The Royal Academy of Dance has announced an exciting new collaboration with The Frederick Ashton Foundation. This year, as part of the prestigious Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition, young dancers and audiences will be immersed in the legacy of one of the world’s most celebrated and influential choreographers – Sir Frederick Ashton (1904–88), Founder Choreographer of the Royal Ballet.
‘This partnership is a beautiful tribute to the legacy of both Dame Margot Fonteyn and Sir Frederick Ashton, a choreographer who contributed so much to the unique style of British ballet,’ says Dame Darcey Bussell, President of the RAD. ‘By incorporating Ashton’s choreography into the competition, the RAD and the Foundation are ensuring Sir Fred’s genius is experienced by the next generation of young dancers worldwide. It is an evolution of The Fonteyn competition that I am incredibly proud to champion.’
The collaboration will allow candidates from across the world to engage with Ashton’s distinctive style, characterised by elegance, lyricism and expressive musicality. Each candidate will learn an Ashton variation – with exclusive access to a film of the solo being coached by an Ashton répétiteur, along with other resources from the Foundation. Dancers will have a unique opportunity to connect with Ashton’s ballets and deepen their understanding and appreciation of his choreography.
Alexander Campbell, Artistic Director of the RAD, calls the collaboration ‘a landmark moment for The Fonteyn.’ He continues, ‘by bringing Ashton’s iconic choreography to our candidates, we are connecting the next generation of dancers to one of the founders of British ballet. I can’t wait to see the dancers embrace Ashton’s choreography and perform it on a world stage.’
The Frederick Ashton Foundation, established to preserve and enrich Ashton’s legacy, plays a pivotal role in maintaining the ‘Ashton style’. Jeanetta Laurence, Chair of the Foundation, believes that Ashton and Fonteyn ‘shared a remarkable creative partnership that helped to define the distinctive voice of British ballet. This collaboration will place Ashton’s work in the practice studios and ambitions of young dancers around the world, allowing them to engage with this heritage not just as history, but as part of their own artistic journey.’
The RAD has assembled a team of Ashton experts to coach and judge the competition. The judging panel will include Dame Darcey Bussell, Ana Maria Campos, Leanne Cope, Francesca Hayward, Mthuthuzeli November, Kevin O’Hare and Lynn Wallis.
The Fonteyn 2026 will be held in London from 31 October–8 November. The week begins with coaching and semi-final sessions at the RAD headquarters in London, with the much-anticipated final at the majestic London Coliseum in the West End.
