Where are they now? The Bedells Bursary winners

Muriel Valtat achieved the RAD Solo Seal along with the Bedells Bursary in 1981, bronze medals at the Genée in 1982 and 1983, and the professional prize at the Prix de Lausanne in 1984. 

She then went on to graduate from The Royal Ballet School before dancing with Scottish Ballet and the National Ballet of Canada, eventually becoming first soloist with The Royal Ballet.  

Murial has since gone on to become a jury member for the Stella Mann competition, to acquire a diploma with the ISTD, and to teach with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, among other prestigious teaching roles. 

Errol won the Bedells Bursary in 1982, along with the Solo Seal, before going on to take the silver medal at the Genée in 1984. He went on to join The Royal Ballet before winning the first-ever Erik Bruhn Competition in Canada. He was also the first Western dancer to partner Bolshoi ballerina Nina Ananiashvili, on stage at Covent Garden for the Armenia Gala, broadcast live on national television. 

Leaving The Royal Ballet in 1997, Errol became a principal with Western Australian Ballet. After retiring from performing, he passed his RAD’s Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma with distinction. He also taught at the London Studio Centre, the Arts Educational School in Tring, and Bird College, as well as RAD Summer Schools and Yorkshire Ballet seminars, in addition to classes for the Phyllis Bedells Bursary and the Cecchetti Society’s Barbara Geoghegan Award. 

He subsequently went on to become ballet master and school director for K Ballet in Japan, and was a guest teacher with Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Australian Ballet, Rambert, Adventures in Motion Pictures, and English National Ballet before joining Elmhurst Ballet School in 2008. 

Juichi was born in Tokyo in 1969 and began his dance training in 1979. His early promise was evident when, in 1985, he received the best dancer prize at the Bedells Bursary at the Royal Academy of Dance. The following year, he was awarded the gold medal at the Genée International Ballet Competition. He furthered his training in New York at the School of American Ballet, where he also received the Mae L. Wien Award.

In 1989, he was hired by Maurice Béjart, and he danced many leading roles with Béjart Ballet Lausanne until 2003. His repertoire included prominent roles in ballets such as The Rite of Spring, The Firebird, Nutcracker, and Bolero. In 1993, he performed a main role in M for the Tokyo Ballet, and Béjart also created Tokyo Gesture for him. After leaving Béjart Ballet Lausanne, Juichi returned to Japan, where he worked on various theatre and film productions while also staging Béjart’s works for companies including the Tokyo Ballet and the Paris Opera.

He has continued to be involved with Béjart Ballet Lausanne as a ballet master.

Lee trained at the Royal Ballet, Bush Davis, and English National Ballet schools. He also represented England at the Prix de Lausanne, won the Bedells Bursary, and the Marjorie Davies Award. 

Dancing with English National Ballet, he has toured around the world as a soloist and in principal roles. After completing the RAD’s Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma, Lee taught at The Hammond School for three years before joining Elmhurst, where he has choreographed many pieces for students, who have performed them at Elmhurst Ballet School, The Rep Theatre in Birmingham, Birmingham Town Hall, and Birmingham Symphony Hall. 

Angela began her career in Hamilton, New Zealand, and went on to graduate from The Royal Ballet School in London. She won the Bedells Bursary in 1988, and the silver medal at the Genée International Ballet Competition in 1989 before joining The Royal Ballet company. She danced with the company under the directorship of Sir Anthony Dowell and has worked with well-known choreographers such as Sir Kenneth Macmillan and Sir David Bintley. She has toured the US and Europe dancing in many major classics alongside ballerinas such as Darcey Bussell, Viviana Durante, Leanne Benjamin and Sylvie Guillem. 

In 2004, Angela set up Dance Pilates, a specialist dance conditioning clinic which supported and trained elite young dancers for over 15 years. She now provides private dance coaching and teaches for Mt Eden Ballet Academy.

