10 May 2024
UK Finalists and Results
Thank you to all the schools who entered this year’s Junior and Senior Ballet Awards, we received hundreds of entries, with 587 dancers taking part in the UK and International online heats. 435 of these were adjudicated for the UK finals and 152 were adjudicated for the International finals, which included entries from Canada, China, Ireland, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Spain, USA and Vietnam.
We are grateful to Dansez for sponsoring the event with generous prizes for 1st placed International and UK winners, shipping included.
| Grade 1 and 2 | £50 |
| Grade 3 and 4 | £75 |
| Grade 5 and 6 | £100 |
| Intermediate | £150 |
| Advanced 1 / 2 | £200 |
The UK finals took place again at Central School of Ballet in the heart of London, this time over two days to allow for separate finals classes at all eight levels. We’ve been delighted to observe how the inclusive, hybrid structure of the combined awards has brought our global Imperial Classical Ballet community closer together; and as well as enjoying the weekend’s live finals, we screened a beautiful showreel in the foyer of the venue featuring some of the international competitors and all the finalists and winners.
The UK heats were adjudicated by a dedicated group of experienced Imperial Classical Ballet examiners, who enjoyed an extremely busy few days watching and marking all the candidates. The work this year was of a very high standard, and we congratulate every teacher who entered for preparing their candidates for the competition so well; they were a pleasure to mark.
For the two-day finals, our six adjudicators comprised a mixture of respected faculty and industry experts, who applied their practiced eye and experience to the challenging and enjoyable task of selecting the winners. Sincere congratulations go to all the finalists, who should be extremely proud of their achievement against such strong competition; and of course, many congratulations to the deserving winners and their teachers.
Winners (L-R) Row 1: Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4
Row 2: Grade 5, Grade 6, Intermediate 1st place and musicality, Advanced 1&2 1st place and musicality
Grade 1/Class Examination 1 Winners
| 1st place | Felicity Padley | Eleanor Bechthold | El Dance Studios |
| 2nd place | Gabriel Davies | Bronwen Patching | Adagio School of Dance |
| 3rd place | Noemi Trask | Bronwen Patching | Adagio School of Dance |
| Musicality | Emilia Latouche | Kirsty Anne Farrow | The Kirsty Farrow Dance Academy |
Grade 2/Class Examination 2 Winners
| 1st place | Daisy Strutynskyj-Stannard | Michelle Cheetham | Bella Danza Studios |
| 2nd place | Amelie Roze-Dalipi | Lorraine Swain | Junior Masters Performing Arts |
| 3rd place | Rose Griffiths | Eleanor Bechthold | El Dance Studios |
| Musicality | Evie Ayittey | Sarah Watson | Swindon Academy of Dance |
Grade 3/Class Examination 3 Winners
| 1st place |
Rafferty Smale | Lorraine Swain | Junior Masters Performing Arts |
| 2nd place |
Nylah Ali | Bronwen Patching | Adagio School of Dance |
| 3rd place |
Eva Burt | Bronwen Patching | Adagio School of Dance |
| 3rd place | Isabella Sheen | Lorraine Swain | Junior Masters Performing Arts |
| Musicality | Beth Telford | Fiona Forfar | ElliTe Studios |
Grade 4/Class Examination 4 Winners
| 1st place | Layla Till | Fiona Forfar | ElliTe Studio |
| 2nd place | Emilia Lane | Emma Kimber | Avril Earl Dance and Theatre Arts Centre |
| 3rd place | Molly Harrison | Jamie Lee Tuffrey | Jamie Lee Dance Academy |
| Musicality | Scarlett Squier | Heidi Speakman | Dance Projection |
Grade 5/Class Examination 5 Winners
| 1st place | Felicity Wilson | Rebecca Hood | Expression Theatre Arts |
| 2nd place | Hiraani Wagner | Sharon Glennie | June Glennie School of Dance |
| 3rd place | Laney Wray | Fiona Forfor | ElliTe Studios |
| Musicality | Megan Berwick | Julia McKenna | Top Hat Theatre School |
Grade 6/Class Examination 6-8/Intermediate Foundation Winners
| 1st place |
Lottie Pitcher | Georgia D’arcy | D’Arcy Stage School |
| 2nd place |
Holly Sellers | Joanne Bond | The Joanne Bond School of Classical Ballet |
| 3rd place |
Eva Reid | Natalie Tough | Natalie Tough School of Dance |
| Musicality | Isabelle Dobbs | Lorraine Swain | Junior Masters Performing Arts |
Intermediate Winners
| 1st place | Mia Bonner | Joanne Bond | The Joanne Bond School of Classical Ballet |
