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Awards Day Ceremonies in 2016

Dr Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel1

Ceremony of Postgraduate Degrees, April 2016

On Friday 08th April, Faculty of Education staff and five Master of Teaching (Dance) (MTD)

graduates gathered at the University of Surrey in Guildford for the postgraduate graduation

ceremony. This event marked the final graduation from the University of Surrey and the last

cohort to graduate with the MTD award. Congratulations to our 2016 MTD graduates and

we look forward to hearing about their career developments following completion of their

studies at the Faculty of Education!

MTD Graduates celebrate outside Guildford Cathedral: Nicola Hughes, Margie Rice, Jennifer

Macmillan, Lucy Snellgrove and Helen Linkenbagh. Photo credits: Jenelle Rutherford

1 Dr Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel is Senior Lecturer in Dance Studies, Research Manager and Lead Academic

Integrity Officer at the Faculty of Education. For more information on Kathrina’s work at the RAD, see

https://www.rad.org.uk/study/higher-education/higher-education-1/staff-and-research/staff/dr-kathrina-farrugia-

kriel

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Staff and MTD Graduates outside Guildford Cathedral: Back Row L-R Rosie Gerhard, Fiona Brooker,

Janine Streuli, Katie Chambers, Maxwell Sibanda; Front Row L-R Dr Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel, Nicola Hughes,

Margie Rice, Shelly Saint-Smith, Jennifer Macmillan, Lucy Snellgrove, Helen Linkenbagh and Michelle Groves.

Photo credits: Jenelle Rutherford

Awards Ceremony, July 2016

On Wednesday 20th July, RAD staff, students and invited guests gathered at The Sherfield

Building at Imperial College in South Kensington for the RAD’s Awards Ceremony 2016.

The sun shone on what promised to be a truly remarkable day and graduates congregated in

London from a variety of regions in the UK, Europe, North America, South America, and

the global South, including South Africa, the Philippines, Mexico and Chile.

In his welcome address, Chief Executive Luke Rittner was delighted to welcome the

congregation to the first combined RAD professional awards and university-validated degree

ceremony, marking the beginning of the new partnership with the University of Bath. Rittner

emphasized that dance, as well as the other arts, is a necessary part of humanity despite the

uncertainty and troubles that the world currently faces. The RAD continues to shape a

positive pathway in its leadership as a world-leading dance organisation, and the highlights of

2016 include participation in marking Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday celebration including

The Patron’s Lunch as well as the RAD’s contribution to the parade on the Mall in London

earlier in June. Director of Education Michelle Groves urged the new graduates to be

proud of their education and training at the RAD; a passion for teaching is vital for longevity

in dance teaching careers and in the pursuit of inspiring the next generation of dancers,

dance teachers and supporters of dance. In addressing the graduates and congregation, guest

speaker Leanne Benjamin AM OBE recalled her early ballet training in Rockhampton

(Australia) with Valeria Hazell. It was those early classes that nurtured her talent and

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encouraged her to pursue her studies further afield at the Royal Ballet School in London.

Benjamin reminded the Graduates of 2016 that the value of teachers is to inspire the next

generation. Guy Perricone, Chairman of the RAD, concluded that dance unites people;

amidst a rather divisive moment in time where cultural difference seems to be topical, dance

has the ability to connect people in a powerful way. The RAD continues to reach out and

connect with people across the globe and Perricone praised the continued work undertaken

by the RAD staff, ambassadors and, of course, President Darcey Bussell CBE. Deputy-Vice

Chancellor and Provost Professor Bernie Morley from the University of Bath presided over

the ceremony.

Bussell presented the awards to the Graduates of 2016, including: the university-validated

degrees, BA (Hons) Ballet Education and BA Dance Education, as well as professional

awards of the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies, the Diploma in Dance Teaching Studies,

the Licentiate of the RAD, the Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma, the Professional

Dancers’ Postgraduate Teaching Certificate and the Postgraduate Certificate in Education

Dance Teaching with Qualified Teacher Status. The Philip Nind Award (Outstanding

Dissertation) for 2016 was awarded to Siobhan Sexton (BA(Hons) Ballet Education).

Fellowships of the RAD were awarded to Elaine Rae (posthumously), Heulwen Price and

Kathryn Wade in the light of their service to the RAD and its communities. Graduates,

guests and RAD staff were treated to afternoon tea at The Queen’s Tower Rooms.

Congratulations to all students who attended the ceremony as well as those who were

awarded in absentia!

Guest Speaker Leanne Benjamin OBE AM addressing staff and congregation at the 2016 Awards

Ceremony Photo Credit: Tempest Photography

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Guy Perricone, Leanne Benjamin OBE AM, Prof. Bernie Morley, Darcey Bussell CBE, Michelle

Groves and Luke Rittner at the 2016 Awards Ceremony Photo Credit: Tempest Photography

Newly qualified dance teachers: RAD students graduate with PGCE: Dance Teaching with QTS

Photo Credit: Tempest Photography

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Fellowship of the RAD recipient Holly Price with President Darcey Bussell CBE Photo Credit:

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Jenelle Rutherford