Clair trained at the Susan Robinson School in Byfleet. She was awarded the Bedells Bursary in 1988, won a Prix de Bourse at the 1990 Prix de Lausanne, before joining The Royal Ballet School on a scholarship in 1991. She went on to win the gold medal at the Genée (now The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition) and began her professional career with English National Ballet in 1992. 

Clair has also danced with London City Ballet, Het Nationale Ballet in Amsterdam, Brussels Ballet in Belgium and The Michael Clark Company in London. She graduated with a Professional Dance Teaching Diploma from the RAD in 2008 and is a freelance teacher for the RAD both at their headquarters and on their international Summer Schools. 

Clair founded her own school, Ballet Brighton, in 2015, and in 2020, became a certified PBT teacher. 

Born in Scotland, Victoria Marr trained at Elmhurst School for Dance and The Royal Ballet School. After winning the Bedells Bursary in 1994, she joined Birmingham Royal Ballet in 1996, becoming first artist in 1998, soloist in 2003, and first soloist in 2008. After 20 years in the professional dance world, Victoria Marr, along with her friend Flik Swan, combined expertise in dance and fitness, pioneering the first online dance fitness business in the UK, Sleek Technique.

Francesca grew up in Devon, training at Stonelands, the Paris Opera Ballet School and the Royal Ballet Upper School. Throughout her training, she was the winner of various awards, including the RAD’s Bedells Bursary, the ISTD Imperial Ballet Awards, the Margot Fonteyn Award (South West Ballet Seminars), the Paul Clarke Bursary, the Stella Mann, Baines Hewitt, and Eileen Reed Choreographic Award. Other awards included the Grandison Clarke National Awards, the Ruby Ginner Greek Awards, the Junior and Premier Janet Cram Awards and various competitions in France, including the Danser Journalists’ Cup for best foreigner in Grasse, La Jeune Danseuse Mediterranee and the Chausson d’Or in Paris. 

Francesca joined The Royal Ballet at the age of 16, as one of the youngest ever company members. Throughout her fifteen-year career, she has performed soloist roles at the Royal Opera House, London, and theatres around the world during the Company´s international tours, including Japan, Russia, Hong Kong, China, Mexico, Italy, Australia, Spain, Cuba, and the USA. 

Her roles include Fairy Godmother (Cinderella), Hermia (The Dream), Prayer solo (Coppelia), Arabian and Dancing Mistress (Nutcracker), Red Girl (Les Patineurs), Lead couple (La Valse), Lise’s Friends and Clog Dance (La Fille Mal Gardée), Lead Hungarian (Raymonda), Lead Swan and Spanish (Swan Lake), the Nurse (Onegin), Benvolio’s Harlot (Romeo and Juliet), Valerie (Mayerling), Now Nothing (Penguin Café), Serenade, Sinfonietta, Nacho Duato’s Por Vos Muero, and Mats Ek’s Carmen.  

While still dancing with The Royal Ballet, she founded The Wells Ballet Courses, which has now become one of the most selective and sought-after events for aspiring ballet students. 

Francesca was awarded a Fellowship of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, for which she co-founded the Imperial Ballet Scholars programme, and has choreographed examination variations. She is invited to teach at vocational schools and courses worldwide, and to adjudicate many dance events, including the All-England finals, RAD Fonteyn Nureyev Young Dancers Competition, the Imperial Ballet Awards, Ruby Ginner Greek, and Grandison Clarke National Awards, and the Cecchetti International Competition. 

Since ´retiring´, Francesca has at last realised her dream of having her own studio, where she can now offer private coaching to students of all ages. 

English dancer Lauren Cuthbertson is a Principal of The Royal Ballet. She studied at The Royal Ballet School, starting as a junior associate and moving through from White Lodge to the Upper School before graduating into the Company in 2002. She became a principal in 2008.   

Cuthbertson was born in Devon. Her awards while at the school included the Lynn Seymour Award and the Young British Dancer of the Year Award. She was the recipient of the Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Female Performance (Classical) in 2004 and 2021. She has performed as a guest artist with Teatro Colón, Teatro di San Carlo, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma and The Australian Ballet. She was invited by the Mariinsky Ballet to perform Sylvia (2018), Marguerite and Armand (2019) and The Sleeping Beauty (2020). In 2022, she performed in the Platinum Party celebrations for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She is Vice President of the British Ballet Organisation and Patron of London Children’s Ballet and the National Youth Ballet.  

