The winners of The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition 2025

Every year, The Fonteyn competition brings the magic of dance to a new corner of the world, and in 2025, it travelled to Latin America for the first time. Once known as the Genée, this prestigious event has evolved, but its spirit remains the same—celebrating the incredible talent and dedication of young dancers from around the globe.

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A week-long competition, The Fonteyn attracted 35 candidates from over 10 countries around the world, who each took part in coaching sessions by RAD’s Artistic Director Alexander Campbell, Daniela Severian and Lars van Cauwenbergh, and semi-finals judged by a panel comprising Paloma Herrera and Julio Bocca. For the final, 12 finalists performed before a panel comprising Herrera and Bocca, with Ana Botafogo and Mayara Magri joining them.

 

All classical repertoire performances were accompanied by live piano music, played by pianists Silvina Rocco and Joaquin Panisse. Maria Inês Vasconcellos joined Rocco and Panisse to play the piano during The Fonteyn coaching week.

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But The Fonteyn is about more than just medals. Every participant was also in the running for coveted tuition scholarships at world-renowned dance schools, opening doors to the future of their dreams.

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At the final, finalists performed Classical Repertoire Variations and their ‘Dancer’s Own’, a choreographed solo created by themselves, their teacher, or a peer, to a piece of music of their choice.

 

Finalists also performed newly choreographed commissioned variations created by The Fonteyn 2025 commissioned choreographer, Mayara Magri. Finalists performed one of two variations, titled ‘Samba Alone’ and ‘Frivolity’ to music by Andre Mehmari. These variations premiered at The Fonteyn final and marked Magri’s debut as a choreographer.

 

As well as The Fonteyn finalists taking to the stage, audiences were treated to two guest performances: Dalal Achcar Ballet Company dancers Gabriela Sisto and Fernando Mendonça performed ‘Melodia Sentimental’ from Floresta Amazônica, set to music by Heitor Villa-Lobos. Sao Paulo Dance Company dancers Carolina Pegurelli and Yoshi Suzuki performed the ‘White Swan Pas De Deux’ from Act II of Swan Lake, from Mario's Galizzi restaging under the direction of Ines Bogéa.  

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Take a look at the gallery below for some of the night's highlights.