Even for non-dancers, dance gets to the heart of things which matter to them the most.

This week, for the final instalment of series 1 of Why Dance Matters, we go into the RAD itself and meet Chief Executive, Luke Rittner. Luke has led the RAD since 1999 and overseen substantial change at the RAD, culminating in a move to a new purpose built global headquarters for the RAD in London’s Battersea later this year. Whilst Luke has weathered many storms at the helm of a number of arts organisations, he, along with other arts leaders, could not have predicted how a pandemic and its fallout would hit the industry. How has this time made Luke reflect upon dance, dance teaching and its place in all our lives? And how does Luke see the RAD’s new home for dance as a catalyst for change for the organisation at large and an opportunity to strengthen ties with its local communities? We find out in this episode.

Luke Rittner has been Chief Executive of the RAD since 1999. Previously he was Secretary General of the Arts Council of Great Britain, Communications Director for Sotheby’s Europe, and ran the Bath Festival. He was also Founder-Director of the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts (now Arts & Business). Luke has served on many arts boards, including the Victoria & Albert Museum and the British Council, and was Chairman of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). He holds honorary doctorates from the Universities of Bath and Durham, and in 2017 was awarded a CBE for services to the arts, particularly dance.

Find out more about RAD’s new home for dance: https://bit.ly/3wfVnoN

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