The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) has revealed the guest performances for the final of The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition (The Fonteyn) 2025, which will take place on Sunday 19 October at Auditório Ibirapuera in São Paulo, Brazil.
Audiences at the prestigious event will see two exceptional pas de deux presented on stage. Isabella Gasparini, First Soloist with The Royal Ballet, will join Yoshi Suzuki, Soloist with São Paulo Dance Company, in Swan Lake Act II’s White Swan pas de deux. In a nod to Brazilian heritage, Dalal Achcar Ballet Company dancers Gabriela Sisto and Fernando Mendonça will perform Melodia Sentimental from Floresta Amazônica, set to music by Heitor Villa-Lobos.
Gasparini described the timeless appeal of Swan Lake: “Swan Lake embodies everything that makes ballet unforgettable: beauty, passion, and a story that continues to move audiences around the world. This masterpiece remains the most iconic and irresistible of all ballets.”
The Fonteyn has long been considered a launchpad for professional careers, bringing together some of the most talented young dancers trained in the RAD syllabus. Past winners have gone on to dance with leading companies worldwide. Alongside the semi-finals and finals, the competition week also includes coaching sessions and events spotlighting the RAD’s global syllabus, with Brazilian ballerina Ana Maria Botafogo joining as guest coach.
Australia will once again be represented on the international stage, with Bridie Grice and Mia Atacador travelling to Brazil to compete among the world’s best. Both young dancers, trained in the RAD syllabus, earned their place at The Fonteyn through outstanding performances in the national rounds. Their journey to the finals marks a significant achievement and places them in the global spotlight alongside peers from across the RAD’s network of 80 countries.
The competition promises not only to highlight the future of dance such as Bridie and Mia but also to celebrate ballet’s living history, with guest performances that weave together classical masterpieces and culturally resonant works like Floresta Amazônica, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.
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Competition Dates: 11–19 October 2025
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Semi-finals: 16–17 October
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Final: Sunday 19 October, 16:00–18:30 BRT
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Location: Auditório Ibirapuera, Av. Pedro Alvares Cabral 3, São Paulo, Brazil
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Tickets: thefonteyn.org/tickets