ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCE

Registered charity 312826 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as RAD, ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCING

The Royal Academy of Dance is a registration organisation for dance teachers, a Higher Education provider for aspiring dance teachers, an Awarding Organisation leading to proficiency in dance at a high level; and the owner of Benesh Movement Notation; and through these provides dance training, dance teacher education, and dance assessment services to students and teachers. :

Causes: Education/training · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£22.4m
Latest spending
£24.2m
Registered
1963
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the group reported a net loss of £1,675,000 for the year ended 31 July 2025, resulting in a decrease in unrestricted net assets. The charity breached a loan covenant during the year, requiring the loan to be reclassified as a short-term liability, although the bank issued a waiver after the year end. The trustees concluded that going concern is appropriate, forecasting a continued deficit in the short term before returning to surplus by FY28.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Highest-paid employee band: £190,001 - £200,000 — in the top quarter for charities its size (median £130k)
“Between £190,001 - £200,000* 1”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Largest income source: Examinations (59% of income)
“Examination fees 12,715”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Fundraising cost ratio: 117.3% of fundraised income, as disclosed
“Fundraising income increased by 12% to £800,000 (FY24: £716,000) and direct expenditure increased by 15% to £938,000 (FY24: £819,000)”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: £3,555,000 (held: £1.9m)
“The target for group free reserves is £3,555,000, with £3,112,000 being within charity reserves.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Going concern: noted by the trustees or auditor
“During FY25, the RAD breached a covenant associated with the term loan due to a decline in income, which resulted in an operating group loss. Since the year end the RAD has renegotiated the terms of the loan to extend for one year to 19 July 2027 and following this the bank issued a waiver after the year end.” — page 48
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Payments to trustees: 6 trustees received remuneration for examining, tutoring or mentoring services. Total payments included £31,718 to Victoria Allport, £14,722 to Joshua Tuifua, £10,646 to Rachel Jackson-Weingärtner, £10,358 to Sonia Greco, £2,290 to Amy Giancarlo, and £594 to Justine Berry.
“During the financial year, 6 trustees (FY24: 3 trustees) received remuneration for providing services to the RAD. Payments to trustees who are also examiners, tutors and mentors were made in accordance with Articles 6.5 and 10 of the Charter.” — page 56
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: National Director Japan related party
“Related party: Noriko Kobayashi (National Director – Japan) as owner of Kobayashi Ballet Studios Transaction: Hire of dance studios, office space and seconded staff for exams, courses, summer school and administration Cost of transaction: £57,272” — page 56
“Related party: Family member (National Director – Italy) Transaction: Payroll costs Cost of transaction: £46,235”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: National Director Italy related party
“Related party: Noriko Kobayashi (National Director – Japan) as owner of Kobayashi Ballet Studios Transaction: Hire of dance studios, office space and seconded staff for exams, courses, summer school and administration Cost of transaction: £57,272” — page 56
“Related party: Family member (National Director – Italy) Transaction: Payroll costs Cost of transaction: £46,235”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: National Director USA related party
“Related party: Noriko Kobayashi (National Director – Japan) as owner of Kobayashi Ballet Studios Transaction: Hire of dance studios, office space and seconded staff for exams, courses, summer school and administration Cost of transaction: £57,272” — page 56
“Related party: Family member (National Director – Italy) Transaction: Payroll costs Cost of transaction: £46,235”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: National Director Portugal related party
“Related party: Noriko Kobayashi (National Director – Japan) as owner of Kobayashi Ballet Studios Transaction: Hire of dance studios, office space and seconded staff for exams, courses, summer school and administration Cost of transaction: £57,272” — page 56
“Related party: Family member (National Director – Italy) Transaction: Payroll costs Cost of transaction: £46,235”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Royal Academy of Dance Enterprises Ltd
“Trading income (retail, licensing and royalties) Income generated by the UK trading subsidiary, together with licensing and royalty income, decreased to £1,394,000”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Crowe U.K. LLP. Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Year-over-year changes

Comparing this charity’s FY2024 and FY2025 accounts as analysed by this site.

In the news

Recent coverage mentioning this charity by name (automated match; headlines belong to their publishers).