Cuthbertson’s repertoire with the Company includes leading roles in the classical ballets, including Aurora, Odette/Odile and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Works by Frederick Ashton include the Young Girl in The Two Pigeons, Titania in The Dream, Natalia in A Month in the Country and Marguerite in Marguerite and Armand. She also featured in principal roles in many of Kenneth MacMillan’s ballets, including Anastasia, Romeo and Juliet, Manon, Mayerling, Song of the Earth and The Judas Tree. She has also performed leading roles in works by other choreographers, including George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Glen Tetley, David Bintley, Liam Scarlett and Alastair Marriott. Created roles for Wayne McGregor include Qualia, Chroma, Infra, Acis and Galatea, Live Fire Exercise, Tetractys and Multiverse. Cuthbertson performed Christopher Wheeldon’s Souvenirs while at The Royal Ballet School and went on to work with him closely, creating the role of Alice in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Hermione in The Winter’s Tale. She also worked with Cathy Marston on first joining the Company and went on to create the leading role inspired by Jacqueline du Pré in The Cellist for which she won her 2021 Critics’ Circle National Dance Award. 

Emma Jane Maguire was a highly regarded dancer with The Royal Ballet, known for her versatility and captivating stage presence. In 2000, she won the Bedells Bursary. Emma then joined The Royal Ballet Company in 2002 and steadily rose through the ranks, becoming a First Artist in 2007 and a soloist in 2011. Throughout her distinguished career, she graced the stage in a wide array of ballets, performing significant roles in both classical and contemporary works, demonstrating a strong technical foundation and a nuanced artistry.

Beyond her performances, Emma also became a powerful advocate for arts education. Following the tragic loss of her mother, Ann Maguire, a beloved teacher, Emma became instrumental in establishing the Ann Maguire Arts Education Fund. This charitable endeavour aims to provide opportunities for young people to engage with and develop through the arts, continuing her mother’s passion for nurturing and supporting the next generation.

Emma retired from The Royal Ballet in early 2019, leaving a lasting legacy both on stage and through her significant philanthropic efforts.

Soloist Elizabeth Harrod studied at The Royal Ballet School. After three years with the Norwegian National Ballet, she joined The Royal Ballet in 2007 as an Artist. She was promoted to First Artist in 2008 and to Soloist in 2013. Harrod impressed with all the qualities of the quintessential English dancer across the Company’s extensive repertory, including as Clara in The Nutcracker, the Spring Fairy in Cinderella, Moyna in Giselle and Princess Stephanie in Mayerling.

In addition to her performances on the Royal Opera House stage, a memorable highlight during her career was a presentation of the pas de deux from Ashton’s The Two Pigeons performed with her husband, Steven McRae, at The Royal Ballet’s gala performance at Hull City of Culture 2017. 

Joseph Caley is an English ballet dancer born in Hull. He started dancing when his mother sent him to the same dance school his sister attended. He was then sent to audition for The Royal Ballet Lower School and was accepted, later progressing to the Upper School.

Joseph joined Birmingham Royal Ballet and became a principal dancer in 2011. He left in 2017 to join the English National Ballet and was promoted to lead principal months later. In 2022, he joined the Australian Ballet as a principal artist. 

William Moore is British and studied at the Royal Ballet School in London. He has won prizes at international ballet competitions. He has belonged to the Stuttgart Ballet since 2005 and was appointed as principal dancer there in 2010. Important roles were Siegfried in Schwanensee, Lensky in Onegin and Lucentio in Der Widerspenstigen Zähmung (all by John Cranko), Armand in Neumeier’s Kameliendame, Leonce in Christian Spuck’s Leonce und Lena, the title role in Marco Goecke’s Orlando, Albrecht in Giselle by Anderson/Savina, Colas in Ashton’s La fille mal gardée.

