Information

Competition

Our competition is structured into a semi-final and a final.

There are four different categories based on the dancer's year of birth. Dancers can compete from the year they turn 9 until the year they turn 19.

The semi-final consists of a judged masterclass. 16-20 dancers will be selected from each category and will be chosen to compete in our final.

For the final, dancers in each category perform two solos: classical and contemporary.

Trophies are awarded to the top 3 placing dancers and medals for dancers placing 4th-6th.

All dancers participating in the final will perform in the Grand Défilé as part of the Awards Ceremony. The Défilé is not judged.

Directors

Photo by Yellow Belly

Constance Devernay-Laurence

Constance Devernay-Laurence is a Principal dancer, actress, yoga instructor and ballet coach. She is currently dancing with London CIty Ballet.

Born in France, Constance joined the Scottish Ballet in 2008 after graduating from English National Ballet School. She was promoted to Soloist in 2014 and to Principal dancer in 2016.

Throughout her career, Constance Devernay-Laurence has performed a wide range of classical and contemporary roles, dancing the works of renowned choreographers such as Kenneth MacMillan, David Dawson, George Balanchine, Christopher Bruce, Peter Darrell, Crystal Pite, Christopher Hampson and Helen Pickett. Constance left Scottish Ballet June 2023, to pursue a career on screen, as well as on stage internationally.

Constance features in TV Series Etoile, on Prime Video, created by Amy and Dan Palladino. She plays the role of Mélanie, and is the dance body double for Cheyenne, played by Lou De Laâge.

Constance was nomindated for 2 national dance awards nominations and won the 2022 National Dance Critics Circle Award for Best Female Classical Performance for her role of Swanilda in Coppélia.

While Constance's primary focus is her career as a principal dancer, she is also passionate about sharing her knowledge and expertise with aspiring dancers. Through masterclasses and workshops, she imparts her wisdom, nurturing the next generation of talent and inspiring them to reach new heights in their own dance journeys. Constance has taught for Studio Wayne McGregor, English National Ballet School, London Vocational Ballet School, Rambert School, NEBT, Acosta Dance Centre, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Jamiel Laurence Creation.

Constance has been practising Yoga alongside her career and holds a Yoga Level 3 Instructor diploma and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sport, Fitness and Coaching.

Photo by Laura Mumby

Sindy Monson

Sindy Monson is the Co-Director and Choreographer of Balletto Monson, a company at the forefront of contemporary ballet practice. Renowned for her innovative and genre-crossing choreographic style, Sindy brings over three decades of experience to her work, both on stage and in the studio.

Sindy’s professional journey began as a freelance dancer in neo-classical and contemporary works, performing with Cork City Ballet, Pendulum Arts Company, White Monkey Trip Dance Theatre, Dance Junction, and Sarah Allen Dancers. She premiered her first professional choreography at Sadler’s Wells Lilian Baylis Theatre in 1995 and was soon appointed resident choreographer for Pendulum Arts Company.

Choreography has been central to Sindy’s artistic identity ever since. Her recent works include Pie Jesu (2024), Orion’s Belt (2022), a 64-minute ballet, and Seasons (2021). Sindy’s choreographic voice spans classical, contemporary, neo-classical, musicals, mixed-media, and Screen Dance. She has choreographed for soloists up to large casts of 170 dancers, often collaborating closely with composers and visual artists.

Her academic training includes a BA from Middlesex University and postgraduate research at the University of Utah, where she studied under screen dance pioneer Ellen Bromberg and movement scientist Sally S. Fitt. These disciplines have continued to shape her choreographic and pedagogical approaches, especially in the integration of somatic practices and cinematic sensibilities.

Sindy has held numerous leadership roles, including founding Ballet Academy Scotland in 2011 and launching the Scottish Youth Ballet Grand Prix (now Ballet Grand Prix) in 2015. Her teaching credentials include RAD, IDTA, ISTD, PBT, and Acrobatic Arts. She has guest lectured for institutions such as The Place, Tring Park School, and Middlesex University, and was a full-time professor at the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance, where she created several signature choreographic works.

Now, through Balletto Monson and Contemporary Ballet, Sindy continues to challenge and evolve ballet’s traditional frameworks, artistically, physically, and conceptually.

