Leanne Benjamin

📩 UK Young Dancer 2026 audition results are now live! All auditionees should now have received an email with details on how to access their results via the FestivalConnect Portal 🔗 If you’ve progressed to the Workshop Round - huge congratulations! 🎉 Be sure to check your inbox (and junk/spam folders just in case) for all the information, including our UKYD 2026 Brand Pack and social media assets 🤍 We can’t wait to see you at the workshops soon 💫 #UKYD2026 #UKYoungDancer2026 #WorkshopRound

We’re excited to announce our Classical Variations for UK Young Dancer 2026 ✨ ESMERALDA We can’t wait to teach you this striking and beautiful classical variation - it’s a really special opportunity to learn a rarely performed solo from Esmerelda 🤍 ✨ A chance to bring real personality into your classical work with this variation full of detail, musicality and character. Originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and reconstructed by Alexei Ratmansky from the Sergeyev Notation (courtesy of the Harvard Theatre Collection), with music by Riccardo Drigo 🩰 #UKYD #UKYoungDancer #ClassicalDancer #LeanneBenjamin

✨ Ricardo Cervera joins us as a Classical Workshop Associate for the 2026 England UK Young Dancer Workshop! ✨ Born in Málaga, Ricardo’s journey took him from a summer school with The Royal Ballet to training at the The Royal Ballet School, before joining the Company in 1993 🩰 He rose through the ranks to First Soloist, performing standout roles across a wide classical repertoire including Romeo and Juliet, Manon, Giselle, and The Nutcracker 🌟 After an incredible performing career, Ricardo became Ballet Master and later joined The Royal Ballet School as a teacher, also training as a répétiteur with the Frederick Ashton Foundation. He now shares his expertise internationally, inspiring dancers across the globe 🌍 We’re so excited to welcome Ricardo to mentor and inspire our young dancers this year! 👏🤍 #UKYoungDancer2026 #ClassicalBallet #RicardoCervera #RoyalBallet #RoyalBalletSchool

Due to the high level of interest this year, we’re pleased to share that applications have been extended ✅ New deadline: 6 May ✨ If you thought you’d missed your chance, there’s just that extra bit of time 🤍 #UKYD #UKYoungDancer #ClassicalDancer #TheatreDancer

✨ Special Prize: @malvernballet Seminars One-Week Course ✨ With heartfelt thanks to Olivia Pickford, Artistic Director, this UK Young Classical Dancer prize is a scholarship to attend Malvern Ballet Summer School for a one-week course including all accommodation and meals 🩰🤍 The intensive residential course includes daily technique and repertoire classes, choreography and creative workshops and a professionally staged final performance at Uppingham Theatre 👏 This special prize will be awarded by the judges in addition to the previously announced prizes 🥰 #UKYD #UKYoungDancer #MalvernBalletSeminar

✨ Special Prize: @enbschool Training ✨ With huge thanks to Lynne Charles, Artistic Director, this UK Young Classical Dancer prize is an exclusive opportunity for two weeks of training at the prestigious English National Ballet School 🤍 First year classes in ballet technique, 4Pointe, contemporary and character 🩰 (Dates to be arranged with the winner) This special prize will be awarded by the judges in addition to the previously announced prizes 🏆 #UKYD #UKYoungDancer #EnglishNationalBalletSchool

We’re so excited to announce that @bethanykingsleygarner is now our Classical Associate Director ✨ Bethany has been a valued part of UK Young Dancer for the past 3 years, working closely with our dancers as a Classical Workshop Mentor 🩰 In her new role, she will be working alongside our Artistic Director, @leannebenjamin_official , helping to shape and support the classical training across the programme 🥰 Her passion, knowledge, and care for every dancer she works with have made such an impact - and we’re so proud to see her step into this next chapter 🤍 #UKYD #UKYoungDancer #Classical #LeanneBenjamin