| 2nd place | Lara Brooks | Bronwen Patching | Adagio School of Dance |
| 3rd place | Gabrielle Wilson | Rebecca Hood | Expression Theatre Arts |
| Musicality | Mia Bonner | Joanne Bond | The Joanne Bond School of Classical Ballet |
Advanced 1 and 2 Winners
| 1st place | Mia Byers | Khali Lewis | Khali Lewis Dance Company |
| 2nd place | Maisy Savage | Khali Lewis | Khali Lewis Dance Company |
| 3rd place | Tabitha Robinson | Khali Lewis | Khali Lewis Dance Company |
| Musicality | Mia Byers | Khali Lewis | Khali Lewis Dance Company |
Our adjudicators
Jacqueline Gray
Following graduation from the Teacher Training Course at Northern Ballet School, Jacqueline joined the teaching faculty at NBS, teaching Ballet (ISTD & RAD), Jazz & ISTD Modern, Tap & National. During her time at NBS, Jacqueline has been Head of the Children’s Department, Head of the Teacher Training Department, Deputy Principal from 2013, and in 2020 when the college came under the ownership of BIMM, Course Leader of the Trinity Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance. Jacqueline also worked for many years at Preston College, teaching all the ICB Vocational Major Examinations, and the DDE qualification.
In 1995 Jacqueline became an examiner for the Imperial Classical Ballet Faculty of the ISTD, examining throughout the UK and abroad. Between 2007-2019, she served on the ICB Committee, and is a member of the ICB Teaching Team.
Vanessa Palmer
Vanessa began dancing aged 3 attending Prime Headford school of dance in Essex.
She entered White Lodge aged 12 where aged 16 she was chosen by Sir Frederick Ashton to be a part of Nursery Suite; the last ballet he created. After graduation dancing Gypsy Girl from Two Pigeons she joined the Royal Ballet Company; a career spanning 22 years that saw her promoted to soloist, Assistant Ballet Mistress, as well as dance a variety of roles including Queen of Willis, Fairy Godmother, Lescaut’s Mistress. For the last 15 years she has taught privately. In 2019 Vanessa became a shadow répétiteur for The Frederick Ashton Foundation. In June 2024 she is putting on Les Rendezvous for The Royal Ballet.
Max Westwell
Max trained at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and performed with English National Ballet for 12 years, rising to Soloist. He danced a variety of leading classical roles including Romeo in Nureyev’s Romeo and Juliet, the Prince in Wayne Eagling’s Nutcracker and the role of Lescaut in McMillan’s Manon.
In the West End he played the title role of Jerry Mulligan in An American in Paris and Swan Stranger in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, also on Broadway. For TV, he was the main focus in Agony and Ecstasy part two, a one-hour documentary broadcast on BBC4 in March 2011. He has collaborated with Cillian Murphy, choroegraphing a music video directed by the actor, and has danced in Disney's Nutcracker and The Four Realms partnering with Misty Copeland.
He continues to work on many fantastic productions, acting, dancing and choreographing as well as doing stunt and wirework. Highlights include Bridgerton (seasons two and three), Greatest Days, History of a Pleasure seeker, You, The Nevers, Angela Black, and Witcher blood origin.
Alexandra Barnes
Alexandra Barnes holds a Master’s degree in Ballet Studies from the University of Surrey, Roehampton as well as DDE’s in Modern Theatre Dance and Tap. She is a senior Imperial Classical ballet examiner and Deputy Lead Examiner for the Teaching Qualifications, as well as having served on a variety of Committee’s for the ISTD.
She was awarded and held a five year scholarship at The Royal Academy of Dance and completed her training on the Dancer’s course at the Upper School of The Royal Ballet.
Her teaching career has mainly been with Laine Theatre Arts, Bird College, Performers and Italia Conti and her own private school in Surrey. She has choreographed several ballets for The National Youth Ballet Company of Great Britain as well as The National Trust Open Air Theatre.
Jeremy Kerridge
Jeremy trained at The Royal Ballet School and danced with Northern Ballet Theatre for over 20 years, performing all the classical repertoire. Principal roles created for him include Mercutio (Romeo and Juliet), Renfield (Dracula) and Scrooge (A Christmas Carol), for which he was awarded Best Character Dancer in Dance and Dancers magazine.
