27 October 2023 19:30
Finalists announced for The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition 2023
79 candidates from 15 countries took part in The Fonteyn semi-finals this week, with 12 dancers making it through to compete in the final at His Majesty’s Theatre, London on Sunday 29 October.
Photo: Martin Bell.
Our 2023 finalists:
- Olivia Moulsdale. Age: 17. Nationality: British. Taught by Nicola Simpson and Ruth Mair Howard-Jones.
- Ben Moss. Age: 18. Nationality: Australian. Taught by: Hilary Kaplan and Archibald McKenzie.
- Alicia Wong. Age: 16. Nationality: Australian. Taught by: Julie Fleming, Janne Blanche and Kynan Jones.
- Mandy Kwan. Age: 18. Nationality: British. Taught by: Denise Whiteman.
- Antonia Maria Cramb. Age: 17. Nationality: British. Taught by: Kerry Livingstone, Trisha Meenaghan-Wackrow, Fabrice Maufrais and Louisa Ross.
- Lucia Moore. Age: 15 Nationality: New Zealander. Taught by: Annette Roselli, Shane Wuerthner and Miranda Zeller.
- Jakob Wheway Hughes. Age: 16. Nationality: British. Taught by: Dance Faculty of Tring Park School for the Performing Arts.
- Samantha Wong. Age: 19. Nationality: Australian. Taught by: Hilary Kaplan and Archibald McKenzie.
- Ava Eie. Age: 16. Nationality: New Zealander. Taught by: Melinda Palmer and Nicci Theis Mckewen.
- Indira Mayrani. Age: 19. Nationality: Indonesian. Taught by: Fifi Sijangga.
- Zai Calliste. Age: 18. Nationality: Australian/British/Caribbean. Taught by: Annette Roselli, Michael Berkin, David Yow and Jane Pirani.
- Ed Cooley. Age: 17. Nationality: Australian. Taught by: Daniella Crismani, Daniel Gaudiello, Karen Donovan and Wim Broeckx
The Dancer's Own Choreographic Award, which was available to all candidates who choreographed their own Dancer’s Own variation, was also selected at the semi-finals. This year, British dancer, Alfie-Lee Hall, aged 17, and taught by Denise Whiteman, was chosen as the winner.
After three coaching days and semi-finals, judged by a panel comprising Dame Darcey Bussell, RAD President 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, the finalists will now compete for a chance to win the coveted gold, silver and bronze medals and for the Dame Margot Fonteyn Audience Choice Award. All finalists will perform a newly choreographed piece created by guest choreographer, Valentino Zucchetti, First Soloist with The Royal Ballet.
In addition to the medals and cash prizes – and for the first time – all candidates will have the opportunity to be considered for a variety of tuition scholarship opportunities from renowned dance schools across the globe.