Auditioning can feel like a big step. So if you’ve been unsure, nervous, or just not quite ready… you’re not the only one 🥰 These are some of the most common questions dancers ask before applying 🤍 Sometimes it’s not about feeling 100% ready - it’s just about being willing to take the chance 👏 ✨ Applications are open now (link in bio) 👇 If you’ve been thinking about it, this might be your moment #UKYD #UKYoungDancer #DanceAudition #LeanneBenjamin #ArlenePhillips

💃🩰 YOUR NEXT STEP STARTS HERE 🩰💃 Ready to grow as a dancer? UK Young Dancer is back for 2026, giving you the opportunity to develop your technique, gain expert feedback, and work with renowned specialists across the UK 🤍 From inspiring workshops to performance opportunities, this is all about progression, confidence, and taking your training to the next level ✨ 🎥 Getting started is simple: just submit your audition video online. 📍 Workshop Dates Across the UK: 🇮🇪 Northern Ireland Classical & Theatre - 31 May Newry Dance Theatre Arts, Newry 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland Classical & Theatre - 14 June Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales Classical & Theatre - 21 June National Dance Company Wales, Cardiff 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England (London) Theatre - 21 June Classical - 28 June Trinity Laban Dance Faculty 🚨 Entries close: 27 April If you’re serious about your dance journey and want to train, perform, and grow - this is your moment 🥰 👉 Enter now (link in bio) #UKYoungDancer #LeanneBenjamin #ArlenePhillips #YoungDancersUK

🦢 “A group of friends, a sense of community”—dance historian Jane Pritchard introduces Ashton’s 𝘚𝘸𝘢𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦 pas de quatre (1963) at last Sunday’s 𝘈𝘴𝘩𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 masterclass... That spirit came to life as Katie Robertson, Emile Gooding and Alejandro Muñoz (The Royal Ballet) were coached in excerpts from this joyful and virtuosic Ashton quartet by international ballet stars Leanne Benjamin and Patrick Armand Enjoy these pics from an illuminating afternoon, and keep an eye out for more on the pas de quatre and the masterclass, coming soon.... 📸 © @frederickashtonfoundation #ashtonrediscovered #frederickashton #swanlake #frederickashtonfoundation #masterclass

This is your sign ✨ Entries are now OPEN and will close on 27th April ‼️ If you’ve been thinking about it… this is your chance to go for it 👏 We’re looking for passion, potential and dancers ready to grow 🩰🥰 🔗 Head to the link in our bio to enter (Full entry details are on our website). Don’t wait💥 #UKYD #UKYoungDancer #Classical #Theatre

✨ What an unforgettable morning at the UK Young Dancer Classical Finals 2025 ✨ Our finalists lit up the stage with such passion, artistry, and confidence - every performance was a true celebration of classical dance 💫 Congratulations to all who took part - you should be so proud of how you’ve grown, everything you’ve achieved, and the beautiful final performances you delivered 👏🩰 A very special thank you to our Classical Artistic Director @leannebenjamin_official for her incredible leadership in facilitating this competition, and for being such an inspiration to our dancers 🩰 To our Classical Judges – Leanne Benjamin, @balletboy09 , @riohirano and Classical Mentors - @bethanykingsleygarner , @stevenmcrae_ , @teodubreuil , @sdynott , @marie_astrid_mence and Michelle Ballentyne - thank you for your endless hours of dedication and belief in our young dancers ✨👏 Thank you so much to the Royal Opera House for welcoming our Finals once again in your beautiful venue, and for supporting the next generation of talented dancers. Performing here is truly a dream come true 💫 We also extend our gratitude to our sponsors, Ashley & Lizette Head, Laura Symmonds, Janice Fullman and @freedoflondon your support makes this event possible, helping us celebrate and nurture the incredible talent of young dancers across the UK 🙏✨ This year has been a true celebration of growth, artistry, and dedication. We can’t wait to see what the next generation of talent will bring to the stage in 2026 💫 #UKYoungDancer #ClassicalFinals #DanceInspires