The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition (formerly known as the Genée) is an international competition for young dancers who have passed the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Advanced 2 exam with distinction or high distinction. Previous medallists include Leanne Benjamin, Steven McRae and Francesca Hayward. In October 2025, the Fonteyn competition took place in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
During the competition, dancers receive a week of expert coaching. The coaching sessions in 2025 were led by RAD’s Artistic Director Alexander Campbell, Daniela Severian and Lars van Cauwenbergh.
“The coaching at The Fonteyn was incredible,” says Samantha Maestre Cortez, from Brazil, who received the Gold Medal. “All the teachers gave equal attention to every dancer and respected each one’s individuality, sharing so much valuable knowledge with us.”
After a week of coaching and semi-finals, the dancers perform in finals. The competition was judged by a panel including Paloma Herrera and Julio Bocca. “I performed the Medora variation,” gold medalist Maestre Cortez says, “a neoclassical solo I created myself called ‘Velithra,’ and another solo by Mayara Magri titled ‘Frivolity.'”
Lárah Rachel de Carvalho Bento Rodrigues won the Dancer’s Own Choreographic Award.
Dancer’s Own is a solo created by themselves, their teacher, or a peer, to a piece of music of their choice. “I was inspired by the history of the people of Northeast Brazil and the geography of Piauí, the state where I was born, a region marked by drought, hunger, and poverty,” says de Carvalho Bento Rodrigues. “Even in the face of so much adversity, the people of the Northeast never lost their joy, their strength, and their rich culture, the true essence of this land. I chose the theme and the music, and began experimenting with Northeastern folk dances mixed with ballet steps. I used the song ‘Severino’ composed by the group SaGrama as the soundtrack for the film O Auto da Compadecida.”
Other winners included Valentina Toscani, age 18 from Brazil who was awarded the Silver Medal; and Oliveira Lopes dos Santos, age 16 from Brazil, and Rafaella Pinheiro Marion, age 15 from Brazil, who were awarded the Bronze medals.
“After The Fonteyn, I started challenging myself more artistically and technically,” says gold medalist Maestre Cortez. “It boosted my confidence and helped me see my dancing in a new way — lighter, calmer, and focused on simply stepping on stage to dance and do what I love.”
The dates and location of the 2026 Fonteyn have yet to be announced. For more information, visit www.thefonteyn.org.
By Tamara Searle of Dance Informa.
