Rules for entry - All ages and attainment are taken as of 1 September 2025

• Minimum age 8 years and maximum age 10 years by the 1 September 2025.
• The competitor must have passed with Merit Grade 2/Standard 2 or Grade 3/Standard 3 in the Cecchetti Method (ISTD) but no higher.
• The competition will be held in the form of a class held at Grade 2 level, which will include simple unset exercises starting from centre practice, as well as a solo. Please refer to the 'Classwork to be presented' section below on the work that will be presented on the day.
• The following certificates will be awarded:

a) Musicality
b) Artistry
c) Joy of Dance
d) Best Port de Bras
e) Best Technique
f) Best Solo Performance
g) Class Award (for diligence and hard work)

• A competitor who has received a special certificate in The Cecchetti Junior Award may re-enter this category.
• Closing Date for applications and submission of solo music: Wednesday 12 November 2025.
• Late Entries will not be accepted.
• Solo music to be uploaded via a Dropbox link provided after purchase of an entry.

Rules common to all Awards

• Competitors must be receiving training in the Cecchetti Method and may participate subject to the approval of their Cecchetti teacher.
• Competitors must be residents in Malta/Maltese nationals.
• Competitors must have studied The Cecchetti Method for a period of one year prior to entering for the Awards.
• Dress Regulation must be adhered to. Please see 'Dress regulations' below for full details.
• Competitors shall agree to abide by ALL the rules laid down for the Competition and shall accept the Adjudicator’s decision as final.
• Candidates entering the Awards should have gained the relevant examination with a minimum of Merit. Please be aware this may be checked.
• Each group will close once 40 participants are registered. Capping per school will be applied to the Lower Junior, Junior and Middle Awards – 8 students per school/group.

Dress Regulations

• Candidates should wear what they usually wear in a ballet dance class.
• We kindly request the following not to be worn: skirts, high-necked leotards, shorts, or trousers. Hair must be neatly dressed, away from the face, with no ribbon or flower adornments.
• Candidates not adhering to this dress and hair code may be eliminated.

Classwork to be presented – Lower Junior Award

The Competition will be a class at Grade 2 level starting from Centre Practice which will include simple unset exercises set on the day.

1. Unset port de bras

2. Unset adage

3. Unset pirouettes

4. Unset allegro

5. Solo, under 1 minute, to be set by teacher, can use exam dance

Rules for entry - All ages and attainment are taken as of 1 September 2025

• Minimum age 11 years and maximum age 12 years by the 1 September 2025.
• The competitor must have passed with Merit Grade3/ level in the Cecchetti Method (ISTD) but no higher.
• The competition will be held in the form of a class which will include simple unset exercises starting from centre practice, as well as a solo. Please refer to the 'Classwork to be presented' section below on the work that will be presented on the day.
• The following certificates will be awarded:

a) Musicality
b) Artistry
c) Joy of Dance
d) Best Port de Bras
e) Best Technique
f) Best Solo Performance
g) Class Award (for diligence and hard work)

• A competitor who has received a special certificate in The Cecchetti Junior Award may re-enter this category.
• Closing Date for applications and submission of solo music: Wednesday 12 November 2025.
• Late Entries will not be accepted.
• Solo music to be uploaded via a Dropbox link provided after purchase of an entry.

Rules common to all Awards

• Competitors must be receiving training in the Cecchetti Method and may participate subject to the approval of their Cecchetti teacher.
• Competitors must be residents in Malta/Maltese nationals.
• Competitors must have studied The Cecchetti Method for a period of one year prior to entering for the Awards.
• Dress Regulation must be adhered to. Please see 'Dress Regulations' below for full details.
• Competitors shall agree to abide by ALL the rules laid down for the Competition and shall accept the Adjudicator’s decision as final.
• Candidates entering the Awards should have gained the relevant examination with a minimum of Merit. Please be aware this may be checked.
• Capping per school will be applied to the Lower Junior, Junior and Middle Awards – 8 students per school/group.

Dress Regulations

• Candidates should wear what they usually wear in a ballet dance class.
• We kindly request the following not to be worn: skirts, high-necked leotards, shorts, or trousers. Hair must be neatly dressed, away from the face, with no ribbon or flower adornments.
• Candidates not adhering to this dress and hair code may be eliminated.

Classwork to be presented - Junior Award

The Competition will be a class starting from Centre Practice which will include simple unset exercises set on the day.

1. Unset port de bras

2. Unset adage

3. Unset pirouettes

4. Unset allegro

5. Solo, under 1 minute, to be set by teacher. Teachers may use an exam dance.

Rules for entry - All ages and attainment are taken as of 1 September 2025

• Minimum age 10 years and maximum age 15 years by the 1 September 2025.
• The competitor must have passed with Merit Grade 5/Standard 5 or Grade 6/Standard 6 or Intermediate Foundation in the Cecchetti Method (ISTD) but no higher. The work will be       judged at Grade 6 Level
• The competition will be held in the form of a class which will include set and unset exercises starting from centre practice, as well as a solo. Please refer to the 'Classwork to be presented' section below on the work that will be presented on the day.
• 1st and 2nd Place will be awarded.
• A competitor who has won The Cecchetti Middle Award may not re-enter this category.
• Closing Date for applications and submission of solo music: Wednesday 12 November 2025.
• Late Entries will not be accepted.
• Solo music to be uploaded via a Dropbox link provided after purchase of an entry.