In 2012, William was awarded the German Theater Prize Der Faust. Since the 2012/13 season, he has been first soloist with the Ballett Zürich. Important roles include Romeo in Spuck’s Romeo und Julia, Wronsky in Anna Karenina, the Nutcracker in Spuck’s Nussknacker und Mausekönig, Mephisto in Faust by Edward Clug and Petrushka in the choreography by Marco Goecke. He has also appeared in pieces by Wayne McGregor, Sol León/Paul Lightfoot, Douglas Lee and Jiří Kylián. In 2018, he received the Tanzpreis der Freunde des Balletts Zürich. 

Victoria (Tori) Johns, 20, from South Wales, trained from the age of eight as a junior associate of The Royal Ballet School, then all through White Lodge, the Lower School and into The Royal Ballet Upper School until age 19. She is the winner of the 2002 Bedells Bursary, a Young British Dancer of the Year commendation in 2004. 

Tori danced at the Royal Opera House on numerous occasions, both for the school and as a soloist and with the Royal Ballet Company. 

Antoinette is from Somerset and joined Northern Ballet in 2008. She trained at The Trull School of Dancing in Taunton and was a Junior Associate of the Royal Ballet School before joining The Royal Ballet School (Lower and Upper Schools). She retired from Northern Ballet in December 2021. 

Since joining the Norwegian National Ballet in 2007, Leyna Magbutay has danced principal roles in full-length classical productions such as Giselle in Giselle, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Clara in The Nutcracker. 
 
Her other major roles include Olga in Cranko’s Onegin, Lescauts mistress in MacMillan’s Manon, Myrtha in Harvey’s Giselle, Gamzatti and the 1st shade variation in Makarova’s La Bayadère, The Sugarplum Fairy in Bjørn’s The Nutcracker, Dryad Queen and Kitri’s friend in Nureyev’s Don Quixote, the peasant pas de deux in Harveys Giselle, the Fairy Godmother in Stevenson’s Askepott, Micaëla in Scarlett’s Carmen, The Princess in his version of The Firebird and the lead role in Vespertine, Dolly and Betsy in Spuck’s Anna Karenina and the Prince’s fiancé in his Sleeping Beauty, the title role in the 2nd act of Bournonville’s La Sylphide and the pas de trois in Holmes’ Svanesjøen. She has also danced roles in several Balanchine ballets, including Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, soloist in Divertimento no. 15, Pas de trois in Emeralds, 8 girls in Rubies, Agon pas de deux, principal woman in the 3rd and 4th movements in Symphony in C, demi-soloist in Theme and Variations, Concerto Barocco and Serenade. 
 
Lenya has danced roles in various modern ballets, most notably in the Kylián repertoire, including ballets such as One of a Kind, Bella Figura, Petite Mort, Sweet Dreams, Falling Angels, Wings of Wax, Symphony of Psalms, Arcimboldo and Sechs Tänze. She has danced Spuck’s Le Grand Pas de Deux, Forsythe’s The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude and Enemy in The Figure, Duato’s Por Vos Muero, Without Words and Multiplicity – Forms of Silence and Emptiness, Ek’s …and Brahms, Tetley’s Ricercare, Sacre and Voluntaries, McGregor’s Chroma and León og Lightfoot’s Safe as Houses and SH-Boom.  
 
She has taken part in creations for the company such as Ekman’s A Swan Lake, Dawsons dancingmadlybackwards, Lee’s 5 for Silver, Strømgren’s Stigma, Portner’s Some Girls Don’t Turn, Elo’s Touch, Øyen’s Petrushka og Hough’s Epic Short, and Wheeldon’s The Christening Suite for the opening gala of the Opera House in 2008. 
 
Originally from Japan, Lenya began her training with Ana Keates and at the Tokyo Ballet School, before moving to the UK and for her full-time education at Elmhurst School for Dance. In her final years as a student, she danced with the Birmingham Royal Ballet. 

Ruth Bailey trained at The Royal Ballet School before joining The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden. In 2006, Ruth won the Bedells Bursary alongside Freya Thomas.

