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RAD icon Isobel Anderson passes away

admin 22/10/2016 Dance News No Comment

Royal Academy of Dance patron Isobel Anderson passes awayAt the end of September, the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) announced that icon Isobel Anderson had passed away. Anderson had been a RAD student who grew into a teacher, then an examiner and then a mentor. Later in life, she was deemed a Fellow and a Patron of the NSW Regional Advisory Panel.

 

To honour her memory, RAD will continue with its annual Isobel Anderson FRAD Awards in New South Wales. In addition, RAD and the NSW Panel, along with contributions from an organising committee, will plan a memorial celebration at the Awards in 2017. It will provide an opportunity for as many RAD teachers and students as possible to be involved.

 

Planning will be underway shortly and RAD promises to keep its base informed as to how they may be involved, or can contribute to, the memorial to honour Anderson’s legacy.

 

RAD Chief Executive Luke Rittner wrote the following tribute for Anderson:

 

“The death of Isobel Anderson at the great age of 102 years marks the end of an era and the news will be received with great sadness by countless numbers of dance teachers around Australia and beyond.

 

Isobel Anderson’s name has become almost synonymous with that of the Royal Academy of Dance, so long and so significant has been her involvement in the Academy.

 

In 1935 (80 years ago!), Miss Anderson was a candidate in the very first Australian exams tour and she achieved her RAD Advanced Teacher’s Diploma in 1939. Since then, she has single-mindedly and devotedly dedicated much of her considerable energy to the Academy. As member, registered teacher, examiner, tutor, mentor, life member, Panel Chair, Patron and passionate advocate, Isobel’s life and career were interwoven with the Academy’s development in Australia and her place in the Academy’s history is assured. Her story is our story and we all owe her an incalculable debt of gratitude.

 

On behalf of the entire Academy family, I salute you Isobel and I thank you for your lifetime of loyal, selfless and dedicated support.”

 

Photo of Isobel Anderson FRAD courtesy of RAD.