Announcing The Fonteyn 2024 guest performance!

The Royal Academy of Dance is delighted to announce that Northern Ballet company dancers Harris Beattie and Saeka Shirai will perform a pas de deux from Northern Ballet’s Romeo & Juliet at The Fonteyn 2024 final on Sunday 8th September.

Harris Beattie and Saeka Shirai will perform the iconic balcony scene where Romeo (Harris) declares his eternal love for Juliet (Saeka). Adapted by Christopher Gable CBE and Massimo Moricone, Romeo & Juliet is one of Northern Ballet’s most beloved and critically acclaimed productions, which is currently touring the UK.

Harris Beattie is an RAD alumni and previously took part and won gold medal plus the choreographic and audience choice award at the Genée International Ballet Competition in 2017. He was the first person in the history of the competition to win all three. Harris Beattie also won the Royal Academy of Dance Phyllis Bedells Bursary in 2015. Last month, he was promoted to Junior Soloist at Northern Ballet.

Saeka Shirai is from Osaka, Japan, with extensive training and performance experience. She trained at the Yuki Ballet Studio in Japan and further honed her skills at Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. Her professional career includes four years with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet and two years with Poznan Opera Ballet. In 2016, she won a silver medal at the prestigious Varna International Ballet Competition.

The Fonteyn (previously known as The Genée) is one of the oldest and most prestigious ballet competitions in the world, representing the pinnacle of achievement for young dancers trained in the RAD syllabus. Beginning in 1931, The Fonteyn is dedicated to promoting dance, providing educational experiences and recognising excellence in young ballet dancers internationally. Over 70 dancers from countries around the globe will participate in The Fonteyn 2024. Coaching sessions delivered by renowned professionals begin the week, with the semi-finals held on 4-6 September at RAD’s stunning Aud Jebson Studio Theatre in its London HQ.

To find out more about The Fonteyn and to secure your place at the final and semi-final events visit: https://www.thefonteyn.org/tickets

Northern Ballet dancers Harris Beattie and Saeka Shirai to perform “Romeo & Juliet” Pas de deux at The Fonteyn, Image credit Emily Nuttall