The beginning – The Leanne Benjamin Awards

Thursday 12th June 2014 will go down as one of most successful and enjoyable events The Tait Memorial Trust has ever mounted in our 22 year history. The Royal Ballet School have been so generous by helping us to create such an inspiring evening.

Leanne Benjamin OBE with Isla Baring OAM, Chairman of The Tait Memorial Trust
Leanne Benjamin OBE with Isla Baring OAM, Chairman of The Tait Memorial Trust

 

Pictured below are three young Australian dancers; Kiely Groenewegan, Sophie Moffatt and Grace Robinson who sum up what we are trying to achieve. We want to help them achieve their dreams.

Kiely Groenewegan, Sophie Moffatt and Grace Robinson after The Leanne Benjamin Awards
Kiely Groenewegan, Sophie Moffatt and Grace Robinson after The Leanne Benjamin Awards

Their performances were superb in front of an audience including Lady Sainsbury, Sir Peter Wright, David Norman, Tony Dyson, Ken Smith (Queensland Agent General) and Richard Bonynge. Mark Annear’s masterclass was fascinating, the solo performances by Connor Barlow (Tait Awardee at the English National Ballet School), Kiely Groenewegan and the pas de deux with Grace Robinson and Harry Churches was sublime. Leanne Benjamin coached Sophie Moffatt on the Giselle, Act 1, Variation Pas de Six. The audience was enthralled…to see the work that goes into creating the magic we see at the theatre. The work is intense and incredibly disciplined. Such an honour to witness the process and to see the final result in the performances was a joy.

IslaBaring_SophieMoffatt
Isla Baring OAM, Chairman of The Tait Memorial Trust with Australian dancer, Sophie Moffatt

This is the beginning of a new scholarship fund for young Australian dancers studying at The Royal Ballet School. If you wish to join us please email James at james@taitmemorialtrust.org

Leanne Benjamin in The Royal Ballet's Manon ©ROH Johan Persson, 2011
Leanne Benjamin in The Royal Ballet’s Manon ©ROH Johan Persson, 2011