Announcing the finalists of The Fonteyn 2026

Pictured: The 12 finalists of The Fonteyn 2026.

Pictured: The Fonteyn finalists with the semi-final judges.

Pictured: Erin Alarie, winner of the Dancer’s Own Choreographic Award.

Pictured: Gonzalo Toledo, winner of the Musicality Award.

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) announces the finalists of The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition 2026. 71 candidates from 19 countries took part in The Fonteyn semi-finals this week, with 12 finalists from 6 countries making it through to compete in The Fonteyn 2026 final which will be held in London at the London Coliseum this Sunday 8 November 2026. 

The finalists are:  

• Siena Murphy, a 17-year-old British dancer currently training at English National Ballet School, and taught by Nicola Simpson, Senri Kou and Lynne Charles. 
• Chi Kok Ip, an 18-year-old Chinese dancer currently training at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, and taught by the School’s faculty. 
• Megan Jarvis, a 16-year-old British dancer independently trained by Roberta Marquez.  
• Erin Alarie, a 17-year-old Canadian dancer currently training at the Oakville School of Classical Ballet, and taught by Amanda Paterson.  
• Lucy Crawford, a 17-year-old British dancer independently trained.  
• Sarah Wheatley, an 18-year-old Australian dancer, currently training at Elmhurst Ballet School, taught by Denise Whitman and the School’s wider artistic staff. 
• Oakley Bassford, an 18-year-old British dancer currently training at Elmhurst Ballet School, and taught by Denise Whitman and the School’s wider artistic staff.  
• Gonzalo Toledo, a 19-year-old Spanish dancer currently training at Escuela de Musica y Danza Belen Fernandez, and taught by Maria Belen Fernandez Camacho. 
• Vianne Lau, a 16-year-old Canadian dancer currently training at Dancing Soma, and taught by Juna Koo and Wendy Holt.  
• Chelsea Humm, a 19-year-old dancer from New Zealand currently training at Convergence Dance Studios, and taught by Anna Lee and Philippa Pidgeon.  
• Tsz Ho Ting, an 18-year-old Chinese dancer currently training at Berlin State Ballet School, taught by Wong Ka Yan Cynthia.  

Erin Alarie won the Dancer’s Own Choreographic Award, which was available to all candidates who choreographed their Dancer’s Own variation. This variation will be performed at the final.  

The Musicality Award was won by Gonzalo Toledo. 

After three coaching days and two semi-finals, judged by a panel comprising Ana Maria Campos, RAD examiner, Leanne Cope, Ballet Teacher at Rambert School and formerly of The Royal Ballet, and Mthuthuzeli November, Resident Choreographer at Charlotte Ballet. The finalists will now compete for a chance to win the coveted Genée Gold supported by Freed of London, Silver and Bronze medals, and the Audience Choice Award.  

This year’s esteemed panel of judges for the final comprises Dame Darcey Bussell DBE, RAD President; Lynn Wallis OBE, former RAD Artistic Director; Francesca Hayward, Principal of The Royal Ballet and former Genée medallist; and Kevin O’Hare CBE, Director of The Royal Ballet.  

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 on Sunday, finalists will perform their classical and Dancers Own variations, alongside variations 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.  

The coaching faculty for the semifinals also comprised Justine Berry, Alexander Campbell, Carrie Taylor Johnson, Cira Robinson and Johannes Stepanek. 

The pianists for the Fonteyn 2026 were Martin Cleave, Rebecca Leshures, Matthew Mills and Richard Norriss. 

As well as the finalists taking to the stage, audiences will experience two guest performances. Soloist of The Royal Ballet Marianna Tsembenhoi will perform Sir Frederick Ahston’s Shadow Variation from Ondine, and Principals of The Royal Ballet Fumi Kaneko and Vadim Muntagirov will perform 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.  

Catch them live on stage at the London Coliseum this Sunday 8 November, and witness the next generation of ballet stars. Book your seats now.

All photography by ASH.