After retiring from full-time performance in 2014, Ruth retrained in nutrition and mindfulness facilitation, driven by a desire to help others find physical and mental wellbeing. In early 2022, she took up the post of wellbeing coordinator at Ashgate Hospice, where she now designs and leads movement sessions, mindfulness workshops and one-to-one support for both staff and volunteers.

Freya Thomas Murzagaliyev is a British ballerina who joined the Norwegian National Ballet in 2018. Since then, she has performed a wide range of classical and contemporary roles, including Princess Sorokina in Anna Karenina, one of the three Shades in La Bayadère, and featured parts in Swan Lake, Manon, Firebird, and Balanchine’s Symphony in C and Theme and Variations.

Prior to her time in Oslo, she danced with the Bavarian State Ballet and appeared in numerous Royal Ballet productions in the UK. Her repertoire includes leading and solo roles in works by Makarova, Gregorovich, Ratmansky, Ek, Cranko, and Ashton. She has also had roles created especially for her by choreographers such as Terence Kohler and Fabrice Edelmann.

Murzagaliyev began dancing at age three and is also a certified Pilates instructor.

Originally from London, Rex Wheeler is a multi-faceted drag performer, actor, producer and choreographer. Having trained in the UK at the Royal Ballet School and Elmhurst, Rex danced with the Slovak National Ballet, Sacramento Ballet and Smuin Contemporary Ballet before becoming a working choreographer in the US. Rex simultaneously embarked on a drag career, creating his alter-ego Lady Camden, and became the runner-up of Season 14 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. He has since performed all over the world, starring in solo shows, performing in world tours, producing music, as well as continuing to choreograph and produce shows here in San Francisco. Rex recently starred in a new documentary, Lady Like, directed by Luke Willis, which has been featured in many film festivals around the world, and continues to perform, choreograph, and produce performances and events throughout the year as both Rex and Lady Camden. 

Born in Bradford, Brandon Lawrence trained under Penny Murray and Andie Nydza before completing his training at the Royal Ballet School. He joined Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2011, rising through the ranks to become a principal dancer in 2019.

Brandon has been nominated multiple times at the National Dance Awards, including for Best Male Classical Performance (2018, 2019, 2022) and Best Male Dancer, Classical (2019). Earlier in his career, he won the RAD’s prestigious Bedells Bursary (2008).

He has created and originated roles in a number of contemporary and classical works, including the Principal role in George Williamson’s Embrace, Pan in Ruth Brill’s Arcadia, and La Grâce in David Bintley’s The King Dances. His repertoire also includes creations in works by Alexander Whitley, Juanjo Arqués, Didy Veldman, Jessica Lang, Jack Lister, Miguel Altunaga, and Juliano Nunes.

Brandon has performed internationally, including guest appearances at the International Ballet Festival of Miami (2018), Move It (2019), and with Cape Town City Ballet, dancing lead roles in Giselle, Les Patineurs, and Romeo and Juliet.

Brandon is also committed to engagement and participation work, having supported Ballet? What’s That?, an initiative introducing ballet to new audiences.

Originally from Milton Keynes, Sean Bates trained at The Royal Ballet School and joined Northern Ballet in 2012, becoming a first soloist. In 2023, he moved to Zurich Ballet.

His awards include second place at the Young British Dancer of the Year (2009), a Silver Medal at the RAD’s Genée International Ballet Competition (2010), and first place in both the Bedells Bursary and the Ursula Moreton Choreographic Competition.

At Northern Ballet, standout roles included Romeo in Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Romeo and Juliet and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Known for his expressive storytelling and dynamic stage presence, Sean is passionate about ballet’s power to captivate and connect with audiences through compelling narratives.

Born in Wolverhampton, UK, Matthew trained at the prestigious Royal Ballet School before joining Ballet du Capitole, where he danced from 2012 to 2017. In 2017, he joined the English National Ballet and was promoted to First Artist in 2022. That same year, he was a finalist in the Emerging Dancer competition. Career highlights include performing in William Forsythe’s The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude and working with renowned choreographer Oleg Vinogradov in Paquita (pas de trois).

