We’re delighted to share that an Elmhurst student has been named the winner of the Choreographic Award at the 2025 Bedells Bursary dance competition, held at the Royal Academy of Dance’s global headquarters in London on Saturday 1 November.
Elizabeth Gardhouse (16) received the bursary prize of £250, made possible through a generous bequest from the estate of the late Dr. Ivor Guest. The award is designed to support the winner’s continued training. Elizabeth’s original choreography, Fluid Pulse, was set to music by Photay, Outre Lux.
This year’s Bedells Bursary saw a record 44 young dancers take part- the largest number in the competition’s 46-year history. Participants were judged by Jeanetta Laurence OBE and Paul Liburd MBE BBO DTLLS on an on-stage ballet class, a classical variation, and a self-choreographed “Dancer’s Own” solo. In the lead-up to the competition, candidates attended coaching sessions and masterclasses led by RAD Artistic Director Alexander Campbell, who coached the Dancer’s Own and classical repertoire variations, and Justine Berry, who led the masterclasses.
Celebrating artistic and technical excellence while nurturing creativity, the Bedells Bursary honours Phyllis Bedells, a founding member and Vice-President of the RAD. Open to RAD members aged 17 and under who have passed the Advanced 1 Examination with Distinction, the competition is recognised worldwide as a prestigious platform for emerging talent.
Denise Whiteman, Director of Dance Training at Elmhurst, said: “We are thrilled for Elizabeth and incredibly proud of her achievement. She showed great determination and professionalism in the lead-up to the competition, thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and is overjoyed to receive this award. My thanks go to all the artistic staff who supported her along the way, and congratulations to all Elmhurst students who represented the school so brilliantly in the competition.”
The Bedells Bursary also serves as a pathway to the Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition, the RAD’s flagship event celebrating and rewarding the highest standards of excellence among young ballet dancers worldwide.
