition to her extensive background in performance and pedagogy, Jelinkova is a board-licensed and certified massage therapist with specialization in sports massage.​​​​
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Helena Mueller
Allyson Corts
Helena Mueller trained at the School of American Ballet and the High School of Performing Arts in New York City as well as the Darvash School of Ballet and Steps on Broadway. She went on to dance professionally with several regional ballet companies. Helena later attended the University of Michigan earning her PhD in neuroscience. During that time, she began teaching ballet discovering a way to continue to share her passion for dance. In addition to teaching and taking ballet classes, Helena has a full time job at a science research lab where she can work with her second love, science
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​Allyson Corts
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