In 1950 , founder President of the RAD Adeline Genée was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year Honours List . Further honours were awarded to members of the Academy in 1951 , with Ninette de Valois being appointed a Dame , Philip Richardson being awarded an Order of the British Empire ( OBE ) and Margot Fonteyn awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire ( CBE ) . Following the death of Queen Mary in 1953 , Queen Elizabeth II consented to become the Royal Patron of the Royal Academy of Dancing and Dame Adeline Genée instituted the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award to mark the occasion . The award is presented annually in recognition of outstanding services to the art of ballet . The first recipient was Dame Ninette de Valois , founder of The Royal Ballet Company . The following is a list of selected recipients of the award
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award
Royal Academy of Dance