13 July 2026
Janet Cram Award Finals 2026
The 2026 Janet Cram Awards took place at London's Greenwood Theatre on Sunday 5 July, bringing together talented young dancers to celebrate the very best of ISTD Modern Theatre training. More than 480 heats entries led to an unforgettable day for our finalists.
Charlie Donnelly, Evonnee Bentley-Holder and Alan Burkitt led our classes, bringing real industry expertise, encouragement and passion to every session. Adjudicators Barbara Evans, Lyn Richardson, Freya Sands and Sarah Wilson brought years of knowledge and experience to the judging throughout the day. ISTD Grand Council member Angela Rippon OBE joined us to present our Junior winners with their certificates, one of the day's real highlights.
Sarah Wilson also received the Murielle Ashcroft Award, recognising her outstanding service, commitment and contribution to the Modern Theatre Faculty. Every dancer who took to the stage brought dedication, artistry and enthusiasm, a reflection of their own hard work and of the teachers and training behind them.
Huge thanks to our adjudicators, class teachers, class assistants, front-of-house team, chaperones and the Modern Theatre Faculty Committee, whose hard work made another successful Janet Cram Awards possible.
And thank you to every competitor and teacher who took part this year. Your passion, commitment and talent make the Janet Cram Awards such a special celebration of Modern Theatre dance. Congratulations to all involved.
This event was proudly sponsored by Dansez – Browse the collection now
Junior Section
Adjudicators: Barbara Evans, Lyn Richardson, Sarah Wilson
Class teacher: Charlie Donnelly
Class assistant: Bella Perdoni
| Winner | Francesca Briley | Dawson School of Performing Arts |
| Runner Up | Isabel Stefancu | Graham School Of Dance and Theatre Arts |
| Commendation | Poppy Deal | Complete Dance Studios |
| Outstanding Technique | Harper Hughes | Barbara Jackson's Theatre Arts Centre |
| Outstanding Commitment | Nahla Whittaker | Langley Dance Academy |
| Outstanding Musicality | Kennedy-May Mcleary | Vale studios |
| Most Engaging Performance | Savannah Coysh | NDHQ: Performing Arts Conservatoire |
| Professional Potential | Roman Craddock | NDHQ: Performing Arts Conservatoire |
"Teaching at the Crams was such a wonderful experience. I felt so supported by the team and inspired by the talent and passion on the stage that the dancers bought to the stage. Congratulations to all the performers that were a part of it- what an exciting future you have, wherever your dance journey takes you to!" - Charlie Donnelly, Junior Class teacher
“I thoroughly enjoyed watching everyone perform their hearts out on stage yesterday at the Janet Cram Finals. It was the culmination of incredibly hard work, endless practice by the students & inspiring training by their wonderful ISTD teachers. I look forward to seeing how these and other wonderful ISTD dancers have progressed next year. Don’t ever forget to show your joy and love of dance!” - Jackie Barnes, Examiner
Senior Section
Adjudicators: Barbara Evans, Freya Sands, Sarah Wilson
Class teacher: Evonnee Bentley-Holder
Class assistant: Florence Friend
| Winner | Ava Blinkhorn | Barbara Jackson's Theatre Arts Centre |
| Runner Up | Jaylo Pereira | Miss Sutcliffe Academy of Dance |
| Commendation | Vivien Abreu | Graham School Of Dance and Theatre Arts |
| Outstanding Technique | Elsie Cann | Mayhew School of Dance |
| Outstanding Commitment | Jessie Chapman | The Hammond school |
| Outstanding Musicality | Imogen Redfern | Vale Studios |
| Most Engaging Performance | Amaaya Jayasinghe | Dawson School of Performing Arts |
| Professional Potential | Harley Field | NDHQ: Performing Arts Conservatoire |
