Yesterday the RAD launched their new grades 1-3 here in Sydney. Ian and I were delighted to be able to join the very enthusiastic audience of teachers, examiners and organisers from across Australasia to witness the unveiling of this wonderful new syllabus and it’s fabulous orchestrated music. The work was beautifully demonstrated by local children and the work explained to us by Lynn Wallis, Artistic Director RAD and Paula Hunt who is the Chair of the International Panel of examiners at the RAD. Luke Rittner, CEO of the RAD had introduced the day and the keynote speaker who was David McAllister AM. David spoke beautifully about how important dance teachers are to their students and finished his talk with a demonstration of the dance he had performed as a small boy entering his first RAD ballet exam!  Finally, Darcey Bussell, who, like David is a Vice President of the RAD, coached some senior students in a Sleeping Beauty solo. Darcey was delightful and gave us all a rare insight into the tiny nuances that can make a good performance into a great one.

Today saw us heading off to North Strathfield to The McDonald College where Jacqui Dumont stages a fantastic dance summer school every year. Several hundred children were dancing in seven great studios and obviously all having a wonderful time. I was able to catch up with my former PA, Jane Devine, who was a dancer with the Royal Ballet Company and  former Genee medal winner and who now teaches on the faculty at this brilliant summer school. Here are Jane and I catching up outside The McDonald College.