The winners of the Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition 2023
Jakob Wheway Hughes
Age: 16
Nationality: British
Taught by: Dance Faculty of Tring Park School for the Performing Arts
Dancer’s Own: Young Apollo Choreographer: Jakob Wheway Hughes, Antony Dowson
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Serenade for Strings
Gold medal
Ed Cooley
Age: 17
Nationality: Australian
Taught by: Daniella Crismani, Daniel Gaudiello, Karen Donovan and Wim Broeckx
Dancer’s Own: Meds
Choreographer: Deanna Castellana Music: Cristobal Tapia De Veer - Meds
Bronze medal
Zai Calliste
Age: 18
Nationality: Australian / British / Caribbean
Taught by: Annette Roselli, Michael Berkin, David Yow and Jane Pirani
Dancer’s Own: Muse
Choreographer: Jane Pirani
Music: Secession Studios - Poetry of Madness
Dame Margot Fonteyn Audience Choice Award
Lucia Moore
Age: 15
Nationality: New Zealander
Taught by: Annette Roselli, Shane Wuerthner and Miranda Zeller
Dancer’s Own: The Longing Choreographer: Miranda Zeller Music: Dustin O’Halloran - Prelude 3
Silver medal
Zai Calliste
Age: 18
Nationality: Australian / British / Caribbean
Taught by: Annette Roselli, Michael Berkin, David Yow and Jane Pirani
Dancer’s Own: Muse
Choreographer: Jane Pirani
Music: Secession Studios - Poetry of Madness
Bronze medal
Alfie-Lee Hall
Age: 17
Nationality: British
Taught by: Denise Whiteman
Dancer’s Own: The One
Music: Travis Lake - Cadence
Choreographer: Alfie-Lee Hall
Dancer’s Own Choreographic Award
A night of artistry and emotion, in the heart of London
Hosted by a different nation each year, The Fonteyn 2023 (previously known as the Genée) returned to London for the first in-person event since the pandemic. This week-long competition attracted 79 candidates, who each took part in coaching sessions by Endalyn Taylor, David Nixon and Sarah Wildor, and semi-finals judged by a panel comprising Dame Darcey Bussell, President of the RAD and Guest Principal Coach of The Royal Ballet; Aaron Watkin, Artistic Director of English National Ballet; and Amanda Britton, Chief Executive, Principal and Artistic Director of Rambert School.
After the semi-finals which took place at RAD’s Aud Jebsen Studio Theatre, the 12 finalists competed for a chance to win the coveted gold, silver and bronze medals and for the Dame Margot Fonteyn Audience Choice Award at His Majesty's Theatre, London.
In addition to the medals and cash prizes – and for the first time – all candidates have been considered for a variety of tuition scholarship opportunities from renowned dance schools across the globe.
At the event, all candidates performed a newly choreographed piece, Jeunesse, created by The Fonteyn’s guest choreographer, Valentino Zucchetti, First Soloist with The Royal Ballet.
Photo: Martin Bell
Congratulations!
"On behalf of the RAD, congratulations to all the candidates who took part in The Fonteyn. The Fonteyn is always such a special event for the candidates, their families and teachers, our staff and RAD members right across the globe, and this year was no exception. I would also like to thank The Fonteyn coaches, David Nixon, Endalyn Taylor and Sarah Wildor, for imparting such valuable advice to all our candidates this week. Also a special thanks to our judges Dame Darcey Bussell, Amanda Britton and Aaron Watkin and our wonderful producer Lynn Wallis."
Tim Arthur, Chief Executive of the RAD
Prizes
Medals are awarded to candidates showing the highest levels of competency in the stated criteria. The judges’ decision is final. The Genée Gold Medal is only awarded when a candidate demonstrates exceptional technical skills, an innate response to music, outstanding performance qualities and charisma. In addition to the medals, a Dancer's Own Choreographic Award and the Dame Margot Fonteyn Audience Choice Award are also awarded.
Gold
£5,000
Silver
£3,000
Bronze
£2,000
Choreographic £250
Audience Choice
£250
Corporate Partners
Supporters
The Dame
Margot Fonteyn Scholarship Fund
Live Stream Partner
