Press Release: Royal Academy of Dance appoints Mary Keene as Director of Examinations

[Jan McNulty]

For immediate release

 

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 14/12/23

 

Royal Academy of Dance appoints Mary Keene as Director of Examinations   

 

 

 

 

Mary Keene joins the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) as Director of Examinations at an exciting time for one of the world’s leading dance education and training organisations as it continues to empower young dancers across the globe to dance.

 

Speaking of her appointment, Mary Keene says, “I am delighted to be joining the RAD as Director of Examinations. I have always had a love for dance and am a firm believer in the value of arts education. Along with my team, I hope I can help to transform the Royal Academy of Dance’s exam offering for the 21st century and beyond.

 

Mary Keene has worked in education for nearly 20 years, primarily in the arts but also in engineering and medicine. She was Director of Operations at Rockschool (RSL Awards) for six years and has also worked at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMD) and EAL, a specialist awarding organisation for engineering and manufacturing, bringing a wealth of experience within the awarding organisation sector to the RAD.

 

In addition, Mary Keene has a strong background in assessment digitisation, working with the Royal College of Psychiatrists during the pandemic to completely digitise all written and practical assessments as well as developing Rockschool’s customised exams and vocational qualifications systems and project managing several system replacements at EAL.

 

Tim Arthur Chief Executive of the RAD says, “On behalf of the RAD, I am thrilled that Mary Keene is joining us as Director of Examinations. RAD exams are at the core of what we do as an organisation and Mary joins us at a pivotal moment as we evolve and expand our exam offering around the world. I look forward to working with her so we can continue to bring dance to everyone.”

Mary Keene succeeds James Stockdale who was the previous Director of Examinations at RAD.

 

 

Notes to Editors

 

About the Royal Academy of Dance

 

Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is one of the most influential dance education and training organisations in the world with a strong global membership in 85 countries. Established in 1920 to improve standards and re-invigorate dance training, the Academy helps and encourages its teachers to perfect their teaching skills and pass on this knowledge to their students. There are currently over 1,000 students in full-time or part-time teacher training programmes with the Academy and each year the examination syllabus is taught to thousands of young people worldwide, with around a quarter of a million pupils per year going on to take RAD exams.