English dancer, Anna Rose O’Sullivan, is a principal of The Royal Ballet. Born in Harrow, she began dancing at age two and trained locally before joining The Royal Ballet School, White Lodge. She joined The Royal Ballet Company in 2012 as an Artist, rising through the ranks to become Principal in 2021. Early in her career, she performed lead roles such as Sara Crewe in A Little Princess and Cosette in Les Misérables, and received awards including the Bedells Bursary, the April Olrich Award for Dynamic Performance, and Young British Dancer of the Year.

O’Sullivan’s extensive repertoire with The Royal Ballet includes leading roles such as Kitri (Don Quixote), Odette/Odile (Swan Lake), Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), and Princess Aurora (The Sleeping Beauty). She has also created roles in contemporary works like Like Water for Chocolate and Dark with Excessive Bright. Her versatility spans classical ballets, narrative roles, and modern choreography, establishing her as a distinguished and dynamic performer within the company.

John Rhys Halliwell trained at The Royal Ballet School, graduating in 2011, and continued his studies at English National Ballet School until 2014. He began his professional career with the Estonian National Ballet, where he was promoted to demi-soloist in 2020. Throughout his training and career, John has received numerous accolades, including winning the Bedells Bursary (2011), a bronze medal and Audience Award at the Genée International Ballet Competition (2014), and the April Olrich Award for Most Dynamic Performer from The Royal Ballet School. In 2020, he was also nominated for the Estonian Annual Theatre Awards in the ballet category for his standout role as the White Rabbit in Gianluca Schiavoni’s Alice in Wonderland.

John’s repertoire showcases his versatility, ranging from classical roles such as Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet and the Cinderella Prince in The Sleeping Beauty to contemporary and character parts, including the White Rabbit (Alice in Wonderland), Dopey (Snow White and the Seven Dwarves), and the Sun King in Anna Karenina. His portrayal of the White Rabbit remains a career highlight, combining demanding technical skill with artistry and comedic timing, reflecting his dynamic and engaging stage presence.

Japanese dancer Chisato Katsura is a soloist of The Royal Ballet. She trained at The Royal Ballet School and graduated into the Company in 2015, promoted to first artist 2019 and soloist in 2024.

Katsura was born in Osaka to Chinese parents. She began dancing aged four and went on to train with Zhu Mei Li. She joined The Royal Ballet School White Lodge in 2009 and entered the Upper School in 2012. Her awards include the 2012 Bedells Bursary (Royal Academy of Dance) and first prize at the 2013 Young British Dancer of the Year. At the School, she won first prize at the 2013 Lynn Seymour Award, the 2014 Director’s Award for the most promising student and the Dame Ninette de Valois Prize for most outstanding female graduate. 

Katsura’s roles include Cat (Peter and the Wolf) and principal roles in extracts from Raymonda and La Bayadère at The Royal Ballet School annual matinees. Roles with the company include Courtesan (Manon), Big Swan (Swan Lake), White Cat and Fairy of the Woodland Glade (The Sleeping Beauty), pas de six (Giselle), Huntress (Sylvia), pas d’action (La bayadère) and roles in Danses concertantes, Rhapsody, Romeo and Juliet, Viscera, Liam Scarlett’s Symphonic Dances, Wayne McGregor’s Infra, Yugen and Inferno, Twyla Tharp’s Illustrated Farewell, and Symphony in C. She represented The Royal Ballet in the Erik Bruhn Competition in 2017. 

Born and raised in Aberdeen, Scotland, Harris Beattie began dancing at age 10. He trained at Danscentre in Aberdeen and the Central School of Ballet, graduating in 2018 with a BA (Hons) in Professional Dance and Performance. Harris is a Royal Ballet Senior Associate and notably won the gold medal, Choreographic Award, and Audience Choice Award at the 2017 Genée International Ballet Competition, making history as the first dancer to claim all three. Previously, in 2015, Harris won the Bedells Bursary competition.

