“A dream come true,” is how a Royal Conservatoire of Scotland ballet student describes being a semi-finalist in one of the world’s most prestigious dance events.

Bridie Grice, who is in her third and final year of the BA Modern Ballet degree at Scotland’s national conservatoire, is in Brazil for the Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition – known as The Fonteyn – that attracts the finest young dancers from around the globe.

The competition represents the pinnacle of achievement for young people trained in the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus who spend a week working with top choreographers and professionals in coaching sessions.

The semi-finals take place in São Paulo from October 16-17 with the final on the 19th. The winner receives £5,000, takes home the coveted Genée gold medal and is set on the path to career success, with past medallists going on to work for some of the best international ballet companies.

“I’m so excited to be one of the semi-finalists,” said Bridie, from Queensland, Australia.

“Since I was little, I’ve watched older dancers complete their advanced RAD exams and go on to the competition and have so many amazing opportunities and experiences. I’ve always dreamt of going to The Fonteyn.”

Bridie follows in the footsteps of 2024 graduate Antonia Cramb (pictured below) who won the gold medal at The Fonteyn last year and is now an artist with Scottish Ballet.

She was offered the role in her second year and spent the final year of her RCS degree working as a professional with the company.

Kerry Livingstone, Head of the School of Dance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, said: “The Fonteyn is a prestigious international competition where you need to achieve at the highest level to even enter.

“What makes this competition special is the format. Over ten days, dancers receive coaching from renowned teachers and will learn a new variation by a leading choreographer. They also perform a solo, which Bridie and I have choreographed together. Those three elements make it such a valuable performance experience for the students.

“Bridie has just entered third year so at this point in her training, it’s a wonderful opportunity to be seen on an international stage and to develop the skills that she needs as she progresses into the next stage of her career as a professional ballet dancer.”

Bridie said the wide-ranging training at RCS has helped her prepare for The Fonteyn: “I’ve continued my normal programme at RCS and on top of that, I’ve been having coaching with Kerry and working on my classical variation and solo that I’ll also perform.

“The training at RCS is great as it starts with the foundations and technique and works up to giving you the freedom to explore your artistry. That has really benefited me. The teachers help you find who you are as a human and then bring that out in your dancing. It makes it authentic, and you can really show the audience who you are.

“When I put my application in to study here, the response I got back was very warm and welcoming, and I knew that I’d be supported to become the best version of me. That was one of the main reasons I knew that RCS was the place for me.”

Highlights from Bridie’s studies include being coached by Christoper Bruce, former artistic director of Rambert, who spent a week at RCS to work with the students on Ghost Dances. The piece was performed by the second-year cohort at the annual ballet performance in May this year.

“Second year was amazing, as we had so many opportunities to work with external choreographers. Having Christopher Bruce teaching and coaching us was just surreal!

“Then being able to work with Jessica Fyfe, a principal at Scottish Ballet, on a classical piece for the show was just a dream. She’s a fellow Aussie so following her in Scottish Ballet really inspires me.”

Bridie will graduate in summer next year and hopes to secure a contract with a European ballet company. For now, her sights are set on São Paulo and showcasing her talent and dedication to a worldwide audience.

“The Fonteyn is a culmination of years of hard work,” added Kerry.

“For students like Bridie who get to this level, they need to be self-starters. We provide coaching and additional teaching towards this competition but students who want to take part in these opportunities have to bring their own hard work, their personalities and meticulous preparation.

“Bridie and I have been working throughout the summer holidays, including when she went back home to Australia, where she continued her classes and coaching.

“She is in top condition for the competition, and we’re all so thrilled to see her perform at this level. It’s such an exciting step in her journey as a dancer.”

Tune in to the livestream of the final on Sunday 19 October.

Interested in studying at the RCS School of Dance? Visit the BA Modern Ballet page for how to apply, programme structure, graduate destinations, and more!