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 Sian Trenberth
Constance Devernay-Laurence
Constance Devernay-Laurence is a Principal dancer, actress, yoga instructor and ballet coach. She is currently working in London, New York and Paris filming for a TV Production for Amazon Prime.
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.
Recognized for her impeccable technique, expressive range, and radiant stage presence, Constance has received accolades and critical acclaim throughout her career, notably 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. Her performances have left a lasting impression on audiences, who are moved by her grace, precision, and ability to convey profound emotions through dance.
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 currently teaches for Studio Wayne McGregor, English National Ballet School, London Vocational Ballet School and Jamiel Laurence Creation.
Constance has been practising Yoga alongside her career and passed her Yoga Level 3 Instructor diploma in 2018.
Constance recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sport, Fitness and Coaching and teaches all-level ballet classes and workshops.
Photo - Chris Nash 1995
Sindy Monson
Sindy Monson is the founder of Ballet Grand Prix and choreographer of the Ballet Grand Prix défilé.
Sindy is a master teacher and choreographer currently working in the Contemporary Ballet genre. In her early career, she performed professionally in neo-classical and contemporary works as a freelance artist with Pendulum Arts Company, White Monkey Trip Dance Theatre, Dance Junction, and Sarah Allen Dancers. Sindy created her first professional choreography in 1995 with a premiere at Sadler's Wells Lilian Baylis Theatre. In 1996 she became the resident choreographer for Pendulum Arts Company, whilst continuing to perform as a guest dancer.
Sindy has numerous dance qualifications including a bachelor's degree from Middlesex University and a post-graduate from the University of Utah. As a post-graduate student, Sindy studied Screen Dance with Ellen Bromberg and Dance Kinesiology with Sally S. Fitt. These two fields of study have had a significant influence on her professional practice since. At the University of Utah, Sindy danced with Performing Dance Company in work by Trisha Brown, Sharee Lane and Kaye Richards. Sindy was awarded the University’s Service Award in 2001 for her dance work with young people with addiction problems.
Sindy holds RAD, IDTA, ISTD, Acrobatic Arts and PBT teaching qualifications. She has been a qualified ballet teacher since 1992 and has taught contemporary and dance-related academics since 1996 with extensive teaching experience over the last 30 years. She has guest lectured on both Graham-based and Cunningham-based techniques for The Place, Tring Park School, and Middlesex University. She became a full-time professor at The Scottish School of Contemporary Dance in 2004, creating several key choreographic works.
Sindy founded Ballet Academy Scotland in 2011, being the principal teacher for 11 years. She began the Scottish Youth Ballet Grand Prix in 2015 (now Ballet Grand Prix) to create opportunities for serious young dancers, later introducing associate classes and the Scottish Youth Ballet Company. She has choreographed in multiple genres including classical, contemporary, neo-classical, musicals, mixed-media, and Screen Dance. She has worked with all ages and abilities and has extensive experience choreographing for children and students.
Due to Sindy's diverse experience, she values collaboration with composers, musicians, and visual artists. Her current professional practice explores ways to stretch the traditional expectations within ballet through its teaching, choreography and body expectations.
Sindy Monson is the founder of Ballet Grand Prix and choreographer of the Ballet Grand Prix défilé.
Masterclass semi-finals teachers
James Butcher MA FISTD FHEA
London Semi-finals
James trained from a young age and was coached in many dance styles. During this time, he found a love for classical ballet, attended Central School of Ballet, and then received a scholarship to train at The Royal Ballet Upper School. He graduated with a contract to join The Royal Ballet Company, Covent Garden and danced in various classical ballets, including the original cast of Christopher Wheeldon’s ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’.