Corporate structure

ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCE ENTERPRISES LTD. — per its own Companies House accounts
  • Turnover: £470k
  • Profit before tax: £161k
  • Donated/gift-aided to the charity: £161k
“The amount donated in 2025 was £160,700 (FY24: £93,750).”

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Royal Academy of Dance (matched by registered charity number).

Property (HM Land Registry)

1 registered title in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (0 freehold); recorded price paid £6.1m. All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/07/2025)

Total income
£22.4m
Total spending
£24.2m
Cost of raising funds
£2.2m
Reserves (reported)
£1.9m
Employees
248

Reported reserves equal ~1.0 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 4.6 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (89% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 10.0% of total income — above the median for charities its size (3.8%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Aruba · Australia · Barbados · Belgium · Bermuda · Brazil · Brunei · Canada · Chile · China · Costa Rica · Cyprus

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/07/2025£22.4m£24.2m
31/07/2024£21.7m£23.0m
31/07/2023£22.0m£22.1m
31/07/2022£20.6m£20.3m
31/07/2021£18.7m£16.9m

Common questions

Is ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCE financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the group reported a net loss of £1,675,000 for the year ended 31 July 2025, resulting in a decrease in unrestricted net assets. The charity breached a loan covenant during the year, requiring the loan to be reclassified as a short-term liability, although the bank issued a waiver after the year end. The trustees concluded that going concern is appropriate, forecasting a continued deficit in the short term before returning to surplus by FY28. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Crowe U.K. LLP.

What does the highest-paid employee of ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCE earn?

Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £190,001 - £200,000 band.

Who funds ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCE?

Funders whose own accounts filings name ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCE as a grant recipient include JACK PETCHEY FOUNDATION, KUSUMA TRUST UK, THE LINBURY TRUST, THE TOMLINSON FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST, THE CLORE DUFFIELD FOUNDATION.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

FunderYearAmountPurpose (as stated by the funder)
JACK PETCHEY FOUNDATIONFY2022£513kStep into Dance
KUSUMA TRUST UKFY2023£200kRAD - A New Home for Dance
THE LINBURY TRUSTFY2022£125kTowards the landmark project to relocate the Royal Academy of Dance to a significantly larger site; second payment of £250,000 grant.
KUSUMA TRUST UKFY2025£100kRADiate and Core Funding
THE TOMLINSON FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£100k
KUSUMA TRUST UKFY2024£100kRADiate and Core Funding
THE TOMLINSON FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£100k
THE CLORE DUFFIELD FOUNDATIONFY2022£60kArts, heritage and education
THE LINBURY TRUSTFY2024£60kTowards the purchase of the Dancing Times archive, related staff costs, and using the archive in the Royal Academy of Dance’s education and outreach programmes.
THE HEADLEY TRUSTFY2024£50kTowards bursary support for UK students on Certificate in Dance Teaching (Ballet) and Professional Dancers Graduate Teaching Diploma.
THE HOBSON CHARITY LIMITEDFY2022£25kTheatre
THE DORFMAN FOUNDATIONFY2024£15k
THE DORFMAN FOUNDATIONFY2023£15k
MARIA BJORNSON MEMORIAL FUNDFY2023£13k
The Ethos FoundationFY2023£13kOther smaller grants
MARIA BJORNSON MEMORIAL FUNDFY2024£10k
THE BUFFINI CHAO FOUNDATIONFY2024£10k
THE BUFFINI CHAO FOUNDATIONFY2025£10k
The Ethos FoundationFY2025£5ksmaller donation
THE CHILDHOOD TRUSTFY2023£3k

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

FunderDateAmountPurpose
Sport England11/11/2025£7kBallet for the Cancer Community
City Bridge Foundation23/09/2015£147kGrant to Royal Academy of Dance

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ART.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCE£22.4m£190,001 - £200,000—unclear117.3%noted
THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ART FY2025£16.7m—0unclear—no doubt
THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS FY2025£37.1m—0unclear—no doubt
ACS DANCE CENTRE FY2025£256k—0unclear—no doubt
ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC FY2025£33.2m——unclear14.3%no doubt
THE ROYAL BALLET SCHOOL FY2025£16.6m—0unclear10.0%noted

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.