UK’s young dancers on the path of securing the future of British Ballet at Final of the Fonteyn Nureyev Young Dancers Competition

Sunday 13 April saw the culmination of the Fonteyn Nureyev Young Dancers Competition at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London. 20 young dancers took to the stage, each giving a unique performance.

The judging panel, chaired by Dame Antoinette Sibley DBE, President of the Royal Academy of Dance, which included Sir John Tooley, Chairman of the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation and Wayne Sleep OBE, Vice President of the Royal Academy of Dance, had the difficult task of selecting two winners, one from each level.

The titles and £1,500 prize money were awarded to:

Level 1 Winner:

Sophie Lewis, age 11, Guildford (candidate number 7)

Photo: Brian Slater

Level 2 Winner: Matthew Koon, age 14, Salford (candidate number 18) Photo: Brian Slater

The Judges also awarded a “Runner up IDS Scholarship” at each level to Natasha Agarwal, Level 1 from St. Helens and Charlotte Evans, Level 2 from Chobham. They were each awarded £250 towards their dance training, donated by International Dance Supplies, key sponsors of the 2008 competition. Charlotte Evans also collected a scholarship offer for a week’s free tuition at The Wells Summer School. A commendation of £150, donated by Desmond Kelly (Birmingham Royal Ballet) and David Nixon (Northern Ballet Theatre) after judging the Birmingham and Manchester heats respectively, was also awarded to Level 1 candidate Hannah Gunningham from Bristol and Level 2 candidate Dominique Halsall from St. Helens.

Matthew Koon, Wayne Sleep OBE and Sophie Lewis

Photo: Brian Slater