Cecchetti Society Trust News May 2026

Cecchetti Society Trust News

Welcome to the Cecchetti Society Trust Newsletter
Read about the success of our Trust event From Studio to Stage held at the Royal Ballet School, Covent Garden on Sunday 19th April 2026.

Applications are now open for :
CST Student Study Bursaries available to students attending an intensive Cecchetti course before the end of August 2026.

CST Small & General Grants for the academic year 2026/27, available for individuals or organisations planning Cecchetti events or projects. Click on the links for further information and application deadlines.

Lastly we were very saddened to learn of the recent passing of Susan Lucas, a much loved Cecchetti dancer and teacher. Our thoughts are with her family and her many colleagues and friends.

From Studio to Stage
Sunday 19th April, 2026
The Royal Ballet School, Covent Garden

The Cecchetti Society Trust presented From Studio to Stage on 19th April 2026 at The Royal Ballet School, Covent Garden. The inspiring programme for the afternoon showcased a range of work supported by the Trust. The Trust was honoured to have our Patrons, Dame Monica Mason and Kevin O’Hare CBE attending.

Elisabeth Swan, Chair of the Trust welcomed the audience. Johane Casabene from Malta introduced a wonderful photographic exhibition about Enrico Cecchetti. Diane van Schoor worked with vocational students in an inspiring session on the ‘Cecchetti Days of the Week’. Daniel Pratt, on behalf of The Frederick Ashton Foundation, lead a workshop on the delightful Chickens’ dance from La Fille mal gardée.

The ISTD Cecchetti Classical Ballet Scholars showcased their classical and contemporary work with vibrant performances. Vocational students who won prestigious Trust Scholarships in the UK and Malta 2025/26 performed solos. Kevin O’Hare in conversation with Ruth Brill, gave us an insight into his remarkable career and current role as Director of the Royal Ballet.

The programme concluded with English National Ballet’s James Streeter coaching Jakob Wheway Hughes in the Prince’s solo from Act 3 of The Sleeping Beauty.
A wonderful end to the afternoon and a lovely Cecchetti connection as Jakob had been a winner of the Geoghegan Award in 2022/23.

A review by Lisa Hunter https://www.cecchettisocietytrust.org/from-studio-to-stage-2026-review and a gallery of photos by Elaine Mason https://www.cecchettisocietytrust.org/from-studio-to-stage-2026-gallery can be viewed on these links. Further programme details can be found using the link below.

STUDIO TO STAGE

Student Study Bursaries 2026 Applications Invited!

Application Deadline - 15th June 2026

The Trust is inviting further applications for Student Study Bursaries to help support young dancers who have attended ,or will be attending, an intensive course of Cecchetti study between 1st January 2026 - 31st August 2026. Students must be aged 9 - 21 years by the 31st August 2026 and studying an ISTD Cecchetti exam at any level from Cecchetti Grade 5 /Class Exam 5 up to Diploma.

Applications are open to students in the UK and Internationally. Bursary categories are up to £500 (residential courses) and up to £300 (non residential courses). Further information, Terms and Conditions and an Application Form can be found using the button link below. Applications must be returned by Monday 15th June.

STUDENT BURSARIES

Cecchetti Society Trust
Small & General Grants 2026/27

Application Deadline 10th July 2026

The Cecchetti Society Trust is inviting applications for Small Grants (up to £1,000) and General Grants (over £1,000) for the academic year 2026/27. The Grants are to support events, activities or projects that will extend opportunities for Cecchetti learners beyond an individual school/teacher/student.

Applications are now invited and further information about Grants including Terms & Conditions, Application Forms and deadlines can be found on our website using the button link below.
The application deadline is Friday 10th July 2026.

CST GRANTS 26/27

Remembering Susan Lucas

It is with great sadness that Trustees learnt of the passing of Susan Lucas. It had been such a pleasure to see her at From Studio to Stage, with her first Cecchetti teacher, Gillian Dawson. Sue was a beautiful dancer, gifted teacher and lovely colleague and friend to so many. A life long advocate of the Cecchetti work, she will be greatly missed, but her legacy will live on through the students she taught and mentored. Our thoughts are with her family.

Donate to the Cecchetti Society Trust!

The work of the Trust can only be sustained and continued through the generosity of donors. Every donation counts, and every donor makes a difference. The Trustees are extremely grateful to all who support the Trust. Ways in which a gift can support different aspects of the Trust’s work and information about how to give can be found on our website using the button link.

DONATE

Contact Us

We would like to share our news as widely as possible across 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. The Cecchetti Society Trust can be contacted through our website at Contact Us or by email: chair@cecchettisocietytrust.org

Image credits: Elaine Mayson © 2026
Cecchetti Society Trust, All rights reserved Registered trademarks of The Cecchetti Society Trust Nos UK 0000338372 & 0000338373 Registered Charity in England & Wales No 1197857