Cecchetti Society Trust News

Welcome to the Ceccheti Society Trust Newsletter

Our first newsletter sent in September 2022 received a warm response with one reader kindly messaging to say ‘This is beautifully produced! I have so enjoyed looking and reading the Cecchetti Trust News’. We would like to share our news and work more widely across the Cecchetti community of teachers, students and ballet lovers. If you know of others who would be interested to receive the Newsletter, please invite them to sign up via our website Contact Us or by email: chair@cecchettisocietytrust.org

Cecchetti Society Centenary Gala

24th October 2022
Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

The Cecchetti Society Centenary Gala organised by the Cecchetti Society Trust took place at the Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on Monday 24th October 2022. The programme celebrated the range and beauty of the Cecchetti work and featured performances from vocational students through to professional dancers from Birmingham Royal Ballet and The Royal Ballet. The programme for this memorable evening and a review by Deborah Weiss can be found on our website at Centenary Gala 2022

Centenary Gala
Performance Photos

A Gallery of photos of the Gala programme by Elaine Mayson including the Cecchetti Scholars, vocational students from Moorlands International Ballet Academy, English National Ballet School and KS Dance, as well as guest artists from Birmingham Royal Ballet and The Royal Ballet, can be viewed at Centenary Gala Gallery

Centenary Gala Reception

Following the Gala performance the audience was invited to join Trustees and their guests for a reception in the foyer of the Linbury Theatre, generously sponsored by Kristina Rogge, to celebrate the Centenary. Special guests included Trust Patrons Dame Monica Mason, Kevin O’Hare CBE and Dame Darcey Bussell. Dame Monica raised a toast to mark the Cenentary and to wish the Cecchetti Society well for the next 100 years!

Photos of the Reception taken by Miki Yamanouchican be viewed at
Centenary Gala Reception Gallery

Cecchetti Society Trust
Vocational Classical Ballet Awards

Elmhurst Ballet School, Birmingham
Sunday 5th February 2023

The Cecchetti Society Trust Vocational Classical Ballet Awards incorporating the Fewster Cecchetti Scholarship and the Barbara Geoghegan Award will take place on 5th February 2023 at Elmhurst Ballet School, Birmingham. It is anticipated the event will run from 11.30 - 17.30 (times tbc) and will include adjudicated ballet classes for all competitors and classical solos for Geoghegan Award entrants.

The Awards offer young dancers the opportunity to participate in a high profile competition event with generous prizes to support their ballet training. Further information about the competition, the entry requirements, rules and application forms can be found at Vocational Awards 2022/23
NB Applications Forms must be returned by Thursday 12th January 2023

The Awards will be open to a public audience and the Trustees hope many supporters will be able to attend. Information about purchasing tickets will be available early in the new year on the Trust website - link as above.

Mabel Ryan Awards 2022

The Cecchetti Society Trust was delighted to support the Mabel Ryan Awards that took place in the lovely new studio theatre at the Central School of Ballet, London on 27th November 2022. The event was superbly organised by the ISTD Cecchetti Society Classical Ballet Faculty Committee and the Head of Faculty Development, and supported by an excellent backstage team. 110 talented young dancers took part in the Lower Junior, Junior, Middle and Senior levels of Mabel Ryan Awards. Adjudicators were Gillian Robinson and Mary Stassinopoulos with their wealth of Cecchetti knowledge and Brandon Lawrence, Principal of Birmingham Royal Ballet. They all generously shared their expertise and warmly encouraged the young performers in their adjudication comments. The pleasure of both the participants and the audience of being part of a live theatre event was very evident, making it a memorable and enjoyable day of dance for all.

Cecchetti Malta Awards 2022

The Cecchetti Malta Awards took place on 4th December 2022 at Brigitte Gauci Borda School of Dance, Sliema. The Trust is pleased to continue to support these Awards, which were established in 2018 to honour the work of Tanya Bayona in Malta. 25 enthusiastic students took part demonstrating a high standard of Cecchetti work in two excellent classes taught by Johane Casabene. Maria Attard accompanied the classes. Barry McGrath, former Principal with The Royal Ballet and London Festival Ballet adjudicated the Awards, setting the students at ease and enabling them to dance their best in both the Junior and Senior sections. The senior Tanya Bayona Award Runner Up: Thea De Gray and Winner: Lea Ellul Sullivan are pictured with Mr McGrath.

Cyril Beaumont Scholarship 2022

The annual Cyril Beaumont Scholarship supported by the Trust took place on 6th December 2022 at KS Dance Ltd, Warrington. Kate Simmons warmly welcomed Adjudicators Anita Young MBE, former Soloist of the Royal Ballet and Elisabeth Swan, Chair of the Cecchetti Society Trust. The students took part in a challenging class expertly taught by Gillian Hurst with pianist Jonnie Gait providing inspiring accompaniment. The worthy award recipients were - Musicality Award: Tamlyn Preston; Mary-Jane Duckworth Award: Harry Hughes; Cyril Beaumont Scholarship Runner Up: Natasha Gray; Winner: Alex Paterson who is pictured with the Adjudicators Anita Young and Elisabeth Swan.

Cecchetti Society Trust
Teacher Study Bursaries 2023

The Cecchetti Society Trust has reviewed and updated the Awards and Scholarships that are given annually to support teachers in their study of classical ballet and the Ceccheti Method.

Information about the range of bursaries that
the Trust will offer in 2023, eligibility details and application forms are available on our website at Teacher Study Bursaries . Applications must be received by 1st March 2023.

Seasons Greetings from Trustees!

As our special year celebrating the Centenary of the Ceccheti Society in 2022 draws to a close, Trustees would like to take this opportunity to send Seasons Greetings and to warmly thank all those who have supported our events and donated to the Trust in 2022. We wish everyone a happy and peaceful festive season and look forward to your continued support in 2023.

If you would like to learn more about the work of the Trust please explore our website www.cecchettisocietytrust.org
If you would like to donate to the Trust please use the button link - your support is greatly appreciated by Trustees.

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