Following The Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations we are delighted to announce that the Royal Academy of Dance will be presenting this year's QEII Coronation Award to Matthew Bourne, in recognition of outstanding services to the art of dance.
RAD Chief Executive, Luke Rittner says: “I can think of no more worthy recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award than Sir Matthew Bourne. His career has broken down barriers and brought dance to new audiences all over the world. His commitment to widening access and his encouragement of young male dancers, together with his unrivalled ability to tell stories through movement have made Matthew Bourne an international figure and the Royal Academy of Dance is right to recognise with its highest award the unique and game-changing part that Matthew Bourne has played in promoting the art of dance.”
Sir Matthew Bourne said: "I am deeply humbled and delighted to be the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award in the year of Her Majesty's 90th Birthday. I'm also honoured to follow many luminaries and heroes of the dance world who have previously received this honour and who have been an inspiration to me throughout my career. I share with the Royal Academy of Dance the same desire to inspire young people and to take dance to new audiences, and I thank them for honouring me in this very special and unexpected way."
Created in 1953 to mark the coronation of RAD patron, Queen Elizabeth II, the QEII Coronation Award was first conferred in 1954 upon The Royal Ballet founder, Dame Ninette de Valois.
To find out more about the RAD’s birthday celebrations for The Queen click here.
