International Dance Recognition

Friday July 16^th 2021

Dance competitions provide further stage and performance experience for young dancers and we are thrilled two of the fifteen finalists (and their teachers) in the inaugural Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition are linked to Elmhurst.

In the first-ever online final of The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition 2021, soon-to-be Year 14 and Elmhurst Ballet Company member Olivia Chang-Clarke, and recent graduate, Class of 2021 Hannah Martin, have been selected from 97 dancers from 16 countries to take part in the prestigious competition. Olivia is trained by RAD Teacher Denise Whiteman (also Elmhurst’s Director of Dance Training), and Hannah is trained by RAD Teacher Mary Goodhew (a former Artistic Director of Elmhurst).

The digital edition of the competition will take place on Thursday 9 September at 7.30pm and will be hosted by RAD President, Dame Darcey Bussell, and RAD Artistic Director, Gerard Charles.

Olivia and Hannah captivated the judging panel comprising of RAD President, Dame Darcey Bussell, Artistic Director and CEO of Scottish Ballet, Christopher Hampson, and former Artistic Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Sir David Bintley. The young dancers will learn a commissioned solo choreographed by Ashley Page, former Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet, which they will perform with a classical solo at the final.

Members of the public are invited to watch the event and more information about the final and booking tickets can be found on the Royal Academy of Dance website www.royalacademyofdance.org

All the very best of luck – or ‘Chookas’ as we say in the ballet world - to Olivia and Hannah. The entire school will be tuning in!