Double Delight at Phyllis Bedells Bursary 2007

Two successful candidates share the honour and prize money of the 2007 Bursary

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is delighted to announce the results of the 2007 Phyllis Bedells Bursary.  A prominent event in the Academy’s calendar, this year’s Bursary took place at Academy headquarters on Sunday 25 March 2007. Sharing this year’s Bursary are 16 year old Rex Wheeler (Elmhurst School for Dance) and 15 year old Georgina Connolly (Royal Ballet School). Both candidates received £500 to further their training in the Academy’s method.

Candidates experienced the challenge and excitement of taking a class with Rachel Hunt PDTD teacher, rehearsing set and repertoire variations and performing in front of an audience. Delighting the audience and judges with their performances, Connolly who performed the set Classical I and the variation from Sleeping Beauty Prologue, First Fairy shared her experience of the day:

‘Participation in the Phyllis Bedells Award was a most rewarding day.  It was wonderful to meet the Artistic Director of the RAD, Lynn Wallis, who enabled us to relax as we placed our solos. All of the students who entered were delightful to talk to and throughout the day there was a lovely atmosphere. I went into the competition just to enjoy it and gain from the experience with no expectation of winning.  It was therefore a tremendous surprise to be the joint winner with Rex Wheeler’

Wheeler performed the set Demi-Caractère and the variation from Swan Lake, Act 1, Pas de Trois. Wheeler commented:

‘I very much enjoyed taking part in the Phyllis Bedells Bursary this year. I took part in the event last year so I’m delighted that my dedication has paid off. I will be putting the Bursary money towards furthering my future in dance and look forward to an exciting career ahead. I would like to thank my teachers at Elmhurst, my sponsor and the Royal Academy of Dance for giving me this fantastic opportunity for which I am hugely grateful’

Miss Bedells, chair of the judging panel and daughter of Phyllis Bedells, was joined by RAD Dual Examiner June Mitchell and internationally acclaimed choreographer Christopher Hampson. Miss Bedells commented:

‘The judge’s congratulate the students on having received the desired standard and wish them well for their future’

The Phyllis Bedells Bursary provides young dancers with the opportunity to perform in the renowned Genée studio at Academy headquarters in front of an international audience. Named in honour of Phyllis Bedells, a founder member and former Vice President of the Academy, the Bursary, of up to £1000, is given for further training in the Academy’s method.

Previous winners have gone on to become Genée International Ballet Competition bronze, silver and gold medallists and to dance with the Australian Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, English National Ballet, London City Ballet, Maurice Béjart and the Royal Ballet.

-ENDS-

For any further information or images please contact:

Charlotte Slayford

Press Office

Royal Academy of Dance

Tel: 020 7326 8002

Email: cslayford@rad.org.uk

Notes for Editors

Royal Academy of Dance is a global organisation with 13,500 members in 79 countries. Our mission is to promote the knowledge, practice and understanding of dance internationally. We seek to accomplish this through promoting dance, educating and training students and providing examinations to set standards and reward achievement. We are a Registered Charity in England No. 312826

The Phyllis Bedells Bursary was open to members of the RAD who have passed their Advanced 1 Examination with Distinction. Candidates must have been under 17 years of age on February 26 February 2007 and must not have entered for the Advanced 2 Examination

Georgina Connolly

Georgina began dancing at the age of nine and is currently training at the Royal Ballet School, White Lodge. In 2006 she won first prize in the Kenneth MacMillan Choreographic Competition. Georgina is House Captain and won the Year 10 Academic Excellence Award. This February she danced and performed with Vaganova students in St Petersburg and has been offered a place at the Royal Ballet Upper School.

Rex Wheeler       

Rex has been training in classical ballet for three and a half years and is currently studying at Elmhurst School for Dance. His previous training was with Anna Du Boisson and the Royal Ballet School. Rex has thoroughly enjoyed his ballet training so far and fully intends to achieve his ambition of becoming a professional dancer.