The Tait Memorial Trust has unveiled a significant new award for emerging ballet talent from Australia and New Zealand. The Tait Bonynge Prize, announced in London on 25 June, will offer £5,000 each year to two exceptional graduates of The Royal Ballet School—one joining The Royal Ballet’s Aud Jebsen Young Dancers Programme, and another entering Birmingham Royal Ballet’s BRB2 company.
The prize is named in honour of Richard Bonynge AC CBE, the distinguished Australian conductor and long-time Patron of the Tait Memorial Trust. The award not only provides financial support but also access to professional mentoring, helping dancers transition into the early stages of their careers with two of the UK's most prestigious ballet companies.
“I am honoured and delighted that the Tait Memorial Trust has established this prize,” said Bonynge. “If I can help to make life easier for a few young dancers of today, it gives me the greatest pleasure.”
Isla Baring OAM, Chairman of the Tait Memorial Trust, described the award as a natural extension of the Trust’s mission: “The Tait Bonynge Prize represents an exciting new chapter in our mission to support young artists from Australia and New Zealand. By linking this initiative with The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet, we are investing in the future of ballet and celebrating the shared cultural heritage of our nations.”
The prize will only be awarded in years where eligible Australian or New Zealand dancers are accepted into either of the two programmes. This year’s recipients are expected to be announced shortly.
The Aud Jebsen Young Dancers Programme, established in 2014, provides a one-year contract for recent graduates to train and perform with The Royal Ballet. Similarly, BRB2, launched in 2022, offers young dancers a chance to tour and perform with Birmingham Royal Ballet while receiving intensive coaching and performance experience.
Royal Ballet Director Kevin O’Hare CBE praised the initiative, saying, “The Tait Memorial Trust has already done so much to enrich the future of performing artists from Australia and New Zealand. This new prize promises even more crucial support for those embedding themselves into company life.”
Carlos Acosta CBE, Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, added, “The Tait Bonynge Prize is a brilliant development. The generous prize will help exceptional young ballet students make the crucial transition to life as professional dancers through the tremendous opportunities offered by our BRB2 initiative.”
The prize is championed by Leanne Benjamin AM OBE, former Royal Ballet Principal and a Patron of the Tait Memorial Trust. A graduate of The Royal Ballet School herself, she emphasised the importance of international exposure in a dancer’s development: “I know how important it was for me as a budding ballerina to be able to travel the world, meet artists, and to see performances and exhibitions. This prize represents a wonderful opportunity for young dancers, helping them transition successfully into professional careers with invaluable support and mentorship.”
This announcement further reinforces the impact of The Royal Ballet School, one of the world’s most respected centres for classical ballet training. Founded by Dame Ninette de Valois in 1926, the School has long been a pathway for dancers of exceptional potential, including Margot Fonteyn, Kenneth MacMillan, Marianela Nuñez and Christopher Wheeldon. Admission is based solely on talent, and approximately 80% of students receive financial support.
The Tait Memorial Trust, founded in 1992 by Isla Baring in memory of her father Sir Frank Tait and his brothers, has raised more than £1.5 million in scholarships for young Australian and New Zealand artists in the UK. Its support spans music, theatre and dance, with partnerships across many of the UK’s top performing arts institutions. The Tait Bonynge Prize adds to a suite of initiatives including the Leanne Benjamin Awards and The Tait Scholar at the Royal College of Music.
For young dancers from Australia and New Zealand hoping to make their mark on the global stage, this new prize represents more than recognition. It is an investment in their future—and in the ongoing legacy of excellence at The Royal Ballet School.