An enthusiastic audience filled the Genée Studio at the Royal Academy of Dance on Sunday, 20 March to watch 11 candidates from six countries, Canada, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Mexico and New Zealand; to compete in the Phyllis Bedells Bursary 2005. The standard was particularly high and the winner was sixteen year old Leyna Magbutay, from Tokyo, now studying at Elmhurst School for Dance. She receives a bursary of £1000.

The judging panel was chaired by Miss Jean Bedells, daughter of Phyllis Bedells and this year she was joined by Miss Valerie Aitken, who studied with Phyllis Bedells and is a member of the Academy’s Executive Committee and Miss Elaine Rea, Programme Leader for the Academy’s Teaching Certificate Programme and for the Professional Dancer's Teaching Diploma. They decided to commend three other candidates, Alicia Beck, (16, Great Britain) Laura-Jane Gibson, (17, Great Britain) Delia Mathews (15, New Zealand).

Sarah Gregory, a graduate of the Academy’s PDTC took the taught Class; The candidates were put through their paces and most importantly were allowed to ‘dance’ and demonstrate their technical proficiency. Curtis Probel accompanied the class and Martin Cleave accompanied the variations that followed.

Each of the candidates received a personalised keepsake from Miss Bedells.