James then moved into the West End dancing roles such as Older Billy in Billy Elliot the Musical (Victoria Palace Theatre), Swing/Ensemble in the original London cast of An American in Paris (The Dominion Theatre) and most recently, Dance Captain and Ballet Dancer in Phantom of the Opera (His Majesty’s Theatre). He has also danced in Royal Variety performances, appeared on UK and International Tours, and danced in movies such as ‘Cinderella’, ‘The Nutcracker and the Four Realms’ and ‘Artemis Fowl’ all for Walt Disney Studios.
Academically, James holds a Master of Arts (MA) in Dance Technique Pedagogy, is a Fellow of the Imperial Classical Ballet faculty (ISTD) and holds ARAD status with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). James also gained the Fellowship in Higher Education (FHEA) and is a level 3 qualified Personal Trainer. James is currently studying for a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA).
James has taught Ballet at many prestigious Ballet and Musical Theatre schools before joining the Artistic Leadership Team at Ballet Boost Associates while also helping to establish the Development and boys summer school programmes for London Children’s Ballet. Additionally, he is a member of the teacher training team for the ISTD. James took on the Third Year Ballet Tutor role at Central School of Ballet, helping oversee the annual Ballet Central Tour. James is now a full-time teacher at the Royal Ballet School.
Jamiel Devernay-Laurence
Dundee Semi-finals
Jamiel Devernay-Laurence is a Producer of dance-based experiences for stage, screen, events, in education and professional development. Through entrepreneurship, Jamiel brings his creations to life through JAMIEL LAURENCE CREATION - collaboratively platforming and curating the work of other artists and harnessing his professional network drawn from his experience as a Performer, Choreographer, Creative Director, Venue Director, and award-winning Filmmaker. In April 2023, Jamiel was appointed as the Executive Artistic Director of Fundamentally Dance and has been commissioned to deliver multiple performances of his unique vision for a new dance platform – BALLET NIGHTS
After a career as a soloist of Scottish Ballet (2009 – 2021) and having received several Scottish Ballet commissions for unusual gala events, celebration pieces, a national tour of Wee Hansel & Gretel, and many of his own small independent productions, Jamiel turned his hand to emerging mobile capture technologies in 2018 to achieve ever more ambitious outcomes on screen. With a focus on Scottish youth culture, Jamiel created mobile works that punch well above their weight, and began receiving support from several technology corporations, going on to receive commissions from organizations and trusted brands including BBC ARTS, BBC Scotland, Google, Scottish Ballet, OneDanceUK, 3Tone Records, The Peter Darrell Trust, The John Byrne Award, Celtic Connections, Edinburgh Fringe, Dance International Glasgow, Ballet Ireland, The Queen’s Jubilee, Cardiff Castle, The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Dance School of Scotland, Rubicon Dance Company, Cardiff City Council and more.
Responding to the pandemic in 2020, Jamiel launched the #FundFreelanceDance crowdfunding initiative, raising over £13,000, providing services to over 1300 participants worldwide - returning dance artists and their supporting artists and services back to the studio safely, back to their craft and back working on paid engagements.
Jamiel was appointed as Project Manager for the Lanterns Studio Theatre since its launch in 2011, and over the past decade has provided venue services to the biggest stage and production companies in the world, including The Really Useful Group, Disney, Cameron Mackintosh Productions, New Adventures, The National Theatre, Playful Productions, Jamie Wilson Productions, BBC, Michael Harrison Entertainment, Regent Park Open Air Theatre and more.
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.
Guidelines for participants
Dancers must attend all assigned rehearsals
Dancers must have the items of clothing as indicated for the performance
Required dancewear
Option 1
Plain black camisole or wide strapped leotard
Plain black practice tutu (layers MUST be tacked together)
Pink or skin toned tights and matching shoes
Mids and over may dance en pointe
Option 2
Plain black unitard
White socks and shoes
2024 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 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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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 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 is supporting the 'Joy of Dance Prize', by gifting a layered hooped practice tutu.
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.
Laura Mumby will be awarding a senior finalist with a one-hour photoshoot on locaion and 10 digital images.
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