Royal Conservatoire of Scotland students leap into ballet final of BBC Young Dancer 2019

Published: 22/03/2019

Two Royal Conservatoire of Scotland students are in the running to be crowned BBC Young Dancer 2019.

Third year BA Modern Ballet students Danila Marzilli (pictured above, second left) and Louis Fukuhara (centre) have reached the ballet finals of the prestigious nationwide competition, which will be televised on BBC Four from April 19. The winner from the ballet category will go through to the grand final on May 18, which will be broadcast live for the first time from Birmingham Hippodrome on BBC Two.

Danila and Louis will face three other finalists in their heat, which will be broadcast on Friday, May 3. The programme will also go behind the scenes as the dancers prepare for their performances with the help of teachers and mentors.

Dancers aged 16-21 from across the UK were selected through two preliminary rounds to compete in four category finals ballet, contemporary, South Asian dance and street dance. One winner from each category will be selected to receive a specially commissioned trophy, £1,000 towards furthering their dance studies and a place in the grand final together with one ”˜wild card’ from across the categories.

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s three-year BA Modern Ballet programme is designed and delivered in partnership with Scottish Ballet and students work with the company, and internationally acclaimed teachers and choreographers, throughout their studies.

Kerry Livingstone, Head of the BA Modern Ballet programme at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, said: “To have two of the five ballet finalists in BBC Young Dancer 2019 is very exciting and we’re incredibly proud of Danila and Louis who are terrific ambassadors for the Royal Conservatoire. We’ve watched them grow as artists during their studies and we’re thrilled to see their talents recognised in this nationwide showcase, particularly as they are preparing to graduate in July. The competition opens up new performance opportunities and we can’t wait to see them on screen.”

The competition’s ballet mentors are Bethany Kingsley-Garner, principal dancer with Scottish Ballet, ballerina Begoña Cao and Iain Mackay, former principal of Birmingham Royal Ballet and current Director of Yorkshire Ballet Summer School. David Bintley, director of Birmingham Royal Ballet and former artistic director of the National Ballet of Japan, and former Royal Ballet Principal Zenaida Yanowsky judge the ballet category.

Paul Bullock, Executive Editor, BBC Young Dancer, said: “We’re thrilled to be returning with a third series of BBC Young Dancer and once more showcasing the very best young dance talent from across the UK. The creativity and passion that all the dancers bring to the competition is always inspiring and it’s exciting to see them working with some of the UK’s leading dance professionals. The talent this year has been extremely high and we can’t wait to provide a platform for them to be seen in the coming weeks.”

BBC Young Dancer 2019 ballet category finalists

Louis Fukuhara age 20 (Glasgow)

Danila Marzilli, age 19 (Glasgow)

Chloe Keneally, age 18 (London)

Hollie Smith, age 18 (West Yorkshire)

Keiko Tsuchiya, age 17 (London)

TV broadcast dates

Friday 19 April, BBC Four – South Asian category final

Friday 26 April, BBC Four – Contemporary category final

Friday 3 May, BBC Four Ballet category final

Friday 10 May, BBC Four – Street Dance category final

Saturday 18 May, BBC Two LIVE GRAND FINAL