Australians were once again prominent among the medallists at the RAD Genee International Ballet Competition, which came to a climax on September 29.
No gold medals were awarded, which meant that Sasha Leong, who won a silver medal, was one of the top placements. The 15-year-old student trains at Sydney Ballet School. She was the youngest of only two silver medal winners, the other being Isabelle Brouwers, a 17-year-old German student at the English National Ballet School.
Among the three bronze medallists was Rory Ferguson, 17, from Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy in Sydney. The others were British students Natasha Watson, 17, from Ballet West, and John Rhys Halliwell, 18, from English National Ballet School.
This year’s competition was held in Glasgow in Scotland from September 20 to 29. There were 58 competitors from 14 different countries and nine Australian entries, three male and six female. The judges were Darcey Bussell CBE (prima ballerina and president of the RAD), Kevin O’Hare (director of the Royal Ballet) and Christopher Hampson (artistic director of Scottish Ballet) .
Pictured is Sasha performing in the Dancer’s Own section: ‘I am Waiting’, choreographed by her teachers Jasmin Bobyk and Paris Bobyk. Rory is pictured performing ‘Just Singin’ choreographed by Olivia Ansell.
Congratulations to all the medallists!
See the Dec/Jan issue for more photos and information!
STOP PRESS! Sasha's teacher tells us she has just been invited directly into the finals of the Youth America Grand Prix in New York held in April next year, bypassing the semi finals.
Photos: Andrew Ross.