The Bursary is held annually and the award, is provided for further classical ballet training in the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus and associated pre-professional training upon agreement with the Royal Academy of Dance. The Bursary is offered at the discretion of the adjudicator based on the candidate’s ability to fulfil the marking criteria.
The entry fee is $246

Entry Requirements:
Candidates must fulfill the following by the closing date of Bursary
• Be a current financial member of the Royal Academy of Dance.
• Be of non-professional status, meaning they are not engaged by a professional company or production on a regular basis as a paid dancer.
• Have passed the Royal Academy of Dance Advanced 1 Examination (with Distinction).
• Be 17 years of age or under at 31 December in the Bursary year (i.e. will not turn 18 at any time in the Bursary year).
• Have not yet taken the Academy’s Advanced 2 Examination at the time of registration closing.
• Have not been selected as a finalist in the Australian Advanced 1 Bursary in previous years.
• Have submitted a completed entry on TryBooking by the closing date published on the website.
• The required fee, also published on the RAD website each year, has been paid with the entry.
• Students may re-apply for the Bursary as many times as they wish, provided the entry requirements are met and they have not previously been a finalist.
• Students must submit a head shot and brief statement outlining how winning the Bursary would benefit their training.

Location:
In 2026, the Australian Advanced 1 Bursary will offer a live format competition. Applicants will be required to attend the Semi Finals in their State or Territory to be judged in the Semi Finals for each State or Territory in Australia. The finalists from each State or Territory will then be judged in the live final selection held in Melbourne.
Semi Finals:
The format of the Semi Finals comprises the following:
• Candidates will have a 15 minute rehearsal with the pianist for their variation. One teacher only may accompany the candidate in the rehearsal.
• Candidates participate in a closed warm up barre. No audience or adjudicator present.
• Classwork – selection of open exercises (centre only) at Advanced 1 level. Exercises will be free work with additional pointe work OR male exercises. The class will include port de bras, centre practice, pirouettes, adage, petit allegro, allegro, batterie, grand allegro, boys allegro – if boys, pointe, reverence.
• Classical Variation taken from the Repertoire List provided in the Advanced 1 Bursary informationdocument.
Candidates do not submit a Dancer’s Own contrasting piece in the Semi Finals.

Entries open: 13 February 2026
Entries close: 16 April 2026
Semi Final dates:
QLD – Sunday 17 May 2026
NSW - Sunday 17 May 2026
ACT –Sunday 3 May 2026
SA – Sunday 17 May 2026
WA – Sunday 24 May 2026
VIC – Sunday 31 May 2026
SA – Sunday 18 May 2025
WA – Sunday 18 May 2025

Semi Final Outcome and Award:
• Candidates will be assessed on the Classwork and Classical variation by separate state adjudicators. All decisions are final.
• One student from each State or Territory will progress to the Final, with the RAD covering travel and where necessary accommodation. If there is only one candidate entered from a state, they will receive automatic entry into the finals.
• In addition, and at the discretion of the adjudicator, one additional student from each State or Territory may be invited to attend and compete in the Finals at their own expense.

Finalists Announced: 2 June 2026 and after each state semi final

Final:
The Finals will be held live at a location that meets the requirements of an RAD approved Venue. In 2026 this will be at VCASS in Melbourne. The Finalist entries will be judged by a panel of two new adjudicators comprising of one RAD Adjudicator, and one Industry Professional. Students will have a 20 minute rehearsal time allocated with a pianist provided by the RAD. One teacher only may accompany the candidate in the rehearsal.
The final will be a live event and be comprised of the following:
• 1 hour 15 min open class. The class will include port de bras, centre practice, pirouettes, adage, petit allegro, allegro, batterie, grand allegro, boys allegro – if boys, pointe, reverence
• Classical Variation
• Contrasting ‘Dancer’s Own’ piece – may be created by the candidate, their teacher or a peer and be no shorter than 1 minute and no longer than 1 minute 30 seconds.

Finals: Sunday 14 June 2026

Final Outcome and Award:
Marking will weighted be as follows:
• 50% Classwork
• 40% Classical Variation
• 10% Dancers' Own Variation
The Judging Panel will assess the Classwork, Classical Variation, and Dancers’ Own. All decisions are final.
The Bursary is to be used to further the winner’s training and career development as follows with training in the RAD method. The prize of $5,000 is to be used and/or against material/equipment needed for the winner to continue their training, this includes travel expenses to The Fonteyn https://www.thefonteyn.org/

In all cases evidence of prior payment or purchases or provision of tuition must be forwarded and payments will be offset against eligible costs.
The Bursary will normally be awarded to a single candidate. The Academy reserves the right to withhold the Bursary if the required standard is not met.
The Bursary winner must commence further study within 12 months of the date of the award. This time limit can only be extended at the Academy’s discretion, and any funds not used within two years of the date of the award will be forfeited.
Students who do not follow these rules and regulations of entry may be disqualified.
The Academy reserves the right to alter the Bursary Rules and Conditions of Entry at any time and without prior notice.

