We are delighted to be holding this annual faculty competition for students of ISTD Cecchetti member teachers at Elmhurst Ballet School on 19 November 2023.

Competitors will come together to perform set and unset work and solos in front of highly experienced and respected industry adjudicators.  Teachers, family, friends and fellow competitors are very welcome to purchase audience tickets to support the young dancers.

The awards taking place commemorate Mabel Ryan, a much loved and respected Cecchetti ballet teacher who was herself a pupil of Enrico Cecchetti. As a teacher she ran her London school in partnership with Margaret Craske.  The competition is divided into Lower Junior, Junior, Middle and Senior categories, the winners of which are awarded a commemorative medal to keep.  Additional awards are given for the joy of dance.

Tickets

Competitor entry tickets close on 20 October.

All ages are taken as from 1 September 2023.

Lower Junior Award

• Maximum age 12 years.
• The competitor must have passed Grade 2 or Grade 3 (but no higher) in the Cecchetti Method with a minimum mark of 70%.
• A competitor who has won the Lower Junior Award may not enter again.

Junior Award

• Maximum age 12 years.
• The competitor must have passed Grade 4 in the Cecchetti Method.
• A competitor who has won the Junior Award may not enter again.

Middle Award

• Minimum age 13 years, maximum age 14 years.
• The competitor must have passed Grade 5 in the Cecchetti Method.
• A competitor who has won the Middle Award may not enter again.

Senior Award

• Minimum age 15years, maximum age 17years.
• The competitor must have passed Grade 6 in the Cecchetti Method. The work will be set and judged at intermediate level.
  Candidates have a choice of some of the elements of the work that they show - refer to confirmation email which will be sent automatically on receipt of your entry
  A competitor who has won the Senior Award may not enter again.

Adjudication

Winners will be announced on the day.

Uniform guidelines

Either:

• Lower Junior and Junior awards: a plain, tank style, leotard of the candidates choice (sleeveless, no cross straps, no patterned or lacy fabric or sparkling adornments).
• Middle and Senior awards: a plain leotard of the candidates choice (sleeveless, no cross straps, no patterned or lacy fabric or sparkling adornments).
• Ballet tights and shoes in skin tone or pink.
• Ballet tights and shoe colour should match.
• Ballet shoes must have elastics not ribbons.
• Long hair should be neatly dressed for ballet with no ribbons or adornments of any sort.
• Short hair should be suitably dressed for ballet, away from the face, with optional use of plain hair band, the same colour as the leotard.

Or:

• All awards: A plain leotard of the candidates choice.
• Plain ballet tights in a dark colour e.g. black, navy, burgundy etc.
• Black or white socks with black or white ballet shoes.
  Hair should be neatly dressed for ballet, and long hair tied back.

All:

• No jewellery or body ornaments are permitted for any award.
• Makeup is not permitted in the Lower Junior or Junior awards.
• Where possible, a coloured leotard is preferred as opposed to black or white.
• Please note that nothing must be added to the feet to enhance the shape and size of the instep.

Teachers Pack - Set work, dances and music

A free teachers pack is available to view from Thursday 17 August containing the work to be presented at the event.

Teachers preparation pack includes:

• Set work notes
• Set dance videos
• Dance music

The full teachers pack is available to download once the entry fee has been paid.

Tickets

Competitor entry tickets close on 20 October.

Audience Tickets

Audience tickets are available to purchase per category or for all categories, allowing access to the whole day. Tickets will be issued in the form of wristbands which can be collected on the day. We recommend buying audience tickets in advance.

Audience Ticket - Lower Junior category only - £15.00
Audience Ticket - Junior category only- £15.00
Audience Ticket - Middle category only - £15.00
Audience Ticket - Senior category only - £15.00
Audience Ticket - All day - £40.00
Competitor audience ticket - single category only - £5.00
Competitor audience ticket - All day - £12.50

T-shirts

This year we have bespoke Mabel Ryan Award T-Shirts - Please add to your cart when booking your tickets and pick up from the front desk on 19 November.

Child's t-shirt: £12

Small - Age 5-6 (chest 28)

Medium - Age 7-8 (chest 30)

Large - Age 9-11 (chest 32)

X-Large - Age 12-13 (chest 34)

Adult's t-shirt: £16

Small - (chest 34-36)

Medium - (chest 38)

Large - (chest 40-42)

Terms & Conditions

• Competitors must be studying with an ISTD Cecchetti member and must be entered by the Principal of that School.
• Competitors currently attending full-time vocational schools may not enter for the Mabel Ryan Awards.
• Competitors holding a higher examination than that stated as necessary for the Lower Junior, Junior, Middle and Senior Mabel Ryan Awards are not debarred entry for that reason.
• The Official Pianist will play for the dances in all the Awards.
• All entries to be submitted by the teacher and not by the parents/guardian. Receipt for acknowledgment of entry will be emailed to the teacher by way of an automatic confirmation email.
• Teachers and competitors shall agree to abide by ALL the rules laid down for the Competition and shall accept the Adjudicator's decision as final. No individual feedback will be given.
• Anyone competing in this event does so at their own risk and parents/carers will be asked to confirm their child is fit to participate. The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing will not accept any responsibility for any injury.
• Principals & Teachers – Please ensure all teachers involved in preparing pupils for the competition, are fully aware of and understand the competition rules. The integrity of the teacher is relied upon to ensure that the rules are followed by all participants to enable the smooth running of the event.
• Set work and dances are the property of the ISTD and must not be used, copied or replicated for any other use.
• We regret that, once purchased, tickets for both competitors and audience members are non-refundable.
• Upon submission of your application on your competitor’s behalf you are agreeing to the criteria set above and that you agree to adhere to Terms & Conditions.

The competition relies on a certain number of entries being received. If insufficient entries are received the competition may not be able viable and in this case entry fees will be returned. Competitors must be made aware of this in advance. If the competition cannot take place teachers will be advised by email by Monday 23 October 2023. In this case, competition fees will be refunded to teachers to return to their pupils.