Rules common to all Awards

• Competitors must be receiving training in the Cecchetti Method and may participate subject to the approval of their Cecchetti teacher.
• Competitors must be residents in Malta/Maltese nationals.
• Competitors must have studied The Cecchetti Method for a period of one year prior to entering for the Awards.
• ·Dress Regulation must be adhered to. Please see 'Dress Regulations' below for full details.
• ·Competitors shall agree to abide by ALL the rules laid down for the Competition and shall accept the Adjudicator’s decision as final.
• ·Candidates entering the Awards should have gained the relevant examination with a minimum of Merit. Please be aware this may be checked.
• Capping per school will be applied to the Lower Junior, Junior and Middle Awards – 8 students per school/group.

Dress Regulations

• Candidates should wear what they usually wear in a ballet dance class.
• We kindly request the following not to be worn: skirts, high-necked leotards, shorts, or trousers. Hair must be neatly dressed, away from the face, with no ribbon or flower adornments.
• Candidates not adhering to this dress and hair code may be eliminated.

Classwork to be presented – Middle Award

The Competition will be a class starting from Centre Practice which will include Grade 6 set exercises and unset exercises at Grade 5 level.

The Grade 6 set exercises are:

1. Set port de bras: (First and Second, Third and Fourth)

2. Grade 6: set attitude Adage 

3. Grade 6: set grand jeté en tournant

4. Solo - under 1 minute, to be set by teacher (solo not on pointe. This is not a set exercise, so it should be separated from 1,2, 3. By 1 line).

Rules for entry - All ages and attainment are taken as of 1 September 2025

• Minimum age 12 years and maximum age 20 years of age by the 1 September 2025.
• The competitor must have passed with Merit Intermediate or Advanced 1 in the Cecchetti Method (ISTD). The work will be set at Advanced 1 level. The competitor must not have taken their Advanced 2 examination.
• The competition will be held in the form of a class which will include set and unset exercises starting from centre practice, as well as a solo. Please refer to the 'Classwork to be presented' section below on the work that will be presented on the day.
• Prizes will be awarded for 1st and 2nd place, to further their Cecchetti training. The Cecchetti Society Trust will award the following:

Tanya Bayona Award = €1100
Runner Up = €400

• A competitor who has won this award may not re-enter the competition.
• Closing Date for applications and submission of solo music: Wednesday 12 November 2025.
• Late Entries will not be accepted.
• Solo music to be uploaded via a Dropbox link provided after purchase of an entry.

Rules common to the Senior Awards

• Competitors must be receiving training in the Cecchetti Method and may participate subject to the approval of their Cecchetti teacher.
• Competitors must be residents in Malta/Maltese nationals.
• Competitors must have studied The Cecchetti Method for a period of one year prior to entering for the Awards.
• Dress Regulation must be adhered to. Please see 'Dress Regulations@ below for full details.
• Competitors shall agree to abide by ALL the rules laid down for the Competition and shall accept the Adjudicator’s decision as final.
• Candidates entering the Awards should have gained the relevant examination with a minimum of Merit. Please be aware this may be checked.

Dress Regulations

• Candidates should wear what they usually wear in a ballet dance class.
• We kindly request the following not to be worn: skirts, high-necked leotards, shorts, or trousers. Hair must be neatly dressed, away from the face, with no ribbon or flower adornments.
• Candidates not adhering to this dress and hair code may be eliminated.

Classwork to be presented - The Tanya Bayona Senior Award

The Competition will be a class starting from Centre Practice which will include set and unset exercises at Advanced 1 Level.

The set exercises are:

1. The Cecchetti second set of ports de bras,

2. Temps du Courante/ Coupé et Fouetté

3. Glissade assemblé, temps levé in arabesque/Assemblé temps levé (forwards and backwards)

4. Pointe work and or virtuosity steps will be held at the end of the class – competitors to choose.

5. Candidates will then perform a pre-rehearsed solo variation. This can be either from a classical ballet or specifically choreographed and should not exceed 1 minute in length. The option     1 variation may also be danced on pointe (candidate’s choice).

Entries

Applications open: - Wednesday 1 October 2025

Closing Date for applications and music -  Wednesday 12 November 2025
Late Entries will not be accepted. 

Entry Fees

The ISTD Cecchetti Malta Lower Junior and Junior Award – €31.50

The ISTD Cecchetti Malta Middle Award - €36

The Tanya Bayona Senior Award – €42

Terms & Conditions

• Anyone competing in this event does so at their own risk. The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing will not accept any responsibility for any injury howsoever caused.
• A media consent form will be circulated to those who have applied to enter. Written consent must be obtained for competitors’ and any additional performers from parents/carers/guardians.
• By entering this competition, you have agreed on the competitor's behalf, if they are selected as a winner or for any commendation, for their name and possibly footage of them dancing, to be published on ISTD marketing / social media channels.
• Upon submission of your application on the competitor’s behalf you are agreeing to the criteria set above.
• For more information on our policies, please see https://www.istd.org/teach/quality-assurance
• No refunds are payable once an entry has been made and payment received.
• The Adjudicators’ decision is final, individual feedback will not be provided.

*The Cecchetti Malta Awards competition is dependent on receiving a minimum number of entries to proceed. In the event that insufficient entries are received and the competition is deemed unviable, all entry fees will be refunded in full. 
Teachers are responsible for informing competitors of this condition prior to registration. Should the competition be cancelled, teachers will be notified via email.
For more information please contact: ccbmalta@istd.org or cecchetti@istd.org  
 

We are delighted have bespoke  t-shirts for Cecchetti Malta Awards 2025. Please add to your cart when booking your tickets. Order yours by 3 November! 

T-shirts are made specifically to order and we regret no refunds or exchanges can be made after 3 November. To amend or cancel your order, please email cecchetti@istd.org by 3 November.

T-shirts will be available for collection at the event. 

Child's t-shirt: €17

Age 9 - 11

Age 12 -13

Age 14 -15