In a special public announcement today, the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) has unveiled its acquisition of the esteemed Dancing Times’ photographic archive.
This remarkable collection, boasting approximately 38,000 black and white as well as color prints, encapsulates the rich tapestry of 20th-century dance, spanning from around 1920 to the year 2000. Undoubtedly, it stands as one of the most extensive compilations of dance history from the last century.
It includes:
- Photographs of multiple productions of classics such as Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Coppélia and The Nutcracker
- Photographs of past and present dance icons such as Fred Astaire, Alvin Ailey, Margot Fonteyn, Carlos Acosta and Darcey Bussell
- Photographs of national and international dance competitions and dance schools
- Complete bound sets of Dancing Times and the Ballroom Dancing Times (later Dance Today).
This significant acquisition by RAD comes in the wake of Dancing Times’ decision to cease publication, with the final issue arriving in readers’ hands this past September 2022. The news of the magazine’s farewell – after 112 years in print – was met with profound sorrow throughout the dance community in the United Kingdom, resonating with prominent figures, organizations, and writers alike.
The longstanding and intertwined history of Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and Dancing Times has culminated in this poignant union, RAD emerging as the natural custodian for the magazine’s illustrious archive.
This treasure trove, consisting of over a century’s worth of dance narratives, now finds a cherished home, promising a wealth of dance stories waiting to be unearthed and celebrated.
Jonathan Gray, Editor of the Dancing Times from 2008 until its closure says:
“I am thrilled that this wonderful collection and resource has been saved for the nation and that it is going to be looked after by an organisation so closely associated with the Dancing Times. Although it’s sad that the magazine no longer exists, I feel sure that my predecessors, Mr Richardson and Mary Clarke, who were so inspirational to so many people in the dance world, would have been delighted by this news.”
Featured Photo of ballerinas Phyllis Bedells, Adeline Genée, and Margot Fonteyn. Courtesy of Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). Photo by Paul Wilson.