List of Approved Repertoire:
As per the Academy’s policy, candidates may enter for their preferred syllabus according to the gender with which they choose to identify in relation to dance.
Piano recordings and links to scores of the sheet music are available in the Members Area.
Female Variations – Candidates should choose one of the following Repertoire Variations:
• Sleeping Beauty, Prologue First Fairy (Crystal Fountain) (Variation Candite, 2/4 time signature, B flat major)
• Sleeping Beauty, Act III No.23 Variation IV ‘Diamant’ (Diamond Fairy) (2/4 Vivace time signature, G major)
• Sleeping Beauty, Act III, Bluebird female variation, Princess Florine (2/4 time signature, F major)
• Coppélia, Act I Swanhilda (Thème Slave Varié 3rd Variation) (2/4 time signature, A major)
• Giselle, Act 1, Peasant pas Variation 1 (2/4 time signature, G major)
• Giselle, Act 1 Peasant pas Variation 2 (3/4 time signature, D major)

Male Variations – Candidates should choose one of the following Repertoire Variations:
• Giselle, Act 1 Peasant Pas de Deux First Male Variation (2/4 Allegretto time signature, D Major)
• Giselle, Act 1 Peasant Pas de Deux Second Male Variation (6/8 time signature, E Major)
• Sleeping Beauty, Act II Prince Desire Variation, Act 2 (6/8 time signature, C Major)
• Paquita Variation (3/4 time signature, C Major)

Dress code:
For Classwork candidates should wear the RAD’s recommended Vocational Graded Examination uniform. For candidates presenting the female syllabus, pointe shoes are required for the pointe work section of the class and for the Classical Variation. For Classical Variations, the use of costume is the candidates’ choice, but should be appropriate to the variation and a headdress may be worn; alternatively a leotard with tutu or appropriate skirt of any matching colour may be worn for females.
For the Dancers’ Own Variation, (in the finals only) candidates should wear an appropriate costume for their choreography.

RAD Australia Competitions & Awards Terms and Conditions apply to all Student Activities nationwide. A copy of these can be found here. Where these T&Cs conflict with the Individual Event Terms & Conditions (as outlined below), the Individual Event Terms & Conditions apply. All T&Cs are agreed online at the time of booking.

Candidates must be studying the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Syllabus, be residing in the state of the semi-finals they enter, and be enrolled with an RAD Registered teacher
Candidates must be of non-professional status, meaning they are not engaged by a professional company or production on a regular basis as a paid dancer.
Candidates must have completed and passed the Royal Academy of Dance Advanced 1 examination with Distinction to be eligible to enter the Awards.
Candidates must be 17 years of age or under at 31 December in the Bursary year (i.e. will not turn 18 at any time in the Bursary year).
Candidates must not have yet taken the Academy’s Advanced 2 Examination at the time of registration closing.
Candidates must not have been selected as a finalist in the Australian Advanced 1 Bursary in previous years.
It is the responsibility of the teacher/parent and candidate to ensure these entry requirements are met. A breach in this regulation could result in disqualification.
If you are unsure if you are eligible to enter, please email lcox@rad.org.au to check BEFORE registering.
All candidates are required to adhere to the dress code outlined in this information flyer
Students must participate in all relevant aspects of the awards for their entered level to avoid disqualification
The RAD reserves the right to alter the advertised program/faculty/venue/method of delivery without prior notice. The information in this and other printed or electronic brochures/notices was correct at the time of print.
The adjudicators’ decision is final and no communication regarding their decision will be entered into.
Some physical contact may be necessary by a member of the faculty to demonstrate exercises
during classes or if a member of the staff needs to administer first aid.
Participants agree that they may appear in photographic images taken during the event that may be used for promotional and/or reporting purposes, unless they inform RAD otherwise.
Parents/guardians/friends/family members/teachers of candidates are not permitted in back of house/backstage/warm-up areas unless given specific direction from an RAD staff member/volunteer to enter that area (due to safeguarding requirements).People who are found to have entered restricted areas or refuse a request to leave these areas by an RAD staff member/volunteer risk their candidate being disqualified from the Awards.
The purpose of this event is to offer a valuable experience that rewards, encourages and inspires young students to continue pursuing their passion for dance. Our expectation is that all involved (RAD staff, teachers, volunteers, candidates, and family members) adhere to our Codes of Conduct
RAD should be notified in writing of any medical conditions when registering for the Awards. Candidates participate at their own risk.
RAD Australia follows all current government, public health and COVID-19 requirements - please refer to the Government website in your state for current guidelines and advice.
Entries are via Trybooking only and close on Thursday 16 April 2026
Entry fee is non-refundable including due to change of mind or clashes with other commitments, entries are not transferable, and late entries cannot be accepted.
A 50% refund is only available if a written request is made and accompanied by a medical certificate 24hrs prior to the start of the event.

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All issues relating to the sale of tickets and the hosting of their associated event(s) are the responsibility of the “Event Organiser” and not that of TryBooking Pty Ltd (Australian Business Number 71126987915).

Please visit https://www.trybooking.com/info/customer-terms-and-conditions for our terms and conditions.