GradPro National Showcase 2023

Studio Theatre, Elmhurst Ballet School, Birmingham
May 21, 2023

Injuries may have reduced the fourteen dancers who qualified for the 2023 GradPro National Showcase from the regional heats to eleven, but this second edition of the competition-showcase proved another very enjoyable evening with lots of young talent on view.

The event opened with class centre work, the dancers appearing largely in twos and threes, allowing each to be seen clearly. Next up were classical solos. Although the was no prescribed list from which a choice had to be made, almost all opted for variations from the big classics. Finally came more contemporary ‘choreographed solos,’ most of which also came with a strong classical influence.

Who would be a judge? The dancers gave the panel of Dominic Antonucci, Federico Bonelli, Zenaida Yanowsky, Ivan Putrov and Gail Monahan a difficult task. There were plenty of fine performances, but most also found at least one moment of uncertainty. Unlike in 2022, when then English National Ballet School student now Cape Town City Ballet dancer Paige McElligott won, there was no stand-out candidate.

When the results came in, it proved the year of the men. The main Gail Monahan Award went to Joshua Fickling, who looked very assured in his class work with excellent turns and jumps, before giving a confident rendition of Ali’s solo from Le Corsaire and ‘L’Amour de Sol,’ a contemporary solo that seemed to suit his personality perfectly. Others have clearly recognised his talent too. Presently an apprentice dancer with McNicol Ballet Collective, Fickling also performed in Birmingham Royal Ballet’s 2023 national tour of Swan Lake and has secured a contract with Sarasota Ballet for their 2023-4 season.

It must have been a very close run thing, but the Lee International Bursary for second place went to Elmhurst’s own Kazusa Murayoshi. Her variation from the Grand Pas Classique was a delight, not only strong and secure, but full of artistry. Particularly notable was her beautiful use of épaulement and the upper back, something that so many young dancers seem to struggle with these days. Her second solo, ‘Invisible,’ was quite the opposite and full of clarity. Murayoshi also picked up twenty free pairs of Freed pointe shoes.

The third place London Ballet Circle Award was taken by Michael Maple of the Northern Ballet Graduate Programme. You have to admire a dancer who really goes for it. Maple did just that in his male wedding variation from Paquita. His leaps were especially impressive. His choreographed solo, ‘Groovy, Derivative, Ethically Inspired,’ a mix of street-influenced broken articulations and more fluid balletic moments, stood out for being quirkily different. Fourth place went to Robbie Fisher of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Elsewhere, I was taken by Ayumi Akao who gave assured and very nuanced performances of a variation from Act I of Giselle, and an especially good ‘La Tendresse,’ full of expressive arms and face. Samantha Wong, who shone on the same stage two nights earlier with Elmhurst Ballet Company, again stood out in Kitri’s solo from Act III of Don Quixote. Fabulous use of head and shoulders again, which must surely be down to Elmhurst’s coaching.

New this year was the GradPro Choreographic Award, which went to Ben Randall for his ‘Anachronism.’ Unfortunately, he was one of the injured trio, so we were denied seeing it.

Five dancers were also awarded a week’s scholarship at the European School of Ballet in Amsterdam, complete with a contribution to travel costs. But no-one walked away empty handed. Apart from the experience and the opportunity to be seen, everyone received Dansez vouchers.

Between the competitive solos and the announcement of the results, the audience were treated to the return of McElligott, who flew from Cape Town to perform a beautiful rendition of a variation from Diana and Actaeon. I also very much enjoyed a fist sight of Keavie Holliday, Winner of the British Grand Prix Pre Professional Award in Dundee, who smashed it with a very powerful, very focused contemporary solo.

Any event that puts young dancers in the spotlight and gives them a helping hand towards a professional career must be welcomed. GradPro is certainly doing that. Co-creator and Birmingham Royal Ballet principal dancer Brandon Lawrence may be off to join Ballett Zürich this summer, and finances are certainly tight, but one hopes it will be back in 2024.