Before joining Northern Ballet in 2018, Harris performed extensively with Ballet Central, dancing works by renowned choreographers including Wayne McGregor, Kenneth MacMillan, Matthew Bourne, and Jenna Lee. His diverse training spans ballet, contemporary, jazz, and musical theatre, including playing Billy in Billy Elliot on London’s West End. Harris is proudly sponsored by Christine and Peter Farmer.

Born in Stourbridge, Ryan Felix trained at Elmhurst Ballet School and joined Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2019. He has performed a wide range of classical and contemporary works, including Don Quixote, Cinderella, La Sylphide, and Swan Lake, and has created roles in new works by Daniela Cardim (Imminent) and Will Tuckett (Lazuli Sky). His versatility extends to high-energy pieces like Black Sabbath – The Ballet and Les Bourgeois.

Ryan was awarded the Bronze Medal at the 2017 Genée International Ballet Competition, was a finalist in the BBC Young Dancer the same year, and won the Bedells Bursary in 2016. Also a choreographer, he created solos Rive and The Pursuit for international competitions.

Born in Welwyn Garden City, England, UK, Basil James graduated from The Royal Ballet School and joined Hong Kong Ballet as a corps de ballet member in 2021. He became coryphée in 2024.

With HKB, his featured roles include Monkey King and Lead Jockey in Septime Webre’s The Nutcracker. He also performed in Cynthia Harvey’s The Sleeping Beauty and Webre’s Cinderella and ALICE (in wonderland). James won the Bedells Bursary in 2018, and was the silver medalist at the Genée International Ballet Competition that same year.

Jessica trained at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and The Royal Ballet School, performing with The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet in her graduate year.  

She was awarded the bronze medal at the Geneé International Ballet Competition in 2019.   

Professionally, she has danced with The Sarasota Ballet and The Norwegian National Ballet, performing in ballets such as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, La Sylphide, Les Patineurs, Rhapsody, The Four Temperaments, Western Symphony, and Divertimento No.15. 

Born in London, Olivia trained at Elmhurst Ballet School before joining Birmingham Royal Ballet as an Apprentice in 2022, and quickly rose to full company membership as an artist in 2023.

An exceptional choreographer, Olivia earned multiple prestigious awards during her training and early career, including the Frank Freeman Choreographic Award (2012), Barbara Geoghegan Award (2013 & 2019), Sir David Bintley Choreographic Award (2016–2021), British Ballet Grand Prix Supreme Winner (2019), the Bedells Bursary (2019), BB Choreographic Award (2020), a Fonteyn Finalist and Choreographic Winner (2021), BBC Young Dancer finalist (2022), Grad Pro Dansez Award (2022), and The Hortons Estate Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Elmhurst (2022).

Within the company, she has performed notable repertoire such as Carlos Acosta’s Carmen pas de deux, Bournonville’s La Sylphide pas de deux, Pontus Lidberg’s Black Sabbath – The Ballet, and classic works including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and The Sleeping Beauty under Peter Wright’s production.

Olivia’s choreographic flair shone when her piece Melody in Three was presented at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and Digbeth Dining Club. She also garnered attention through her televised performance at the BBC Young Dancer Grand Final held at London’s Roundhouse.

Jakob Wheway Hughes has rapidly established himself as a rising star in the ballet world, demonstrating exceptional talent and dedication. His early career highlights include winning the Bedells Bursary in 2022, a prestigious award recognising artistic and technical excellence in young dancers and providing financial support for their training. This win underscored his potential and set the stage for further achievements.

In 2023, Jakob continued his impressive trajectory by winning the gold medal at The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition. This highly esteemed competition, representing a pinnacle of achievement for dancers trained in the RAD syllabus, further cemented his reputation as a gifted performer. Most recently, in 2025, he garnered significant international recognition at the Prix de Lausanne, where he received the Contemporary Dance Award, the Web Audience Favourite, and the Aud Jebsen Scholarship, marking him as a talent to watch in the global ballet scene.

In June 2025, it was announced that Jakob will be joining the English National Ballet.