In 2010 he restaged Northern Ballet’s A Simple Man for their 40th Anniversary and for their 50th, performed an excerpt of Gillian Lynne’s A Simple Man with Tamara Rojo. He assisted Gillian Lynne when she was creating Miracle in the Gorbals for Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2011.
As a ballet teacher he has taught widely, including at LIPA, Liverpool Theatre School, Northern Associates, Gothenburg Ballet School, Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, and the boys for the West End Production of ‘Billy Elliot’.
Ruth Brill
Ruth is a freelance choreographer and Artistic Director. She began her training in Kent in the Cecchetti Method, and then went on to Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and English National Ballet School. She danced with English National Ballet (2007-2012) and Birmingham Royal Ballet (2012-2019).
Ruth has created numerous commissions for Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, New English Ballet Theatre and The Royal Ballet School, amongst others. Her dance film work includes Bodies, Chrysalis, Beneath Still Waters and Momenta. She has also created pieces for The Rugby World Cup Welcoming Ceremony, BBC Dance Passion and Heathrow Airport’s most recent Christmas Campaign. Ruth is passionate about creating narrative work and has also completed a course in Dramaturgy.
Ruth is the Artistic Director of London Children’s Ballet. She re-staged Cathy Marston’s production of Ballet Shoes (2019) and has since commissioned the creation of Anne Of Green Gables (2022), Snow White (2023) and Secret Garden (2024) for the company. Ruth has a strong interest in teaching and outreach work and has delivered development programmes internationally.
Participating schools
| Teacher | School |
| Bronwen Patching | Adagio School of Dance |
| Emma Kimber | Avril Earl Dance and Theatre Arts Centre |
| Laura Fleet | Ballaré School of Performing Arts |
| Michele Cheetham | Bella Danza Studios |
| Alison Cronin, Jessica Stokes | Clonmel Dance Centre |
| Sophie-Jayne Unwin, Angela Michie | Cora Theatre Arts |
| Sinéad Murphy, Lindsay O'Leary, Susan Moran | Cork School of Dance |
| Georgia D’Arcy | D’Arcy Stage School |
| Heidi Speakman, Gemma Pickess | Dance Projection |
| Nicole Leigh, Debbie O'Boyle | Dance Space Essex |
| Eleanor Bechthold | El Dance Studios |
| Fiona Forfar | ElliTe Studios |
| Rebecca Hood | Expressions Theatre Arts |
| Carly Hall, Kathryn Pearce | First Steps & Carly Elizabeth School |
| Emi Suzuki | Funky Feet School of Dance and Performing Arts |
| Samantha Harris | Grayes Theatre Arts |
| Joanne Blanchfield | ID Academy UK |
| Jamie Lee Tuffrey | Jamie Lee Dance Academy |
| Janet Marshall | Janet Marshall Dance Studios |
| Sharon Glennie | June Glennie School of Dance |
| Wendy Headford, Lorraine Swain | Junior Masters Performing Arts |
| Ami Piper, Jade Wilkinson | Just Dance Studios |
| Kahli Lewis | Kahli Lewis Dance Company |
| Kirsten Swift | Kirsten’s Dance Academy |
| Abigail Leonard, Lorraine Swain | Leonard Dance Academy |
| Louise Ryrie, Bridget Fenn | Louise Ryrie School |
| Cheryl Heuston | Marlborough Academy of Dance and Drama |
| Natalie Tough | Natalie Tough School of Dance |
| Rebecca Ward | Rebekah's Dance School |
| Joanne Blanchfield | Silhouettes Dance & Theatre School |
| Susan Merrett, Sally Brenner | Sue Merrett School of Dance |
| Sarah Watson | Swindon Academy of Dance |
| Ruth Goodwin, Vivien Batchelder | The Beverley School of Performing Arts |
| Lian Wray | The Dance Place - Blackpool |
| Felicity Stewart, Angela Humphreys, Sophie Griffiths, Louise Brant | The Elizabeth Fenton School of Dancing |
| Joanne Bond | The Joanne Bond School of Classical Ballet |
| Kirsty-Anne Farrow | The Kirsty Farrow Dance Academy |
| Sarah Williams | Timestep Academy of Dance |
| Tina Phelps | Tina Phelps Stage School |
| Julie McKenna | Top Hat Theatre School |
| Michelle Walkhouse | Walkhouse School of Dance |
