Cecchetti Society Trust News December 2025

Cecchetti Society Trust News

Welcome to the Cecchetti Society Trust Newsletter

This month applications are invited for the Trust’s Student Study Bursaries and Teacher Study Bursaries 2026. Information on how to apply is given in the articles below, so please share these widely with any teachers and students who may be interested in this opportunity.

We are pleased to report on the Cecchetti Malta Awards and the Cecchetti Mabel Ryan Awards which took place in November 2025. These very successful events which the Trust supports gave performance opportunities to many young dancers, and showcased the excellent work of Cecchetti teachers in the UK and Malta.

Looking ahead to the new year, our annual Trust event From Studio to Stage will take place at The Royal Ballet School on Sunday 19th April, 2026 so please save the date in your diary.

Lastly, Trustees warmly thank all those who have generously supported our events and donated to the Trust this year. We have been pleased to be able to support many students and teachers in 2025. We wish everyone a happy and peaceful festive season and a successful New Year. We look forward to your continued support in 2026.

Cecchetti Society Trust
Student Study Bursaries 2026
Applications Open!

The Trust is offering Student Study Bursaries to support young dancers who are 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 at ISTD Cecchetti Grade 5 /Class Exam 5 level up to Diploma level.

Applications are open to students studying ISTD Cecchetti 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 2nd March 2026.

STUDENT STUDY BURSARIES

Cecchetti Society Trust
Teacher Study Bursaries 2026
Applications Open!

The Cecchetti Society Trust has a range of bursaries given annually to support teachers in their study of the Cecchetti Method of classical ballet. So if you are intending to further your professional development in 2026 with a course of study, attendance at a summer school or intensive course, or through taking an examination, a Trust bursary could help you achieve this aim. Applications are open to those studying ISTD Cecchetti in the UK and Internationally.

Applications for CST Teacher Study Bursaries 2026 (for study in the period January 2026 - December 2026) are now open.
Further information, Terms & Conditions and an Application Form can be found using the button link below. Applications must be returned by 2nd March 2026 to: admin@cecchettisocietytrust.org

TEACHER STUDY BURSARIES

Cecchetti Malta Awards 2025

The ISTD Cecchetti Classical Ballet Faculty Malta Awards, supported by the Trust, took place on 30th November 2025 at the Brigitte Gauci Borda School of Dance, Sliema, Malta. 132 students from many schools took part in the three levels of the Awards. 2026 will see a celebration of 60 years of teaching Cecchetti in Malta, so it was an honour to welcome Tanya Bayona, who first introduced the work to the island.

Pictured from the top are Tanya Bayona and Gillian Hurst with the Tanya Bayona Senior Award Winner: Julia Debono, a pupil of Theresa Lungaro-Mifsud. Gillian Hurst with the Lower Junior Award Winners. The legacy committee - a group of dedicated volunteer teachers who are to be congratulated on their excellent organisation of the Awards.

Cecchetti Mabel Ryan Awards 2025

The ISTD Cecchetti Mabel Ryan Awards took place on 2nd November 2025 at Elmhurst Ballet School. Young dancers from a wide range of Cecchetti schools travelled to Birmingham to take part in the Lower Junior, Junior, Middle and Senior levels of the Awards. The Adjudicators were Bethany Kingsley-Garner, Alison Jenner and Mary Stassinopoulos. The onstage classes were presented by Sarah Wells and Susan Lucas and accompanied by Jonnie Gait.

The event was organised by the ISTD CPD and Events Team with Holly Unnuk and the Cecchetti Faculty Committee. It is a great credit to them all, along with an excellent backstage team of volunteer Cecchetti teachers and ISTD staff that the day was a great success. The warm appreciation of the audience and the enjoyment shown by the young dancers was very evident, making it a memorable event which the Trust was delighted to support. More about this event can be found on the ISTD website

https://www.istd.org/discover/news/mabel-ryan/

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, Lachlan Monaghan © 2025 Cecchetti Society Trust, All rights reserved Registered trademarks of The Cecchetti Society Trust Nos UK 0000338372 & 0000338373 Registered Charity in England & Wales No 1197857