"I had the joy of teaching the senior young performers at the Janet Cram Finals yesterday. And I must say I was blown away by the technical talent and musicality but more importantly the young performers’ attitude and thirst for learning. Each performer listened intently and gave a strong sense of performance/ expression with a sprinkle of their own personality! And that is what I love to see." - Evonnee Bentley-Holder, Senior class teacher
Premier Section
Adjudicators: Barbara Evans, Lyn Richardson, Freya Sands
Class teacher: Alan Burkitt
Class assistant: Evie Dawes
| Winner | Phoebe Mansfield | Dance Projection |
| Runner Up | Chloe Baldwin | Langley Dance Academy |
| Commendation | Lola Shaw | Vale Studios |
| Alison Willett Award | Lareece Skerritt | The Hammond school |
| Outstanding Technique | Phoebe Mansfield | Dance Projection |
| Outstanding Commitment | Daisy Duncan | NDHQ: Performing Arts Conservatoire |
| Outstanding Musicality | Sophie Heron | Junior Masters Performing Arts |
| Most Engaging Performance | Alessia Papa | Langley Dance Academy |
| Professional Potential | Rosie Hallam | The Hammond school |
What a joy it was to teach the premiere class at this years Janet Cram finals. I was bowled over by the talent, artistry and passion of this years competitors. I’m sure these young dancers will take away lasting and special memories from this competition as I and so many of my professional peers have." - Alan Burkitt, Premier class teacher
The outstanding standard seen in all 3 sections were a joy to behold. The expertise of Charlie, Evonnee and Alan gave our competitors even more inspiration and motivation to aspire to, as these professional dancers, choreographers and teachers are all ISTD trained. We are only as good as our teachers and we ALL had the best. May our legacy live on in the hands of future generations." - Lyn Richardson, Cram 2026 Adjudicator
Teacher awards
Elliot Clarke Award Winner: Graham School Of Dance and Theatre Arts
Elliot Clarke Award Winner: Langley Dance Academy
Janet Cram Finalist Teachers and Schools 2026
| Janet Cram Finalist Dance School | ISTD Dance Teacher(s) |
|---|---|
| Assoluta Dance | Chloe Macgregor |
| Barbara Jackson's Theatre Arts Centre | Katie Wilson |
| Blackheath School of Dance | Lucy Andic, Olivia Neville |
| Cheshire Theatre School | Vickie Goodwin |
| Complete Dance Studios | Declan Morgan, Rachel Squier, Samantha Tracey, Becky Surridge, Lily Roach |
| Corraine Collins Dance Studios | Corraine Collins, Katherine Werrell, Andrea Ashton |
| Dance Projection | Gemma Pickess, Heidi Speakman, Natalie Potter |
| Dawson School of Performing Arts | Elin Dawson |
| FORTE Dance & Performing Arts Studios | Jo Ellis, Carley Spendlove |
| Freedom Performing Arts | Samantha Ellis, Joanna Harker |
| Graham School of Dance and Theatre Arts |
Declan Morgan, Madeleine Greatbach, Selina Zammitt, Stephen Charnock |
| Jamie Lee Dance Academy | Jamie Lee Tuffrey, Katie Lloyd, Yvonne Zaremski |
| Janet Marshall Dance Studios |
Lauren Smith, Janet Marshall, Emma Preece |
| JBS Dance Studio | Molly Assig, Lucy Borthwick |
| JPJ School of Dance | Jane Prentice Jenkins, Kirsten Harper |
| Julie Sianne Theatre Arts | Julie Sianne Evans, Alex Orbell, Alison Brown, Chloe Miles |
| Junior Masters Performing Arts | Stephen Charnock, Michaela Headford |
| Kahli Lewis Dance Company | Kahli Lewis |
| Langley Dance Academy | Sarah Cairns, Donna Langley |
| Marlborough Academy of Dance and Drama |
Cheryl Heuston |
| Mayhew School of Dance | Fiona Sheehan, Harriet Quinn, Danielle O'Reilly, Hannah Connor |
| Miss Sutcliffe Academy of Dance | Carla Moore, Jennifer Fenney |
| NDHQ: Performing Arts Conservatoire | Nazene Langfield |
| Orwell Dance | Amy Mellors, Katherine Mellors, Lauren Matthews |
| Sarah Royle Studios | Sarah Royle |
| The Hammond School | Laura Meeson, Joanne Redhead |
| Vale Studios | Kate Charlton, Emily Charlton |
