Royal Academy of Dance names the 12 finalists of The Fonteyn 2026

The 12 finalists of The Fonteyn 2026 - photo by ASH

Chosen from 71 candidates, the finalists share the Coliseum stage on Sunday with guests from The Royal Ballet: Marianna Tsembenhoi, Fumi Kaneko and Vadim Muntagirov.

Twelve young dancers from six countries will compete in the final of The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition 2026 at the London Coliseum on Sunday 8 November at 6pm. The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) announced the finalists after this week’s semi-finals, in which 71 candidates from 19 countries took part. The final will also be livestreamed free on Medici TV.

Five of the 12 finalists are British, and three of them train at Elmhurst Ballet School.

The finalists

Siena Murphy, 17, British, training at English National Ballet School, taught by Nicola Simpson, Senri Kou and Lynne Charles
Chi Kok Ip, 18, Chinese, training at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, taught by the school’s faculty
Megan Jarvis, 16, British, independently trained by Roberta Marquez
Erin Alarie, 17, Canadian, training at the Oakville School of Classical Ballet, taught by Amanda Paterson
Lucy Crawford, 17, British, independently trained
Sarah Wheatley, 18, Australian, training at Elmhurst Ballet School, taught by Denise Whitman and the school’s wider artistic staff
Oakley Bassford, 18, British, training at Elmhurst Ballet School, taught by Denise Whitman and the school’s wider artistic staff
Gonzalo Toledo, 19, Spanish, training at Escuela de Musica y Danza Belen Fernandez, taught by Maria Belen Fernandez Camacho
Vianne Lau, 16, Canadian, training at Dancing Soma, taught by Juna Koo and Wendy Holt
Chelsea Humm, 19, from New Zealand, training at Convergence Dance Studios, taught by Anna Lee and Philippa Pidgeon
Tsz Ho Ting, 18, Chinese, training at Berlin State Ballet School, taught by Wong Ka Yan Cynthia
Rafferty Ebury, 17, British, training at Elmhurst Ballet School, taught by Denise Whitman and the school’s wider artistic staff

Two awards have already been decided. Erin Alarie won the Dancer’s Own Choreographic Award, open to every candidate who choreographed their own Dancer’s Own variation, and she will perform it at the final. The Musicality Award went to Gonzalo Toledo.

The 12 finalists of The Fonteyn 2026 - photo by ASH (1)

Judges and prizes

The finalists were chosen after three coaching days and two semi-finals, judged by Ana Maria Campos, RAD examiner; Leanne Cope, ballet teacher at Rambert School and formerly of The Royal Ballet; and Mthuthuzeli November, resident choreographer at Charlotte Ballet.

On Sunday they compete for the Genée Gold medal, supported by Freed of London, as well as the Silver and Bronze medals and the Audience Choice Award. The judges for the final are Dame Darcey Bussell DBE, President of the RAD; Lynn Wallis OBE, former RAD Artistic Director; Francesca Hayward, Principal of The Royal Ballet and herself a former Genée medallist; and Kevin O’Hare CBE, Director of The Royal Ballet.

As well as medals and cash prizes, all candidates can be considered for tuition scholarships from dance schools around the world.

Ashton at The Fonteyn

This year the RAD has worked with The Frederick Ashton Foundation to bring Ashton’s choreography into the competition, giving candidates from across the world direct experience of a style known for its elegance, lyricism and expressive musicality.

At the final, the dancers will perform their classical and Dancer’s Own variations alongside variations by Sir Frederick Ashton. They have been coached in the Ashton repertoire by Ricardo Cervera and Helen Crawford throughout Fonteyn week at the RAD’s London headquarters.

The coaching faculty for the semi-finals also included Justine Berry, Alexander Campbell, Carrie Taylor Johnson, Cira Robinson and Johannes Stepanek. The pianists were Martin Cleave, Rebecca Leshures, Matthew Mills and Richard Norriss.

Royal Ballet guest artists

The evening also includes two guest performances. Marianna Tsembenhoi, Soloist of The Royal Ballet, will dance Ashton’s Shadow variation from Ondine, and Royal Ballet Principals Fumi Kaneko and Vadim Muntagirov will perform a pas de deux from Sylvia.

About The Fonteyn

The Fonteyn, previously known as The Genée, is one of the oldest and most prestigious ballet competitions in the world, and represents the pinnacle of achievement for young dancers trained in the RAD syllabus. Since it began in 1931 it has toured the globe, and it has long served as a launchpad for professional careers, giving young dancers the chance to work with leading choreographers and professionals and to perform on an international stage.

This year’s competition is presented in partnership with Supporting Sponsors Hakluyt and Marella; Corporate Partners Swiga, Harlequin and Freed of London; and Livestream Partner medici.tv.