The famend Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) coaching group not too long ago introduced the appointment of a brand new CEO, Tim Arthur. Formally the CEO of Time Out journal, and Virgin Money earlier than that, Arthur has had, as he places it, “a peculiar, fun career working in lots of different fields.”
Headquartered within the UK, the RAD serves dance academics and college students throughout 85 international locations, together with the U.S., making the function of CEO an immense however thrilling process. But why would a frontrunner from the media and finance industries be considering heading a dance group? Well, surprisingly, Arthur’s profession truly began throughout the performing arts!
“I started off with my own drama school,” he explains. “I then went into playwriting and directing, then went into the media with Time Out and then went into banking at Virgin Money. It’s not your average career path!”
So how did he find yourself, full circle, again in performing arts training?
“When I came out of Virgin Money, it was a time for me to reassess what was really important to me and what I wanted to do,” Arthur shares. “I wanted to go back to something that was arts-based, but also made a difference to people’s lives; that had a transformational element to it. I’ve always felt that interacting with the arts improves people’s lives. It makes them healthy, and makes them happy, it helps them connect to each other and to themselves. The more I looked at the Royal Academy of Dance, the more amazing I thought the organization was. I didn’t actually realize the scale of it! I didn’t realize that it was in so many countries around the world. I didn’t realize the range of activities. It just blew me away and the more I got involved with it, the more excited I got.”
Having realized ballet, faucet and trendy as a toddler, after which operating a drama college, that additionally taught dance and singing, Arthur understands what it’s like for dance academics and studio house owners — the pressures, the juggle of being a trainer and an entrepreneur, inspiring younger minds, coping with dad and mom, protecting youngsters secure, and the like.
“There’s lots in my background I’ve learned over the years. So I went, ‘You know what? I could really make a difference here. I could really apply a lot of the different knowledge I’ve gained from different sectors to help the RAD over the next period of time,’” he assures. “It’s an unexpected turn for me, but the more I’ve looked at it, the more of a dream job it is.”
Arthur can also be excited concerning the perks of a job again within the performing arts sector.
“When I got offered the job and they were going through the contract, it stipulated that I have to go to the first night of all the shows of The Royal Ballet. I couldn’t believe that was actually part of my contract! How amazing! Part of my job is to go and see something I love,” he shares with palpable enthusiasm.
With a powerful legacy of 102 years of excellence in dance training, Arthur has a lot to construct on for the way forward for the RAD, with an open thoughts and open coronary heart.
“I didn’t come into the job with any set of assumptions or with a plan,” he says. “I came just with a lot of passion and excitement, understanding the huge potential and the amazing legacy to build on. I think the key for the RAD is that it keeps its core vision and mission, and that’s to inspire the world to dance; it’s to be a world leader in dance education.”
But Arthur gained’t cease there; he desires to construct on that robust basis with an actual emphasis on inclusion, saying, “I believe dance is for everybody.” He hopes to broaden the RAD’s enchantment and to foster a love of dance in all, asking, “How can we bring people from all different backgrounds and abilities into dance? How we can continue to inspire them, so they become the next generation of dancers, or people who are passionate about dance?”
Arthur additionally outlines an curiosity in dance remedy and wellness going ahead. “How do we approach dance as part of our well-being and see that as a really core aspect of what we do?” he asks. “I think dance is one of the most unique art forms with its combination of physical and mental health benefits. We need to be thinking of that as we build our RAD programs out. How is well-being at the forefront of what we do?”
But how can the RAD obtain such lofty targets, inspiring excellence, artistry, wellness and wider appreciation for dance? Arthur feels that the key is the RAD members, and listening to what’s vital to them — what they want, need and envision.
“I want to build a really customer-centric RAD,” he says. “That means that I need to listen to what the members really want, and to what our students need from us. I’m just really open to listening, learning and absorbing as much information as possible. Then building a strategy for the future together, collaboratively coming up with a vision and a strategy for the RAD that I think hopefully will make our members proud. I’m excited about what we can achieve together.”
By Deborah Searle of Dance Informa.