Masterclass semi-finals teachers

Tania Fairbairn

London Semi-finals

Tania trained at the Arts Educational School, Tring and the prestigious Royal Ballet School Teacher Training Course directed by Valerie Adams where she gained Dip.RBS(TTC). She holds the B.Phil (Hons) in Dance and Contextual Studies accredited by Durham University, is an ARAD, and was awarded the Fellowship of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (FISTD) Cecchetti.

Tania danced with the Scottish Ballet, Northern Ballet Theatre and Alexander Roy’s London Ballet Theatre before moving to London’s West End musicals where she performed in productions of “The Phantom of the Opera”, “42nd St” and “On Your Toes”.

A renowned international ballet teacher, Tania continues to cultivate her passion for dance pedagogy through her caring and educational approach.

Tania taught ballet and character dance for many years at the Royal Ballet School and was a tutor for their teacher training department. Tania’s choreographic work has received considerable recognition, particularly for her character dances which have been performed at various venues including The Royal Opera House, Opera Holland Park and The Linbury Theatre.

Prior to the Royal Ballet School, Tania taught at the Central School of Ballet for 15 years as Head of the Junior School and choreographed the character dances for the dancers in Christopher Gable’s Swan Lake for Northern Ballet Theatre. Whilst at the Central School of Ballet, Tania created the ‘Recovery from Injury’ course, working with the school’s physiotherapist on injury prevention and rehabilitation.

Tania’s freelance work includes teaching for Ballet Boost, City Academy, the British Ballet Organisation, Cecchetti Society, Images Dance company at London Studio Centre and the Royal Academy of Dance.

At an international level, Tania is on the staff for the European School of Ballet, Amsterdam. Regularly visits AED Danza in Livorno, guest Ballet Master for the Delattre Dance Company, Mainz, resident teacher for the Elite Professional Training course at Ateneo Danza in Forlì, Danza Scuola Ghezzi in Pisa, Stage Centro Danza in Palermo, RAD Italia and Talent Scout for ITA on Tour, Ashkenazy Ballet Centre , Lugano and is on the jury for the Confédération Nationale de Danse.

Louisa Ross

Edinburgh Junior, Mids and Senior Semi-finals

Originally from Hampshire, Louisa Ross (née Hassell) trained at Parkewood School of Dance, Royal Ballet associates and Central School of Ballet. After graduation Louisa moved to Glasgow and enjoyed an 11-year career with Scottish Ballet performing in company repertoire including works by Peter Darrell, Frederick Ashton, Ashley Page, George Balanchine, William Forsythe, and Krzysztof Pastor.

In 2014, Louisa joined the BA Modern Ballet programme at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland as Lecturer, becoming Programme Coordinator in 2021. Louisa teaches daily ballet classes, pointe work and classical repertoire as well as staging works for performances. She has also taught for RCS Junior Conservatoire and Scottish Ballet’s associate and community programmes. Louisa has a first class BA (Hons) in Dance Education from the Royal Academy of Dance and a Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Arts Education from RCS. In 2017 she gained the Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.

More recently Louisa has taught masterclasses for Ballet Nights in Glasgow and was a panel member for the 2025 Performance Platform finals in London.

Matthew Broadbent

Edinburgh Pre-Junior Semi-final

Matthew was born in the Netherlands. He trained 8 years at The Royal Ballet School, London. Upon graduating he joined Northern Ballet, Leeds. In 2015, Matthew joined Scottish Ballet dancing with them for 7 years.

Notable roles during his career include The Ghost of Christmas Present (A Christmas Carol, Moricone); Van Helsing (Dracula, Nixon); Hindley (Wuthering Heights, Nixon), Prince's Friend & Father (Cinderella, Hampson) and Drosselmeyer (The Nutcracker, Darrell).

In 2022, Matthew finished dancing to join the Artistic Team of Scottish Ballet as their Artistic Coordinator. In the same year he joined The Royal Conservatoire Scotland as a Lecturer of their BA Modern Ballet programme, teaching Ballet, Pas de Deux and Solos. He also teaches for the Junior Conservatoire as well as guest teaching in the UK and internationally.

Grand Défilé

The Grand Défilé is an opportunity for all of the BGP dancers to perform together on the stage. Dancers rehearse several times throughout the event to learn group choreography that is then performed at the Awards Ceremony. Sindy Monson will be choreographing the défilé.

