Young British Dancer of the Year (YBDY) enters second decade
2010 Final takes place at the Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on Saturday 13 March at 7.30pm
February 2010
The Young British Dancer of the Year competition 2010 will see almost 100 young dancers aged 15-17 from throughout the UK compete for the coveted title of Young British Dancer of the Year. The preliminary rounds commence at The Royal Ballet School in London, Covent Garden on Saturday 6 March.
The UK’s only dance competition focussed on British and British-trained classical dancers, the highlight of YBDY is always the Final which this year takes place at the Linbury Studio Theatre on Saturday 13 March.
The Chairman of this year’s esteemed panel of judges is Ivan Liska, Director of the Bavarian State Opera Ballet in Munich.
Joining him are some of the most influential people in the British ballet world: Federico Bonelli (Principal Dancer, The Royal Ballet), Wayne Eagling (Artistic Director, English National Ballet), Dame Monica Mason DBE (Director, The Royal Ballet), David Nixon OBE (Artistic Director, Northern Ballet Theatre), Ashley Page OBE (Artistic Director, Scottish Ballet) together with former Royal Ballet Principal Dancers Marguerite Porter and David Wall CBE, both pre-eminent figures in the international ballet world.
Whilst the judges deliberate the final placing, entertainment will be provided by students from Ballet Central, English National Ballet School, The Royal Ballet School and Tring Park School for the Performing Arts.
YBDY’s founding sponsor Ricki Gail Conway comments:
“It is really exciting that YBDY has become such an important fixture in the British Dance Calendar over the past ten tears. The competition continues to offer young dancers the valuable opportunity to develop their skills and artistry and to share their talents with the public in a sell-out performance. YBDY is also an opportunity to celebrate the tremendous talent we have in this country and to encourage it for the future of the art form.”
For further information, please contact:
Jim Fletcher, Development Manager, The Royal Ballet School.
Tel: 020 7845 7074; mobile: 07768 455667
Email: jimf@royalballetschool.co.uk
Young British Dancer of the Year 2010 - schedule
Saturday 6 March Prelims The Royal Ballet Upper School Covent Garden
Sunday 7 March Semi-Finals The Royal Ballet Upper School
Covent Garden
Saturday 13 March Finals Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
Previous YBDY Winners
2009 Yasmine Naghdi The Royal Ballet School/joining The Royal Ballet
2008 William Bracewell The Royal Ballet School/joining Birmingham Royal Ballet
2007 Sergei Polunin Soloist, The Royal Ballet
2006 James Hay Artist, The Royal Ballet
2005 Ruth Bailey Artist, The Royal Ballet
2004 Aaron Robison First Artist, Birmingham Royal Ballet
2003 Joseph Caley First Soloist, Birmingham Royal Ballet
2002 Anniek Soobroy Artist, Birmingham Royal Ballet
2001 Lauren Cuthbertson Principal Dancer, The Royal Ballet
2000 Jamie Bond Principal Dancer, Birmingham Royal Ballet