8 August 2023
Janet Cram was a major figure in the development of Modern Theatre dance in the UK and set out to create new standards for the dance profession, emphasising the necessity for technical and creative training. Zelia Raye, founder of the ‘Stage Branch’ (now the Modern Theatre Faculty), noticed her talent and gave her considerable responsibility in the running of Raye’s performing arts school in London, cultivating her teaching and methodologies.
Through Raye’s mentorship, Janet Cram became a leading lecturer and encouraged major developments in the study of Modern Theatre dance. The Janet Cram Awards were first held in 1965 as a tribute to her invaluable contribution to the Modern Theatre Faculty, reflecting her influence and dedication as a mentor, ISTD teacher and examiner.
This event would not be possible without the support and hard work of the following people, and we would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to our adjudicators, class teachers and assistants for their time and expertise, and to the Kenneth More Theatre staff for welcoming us so warmly.
A full look at the event, with more pictures, can be found here.
A special thank you goes to our Modern Theatre Faculty Committee for their commitment, creativity and forward-thinking and kindest thanks to our Heats Choreographers and Adjudicators; Emily Goodenough, Adam Denman, Lukas Hunt, Cheryl Gill, Elizabeth Reeves, Alanna Kajdi and Jason Kajdi.
Thank you to our faculty volunteers, front of house staff, backstage team, chaperones, and the Dance Department team, for their hard work and support to deliver the heats and finals so smoothly and professionally.
Lastly, thank you to each, and every competitor and teacher taking part in the Janet Cram Heats and Finals, and to parents, friends and family members who have supported throughout, as well as our sponsors Dancewear Central and The Butterfly Mind.
Congratulations to all!
Junior Section Overall Awards
Winner: Kimara-Mai Petit (Teacher: Jody Squirrell and Louise Harrison, Ignite Dance Company)
Runner Up: Mia Borrey (Teacher: Jody Squirrell and Louise Harrison, Ignite Dance Company)
Commendation: Noah Burnell (Teacher: Natalie Tough, Natalie Tough School of Dance)
Junior Class Awards
Most Engaging Performance: Ryley Trimble (Teacher: Kerry Buckby, Kilburn School of Dancing)
Professional Potential: Lois Atkinson (Teacher: Sarah Royle, Sarah Royle School of Dance) and Sienna May (Teacher: Taylor Byrnes, The Danceworks Eccles)
Outstanding Musicality: Florence Camsell (Teacher: Deborah Lamb, Deborah Lamb Theatre Arts) and Maisie Tilakaratne (Teacher: Kerry Buckby, Kilburn School of Dancing)
Outstanding Technique: Elisabeth Bramhall (Teacher: Vickie Goodwin, The Cheshire Theatre School)
Junior Award for Solo
Outstanding Technique in Solo: Rosie Harrison (Teacher: Sarah Cairns, Langley Dance and Theatre Arts Academy)
Senior Section Overall Awards
Winner: Evie Woodall (Teacher: Emily Charlton, Vale Studios)
Evie is also awarded our Modern Theatre Bursary Nominee-11-14yr years section and will be part of our Annual Theatre Bursary event alongside other faculty nominees.
Runner Up: Saffron Holman (Teacher: Suzanne Sharkey, Unleash the Dance Company)
Commendation: Alexa Drakes (Teacher: Melanie Hadfield-Walker, Starlight Academy)
Senior Class Awards
Most Engaging Performance: Ella Hayward (Teacher: Emily Charlton, Vale Studios)
Professional Potential: Savannah Swift (Teacher: Samantha Bell, ElliTe Studios)
Outstanding Musicality: Bonnie Williams (Teacher: Marina Fairhead, The Dance Company)
Outstanding Commitment: Beau Harlow Hill (Teacher: Rebecca Sarrafan and Hannah Connor, Dupont Dance Stage School)
Senior Awards for Solo
Outstanding Technique and Performance in Dance: Gabrielle English (Teacher: Sarah Cairns, Langley Dance and Theatre Arts Academy)
Premier Section Overall Awards
Winner: Rudy Killworth (Teacher: Rebecca Sarrafan and Hannah Connor, Dupont Dance Stage School)
Rudy is also awarded our Modern Theatre Bursary Nominee-15–18yr years section and will be part of our Annual Theatre Bursary event alongside other faculty nominees.
Runner Up: Charlotte Bean (Teacher: Emily Charlton, Vale Studios)
Commendation: Madeline Gilby (Teacher: Katie Wilson, Barbara Jackson Theatre Arts Centre)
Alison Willett Award: Callum Fairfield (Teacher: Nazene Langfield, Nazene Danielle’s Dance Dynamix)
Premier Class Awards
Most Engaging Performance: Morgan Phillips (Teacher: Kahli Lewis, Kahli Lewis Dance Company)
Professional Potential: Neive Dewey (Teacher: Natalie Potter and Gemma Pickess, Dance Projection)
Outstanding Musicality: Scarlett Brown (Teacher: Sophie Amison, Rox School of Dance and Drama)
Outstanding Technique: Sofia Lau (Teacher: Kahli Lewis, Kahli Lewis Dance Company)
Outstanding Commitment: Amelie Appleby (Teacher: Jody Squirrell and Louise Harrison, Ignite Dance Company)
Premier Awards for Solo
Outstanding Technique in Dance: Maddison Spencer (Teacher: Nazene Langfield, Nazene Danielle’s Dance Dynamix)
Outstanding Performance in Dance: Ruby Allery (Teacher: Julie Franklin, Julie Sianne Theatre Arts)
Teacher Awards
Elliot Clarke Award Winner: Kerry Buckby, Kilburn School of Dance
Elliot Clarke Teacher Commendations: Emily Charlton (Vale Studios) and Jody Squirrell (Ignite Dance Company)