A detailed schedule will be released to the participants closer to the competition dates.

As this year marks our 10th anniversary, we will be doing something a little different to celebrate!

Guidelines for participants

Dancers must attend all assigned rehearsals

Dancers must have the items of clothing as indicated for the performance. Please nore there are no rquired dancewear for our semi-final masterclasses.

Required dancewear

Option 1

Pre-juniors: Lilac leotard with matching short lilac skirt

Juniors: Purple leotard with matching short purple skirt

Mids: Royal Blue leotard with matching long royal blue skirt

Seniors: Burgundy leotard with matching long burgundy skirt

Pink or skin toned tights and matching shoes

Mids and over may dance en pointe

Option 2

Plain black unitard

Black socks and shoes

As this year marks our 10th anniversary, we will be doing something a little different to celebrate!

2024/2025 Supporters

If you would like to sponsor a prize, please get in touch via email.

Our previous supporters include Youth American Grand Prix, Scottish Ballet, Imperfect Pointes, Freed of London, National Youth Ballet, London Studio Centre, Grad Pro, Rimbaud Patron Photography, Simply Tutu Lovely and Crystal Pointe.

English National Ballet School

English National Ballet School will select a semi-finalist dancer to immerse themselves in the school during term time for 3 days. They will participate in classes and gain first-hand experience with the wonderful institution that is ENBS. This prize also provides a wonderful chance for Viviana Durante and her team to observe the student over an extended period with the intention of potential enrolment in the School's First or Second year. This opportunity is particularly relevant for dancers who aspire to commence full-time training in September 2024.

Ballet Nights and NPAFE

A selected semi-finalist dancer from the Mid-category will be awarded 2 tickets to the Grand Finale performance of Ballet Nights on November 24th or 25th in London. This is a wonderful opportunity to see stars of the English National Ballet and other amazing artists up close in a unique compèred evening of dance and music. This prize is sponsored by NPAFE, the National Performing Arts Funding Exchange, based in Washington DC.

A finalist will also be awarded 2 tickets to their Spring season show.

NPAFE will also be awarded a semi-finalist with a small grant to help towards costs for our finals.

National Youth Ballet

We are so thrilled that NYB will be awarding a part bursary for their residential performance company to a finalist upon successful audition. Through their residential performance programme, NYB offers a platform for dancers to develop their skills, work together as a company and explore the work of a variety of creatives, enabling them to gain an even deeper understanding of the complexity of the creation process and being a company dancer.

London Vocational Ballet School

LVBS will award an exclusive bursary to a dancer in the Junior category for the school's Associate Programme starting this January 2024. This is a wonderful chance for a talented dancer to share their passion and drive for dance and take their training to the next level.

Imperfect Pointes

Imperfect Pointes is our sustainable dancewear supporter and we are so happy that they will be supporting Ballet Grand Prix again in 2024. All dancewear and tights are consciously-made in the UK using fabrics made from recycled plastics.

Grad Pro

Grad Pro is inviting a Senior semi-finalist from Dundee and one from London to participate in their regional performance. You will present a work choreographed by yourself or someone of your choice, in front of an invited panel and if selected will be performing at the International Showcase performance.

The winner of the Mid category will be chosen to perform a solo of their choice at the final showcase.

Freed of London

We are so pleased that Freed of London is supporting us this year again, by offering 5 pairs of pointe shoes to a winner in the mid and senior categories and a prize voucher for the pre and junior categories. The winners will be able to get their pointe shoes fitted at their store in London, Covent Garden.

Capsule Ballet

Capsule Ballet offers dancewear designed by dancers - for dancers, from the leading international ballet bodywear brands and we are delighted that they will be offering dancewear to the senior category as prizes.

Crystal Pointe

Crystal Pointe is supporting the 'Artistry Prize', by gifting a Tiara. Crystal Pointe will also be present with a pop-shop at our final where you will have the opportunity to purchase lovely ballet gifts and souvenirs such as headdresses, decorative pointe shoes, teddies and hair accessories.

Simply Tutu Lovely

Simply Tutu Lovely is supporting the 'Joy of Dance Prize', by gifting a layered hooped practice tutu.

Rimbaud Patron Photography

We are pleased to announce that Rimbaud is our official photographer for our final in 2024 and is supporting this year's 'Best Male performance' by awarding a 30-minute studio photoshoot.