The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is pleased to announce the
medallists of The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition, the
final of which took place at the London Coliseum this evening.
The Fonteyn competition is the pinnacle for young dancers trained in
the RAD syllabus, with previous medallists including the likes of Claudia
Dean, Leanne Benjamin, Steven McRae and Francesca Hayward.
After a week of coaching and semi-finals, the coveted Genée Gold, silver and
bronze medals were awarded to:
• Genée Gold medal (sponsored by Freed of London): Erin Alarie, age
17, from Canada, currently training at the Oakville School of Classical
Ballet, and taught by Amanda Paterson.
• Silver medal: Tsz Ho Ting, age 18, from China, Berlin State Ballet
School, taught by Wong Ka Yan Cynthia.
• Bronze medal: Chi Kok Ip age 18, from China, currently training at
Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, and taught by the school’s
faculty.
• Bronze medal: Siena Murphy, age 17, from the United Kingdom,
currently training at English National Ballet School and taught by
Nicola Simpson, Senri Kou and Lynne Charles.
Chelsea Humm, 19, from New Zealand, received the Margot Fonteyn
Audience Choice Award.
At the semi-finals on Friday, Gonzalo Toledo was announced as the
Musicality Award winner and Erin Alarie won the Dancer’s Own
Choreographic Award.
A week-long competition, The Fonteyn attracted 71 candidates from 19
countries, who took part in coaching sessions led by a faculty including
RAD’s Artistic Director Alexander Campbell, Carrie Taylor Johnson, Cira
Robinson, Helen Crawford, Johannes Stepanek, Justine Berry and Ricardo
Cervera.
The semi-finals were judged by a panel comprising Ana Maria Campos,
Leanne Cope and Mthuthuzeli November.
For the final, finalists performed before a panel comprising Dame Darcey
Bussell DBE, Francesca Hayward, Kevin O’Hare CBE, Mthuthuzeli
November and Lynn Wallis OBE.
The pianists for The Fonteyn 2026 were Martin Cleave, Rebecca Leshures,
Matthew Mills and Richard Norriss.
This year, the RAD has collaborated with The Frederick Ashton Foundation
to integrate Ashton’s choreography into the competition, allowing
candidates from across the world to engage directly with Ashton’s
distinctive style, characterised by elegance, lyricism and expressive
musicality.
At the final, finalists performed Classical Repertoire Variations and their
‘Dancer’s Own’
, as well as a variation by Sir Frederick Ashton, for which they
have been coached by Ricardo Cervera and Helen Crawford throughout the
Fonteyn week at the Royal Academy of Dance’s headquarters.
As well as The Fonteyn finalists taking to the stage, audiences were treated
to two guest performances: Soloist of The Royal Ballet Marianna
Tsembenhoi performed Sir Frederick Ashton’s Shadow Variation from
Ondine and Principals of The Royal Ballet Fumi Kaneko and Vadim
Muntagirov performed a pas de deux from Sylvia.
The Fonteyn (previously known as The Genée) is one of the oldest and most
prestigious ballet competitions in the World, representing the pinnacle of
achievement for young dancers trained in the RAD syllabus. Beginning in
1931, the competition has toured the globe and is dedicated to promoting
dance, providing educational experiences and recognising excellence in
young ballet dancers internationally. A launchpad for a professional career,
The Fonteyn offers aspiring dancers the unique opportunity to work with
world-renowned choreographers and professionals, as well as the chance to
perform on an international stage.
More than a dance competition, all candidates taking part in this year’s The
Fonteyn have been considered for a variety of tuition scholarship
opportunities from renowned dance schools across the globe. Scholarships
will be awarded in due course.
The Fonteyn is made possible by generous supporters. This year, The
Fonteyn is presented in partnership with: Supporting Sponsors Hakluyt and
Marella; Corporate Partners Swiga, Harlequin and Freed of London; and
Livestream Partner medici.tv.
