Membership and Licensee Terms & Conditions

These terms and conditions form the basis of the contract through which the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) will deliver membership services to you as a member.

1. Membership and License Levels

1.1 The RAD membership categories fall into two levels: non-professional and professional membership.

1.1.1 Non-professional membership categories

– RAD Member

– RAD Member Plus

1.1.2 Professional membership category

– RAD Registered Teacher

1.2 RAD license category

– Silver Swans Licensee

2. Membership and Licensee Applications

2.1 The eligibility criteria for applications to the RAD Member Plus and RAD Registered Teacher categories is based on your most recent/highest RAD qualification. If you have achieved a qualification that entitles you to become RAD Member Plus, you will not be able to apply for the RAD Member category.

2.2 We reserve the right to reject an application for membership without disclosing the reason(s) for doing so.

2.3 On receipt of your application we will take payment for the subscription fee, however, our acceptance of your membership application remains subject to approval. If we cannot accept your application, we will contact you regarding a refund within 10 working days.

2.4 The membership team will invoice and contact prospective Silver Swans Licensees within 30 days of completing the Silver Swans Licensee Workshop.

2.5 All information that you provide must be true and accurate at the point of applying. In the event of a change of circumstances (e.g. a change of contact details), it is your responsibility to update your details via the Members’ Area, or to notify us by phone, email or in writing, so that our records are up to date.

2.6 You will be issued with a unique RAD ID which you should use when communicating with us.

3. Membership/License Payments, Renewals and Cancellations

3.1 RAD annual membership runs from September 1st – August 31st each year. New members/licensees begin their membership year from this start date.

3.2 Applicants/members/licensees in countries where the Euro is currency are required to pay the subscription fee in Euros. The currency payable is not optional.

3.3 As a member/licensee, you will have a 14-day cooling-off period in which you have the right to cancel your subscription. We will refund your payment within 30 days of cancellation. This will, however, incur a handling fee of 10%. You must confirm in writing if you wish to cancel your subscription.

3.4 You must confirm in writing if you no longer wish to continue your membership/license.

3.5 If you cancel your membership/license, and re-apply in the future, you are subject to the eligibility criteria at the time of application. Any previous loyalty entitlements may not continue.

3.6 We reserve the right to make changes to benefits and services, and to review and amend membership/license subscription fees.

3.7 You will be informed of any change to membership/license subscription fees in your renewal notification. Our website will also detail these fees and any other changes to your membership.

3.8 If you wish to change your membership category part-way through the year, you will be required to pay the difference (if the membership fee is higher). If the membership fee is lower, a part refund will not be given.

4. Reduced Rates for Non-professional Members

4.1 If you are an RAD Member or RAD Member Plus and meet the following criteria you are eligible for the reduced rate:

– Under 18

– In full-time education (proof required)

– Over age 65

– Not currently working (proof required)

– On Maternity/Paternity/Adoption leave (proof required)

4.2 Where proof is required, you will be asked to submit supporting evidence by the Membership team annually. Falsely claiming eligibility for this category may result in disciplinary action. It is your responsibility to update the RAD if your circumstances have changed.

5. Inactive Teachers

5.1 If you are not dance teaching and are eligible for RAD Registered Teacher status, you will be eligible for the RAD Teacher membership category. As an RAD Teacher you will not appear on our register of teachers and you will receive some but not all the benefits of an active RAD Registered Teacher. View the full list of benefits here.

This category is only for dance teachers taking a permanent or temporary break from dance teaching of one year or more.

The following inactive dance teachers are eligible for RAD Teacher at the full rate:

– Working, but not in dance teaching

The following inactive dance teachers are eligible for RAD Teacher at the reduced rate:

– In full-time education (proof required)

– Not currently working (proof required)

– On maternity/paternity/adoption leave (proof required)

– Retired (proof required)

– Over age 65

5.2 Where proof is required, you will be asked to submit supporting evidence by the Membership team annually. Falsely claiming eligibility for this category may result in disciplinary action. It is your responsibility to update the RAD if your circumstances have changed.

6. Professional members

6.1 Teachers are required to renew their membership annually, no later than the renewal date, to retain their Registered Teacher Status.

6.2 Teachers who have not paid their membership subscription by the renewal date will no longer be able to use the professional teaching benefits.

6.3 Teaching membership subscription fee payments not received within three months of the expiry date will incur a reinstatement fee of £25/€28. This fee will increase to £50/€57, should the teaching membership subscription fee not be received within one year of the expiry date. These fees have been temporarily suspended until August 2022, due to the pandemic.

6.4 Participation in the CPD scheme is mandatory for RAD teaching members. Teaching members will need to accrue a minimum number of CPD hours each year in order to retain their RAD Teacher status. This requirement must be completed in the CPD year (1 September to 31 August). Each year, five percent of teaching members are audited and asked to submit evidence in support of their CPD declaration.

7. Licensees

7.1 Licensees are required to renew their license annually and no later than the renewal date to retain their license.

7.2 Licensees who have not paid their subscription by the renewal date will become lapsed and will no longer be able to use the professional licensee benefits.

7.3 For existing teaching members and RAD Members/Members Plus:

7.3.1 Members must retain/renew their membership fees to receive the relevant discount on their license fee.

7.3.2 Members’ license renewal dates will be in line with their membership renewal date.

7.3.3 If a member becomes a Licensee mid-way through their membership year, the Licensee fee will be charged pro-rata.

7.3.4 Members must confirm in writing if they no longer wish to continue membership but want to retain their license.

7.4 For non-members:

7.4.1 License fees are calculated on a 12-month rolling basis.

8. Rules & Regulations

8.1 It is the member’s responsibility to keep their RAD ID confidential.

8.2 By becoming a member, you agree that you will adhere to the RAD Code of Conduct and Bye-Laws of the RAD’s Supplemental Charter.

8.3 Teaching members are also bound by the Code of Professional Practice for teachers.

8.4 Any breaches of the Code of Conduct or Code of Professional Practice will be dealt with in line with membership disciplinary procedures.

9. Language

9.1 Your membership benefits and services will be supplied in English and we will communicate with you in the English language. From time to time there may be an exception at our discretion, but this is not guaranteed.

10. Data protection

10.1 We hold your contact details securely to enable us to provide information on RAD services, products and activities that may be of interest to you. In providing us with this information, you give us permission to contact you in relation to these. We will not disclose your details to any third party without your express permission unless legally required to do so.

• Our full Data Protection Policy and Procedures document is available at www.royalacademyofdance.org/policies.
• Our Privacy Notice is available at www.royalacademyofdance.org/privacy-notice.

11. Terms and conditions of membership are subject to revision.