Celebrating the teachers and students shaping the future of contemporary dance

Rambert Grades is proud to announce this year’s Examination Awards, celebrating the exceptional work in the 2025 Examination Season. This year, we are proud to honour not only the exceptional work of our Trained Teachers, but for the first time, also the commitment, progress and achievements of the students at the heart of our teaching community. Together, these awards represent the ambition and shared values of progressive contemporary dance education across countries, cultures and communities.

These awards recognise the extraordinary care, rigour and creativity that go into contemporary dance training worldwide, and reflect Rambert Grades’ belief that excellence is built through a powerful partnership between inspired teaching and dedicated learning. 

2025 Examination Awards for Trained Teachers

Highest Performing Examinations

This award recognises Trained Teachers whose students achieved outstanding results during the examination season, reflecting excellence in teaching practice, preparation and student progression.

Award recipients:

Emma Moran  (Australia - New South Wales)
Jen Murray (Australia - Queensland)
Zoe Lam and Victoria McGregor (Australia - Western Australia)
Magda Bertanha Gonçalves (Brazil)
Eleni Gavrielidou (Cyprus)
Addy Vaughan (England – East)
Shaun Dillon (England – London)
Kelly McClelland (England – North)
Luke Bohanna (England – South)
Victoria Radido (England – West)
Jane Gardener and Anna Zizka (Germany)
Athanasios Dimopoulos (Greece)
Meadhbh O'Sullivan  (Ireland)
Federica Pozzo (Italy)
Michela Pozzo (Italy)
Aifric Ní Chaoimh (Luxembourg)
Xian Cu Ng (Singapore)
Anna Navarro Hierro  (Spain)
Eve Allen Garza (USA)
Nicola Peros (Wales)

Examiner Choice Award

Selected by Rambert Grades examiners, this award celebrates teachers who demonstrate outstanding commitment, creativity and impact in their teaching, as observed through the examination process.

Award recipients:

Marina Allnutt (England)
Samantha Baird (Scotland)
Caitlin Barnes (England)
Karen Blackburn (England)
Joanne Novoa Bradley (England)
Seng Goh (Singapore)
Harriet Long (England)
Naomi Keighley (Australia)
Antonella Pagin (Italy)
Anna Smith (England)
Tabby Somerfield (England)
Betina Zacharias (Brazil)

2025 Examination Awards for Students

Highest Performing Examination

The highest student accolate, this award recognises students achieving the highest examination mark across Grades 1-8 of the syllabus. In some cases, multiple students are recognised where marks were tied. These candidates demonstrate exceptional technical strength, creative understanding and performance intention within their examinations. 

Student award recipients have been contacted via their Rambert Grades Teacher to celebrate their achievement.

Excellence in Technique and Artistic Expression

This award celebrates students who demonstrate a high calibre of technique and artistic expression in their examination. Recipients show promise, potential and a clear dedication to their training, alongside maturity in performance and interpretation.

Student award recipients have been contacted via their Rambert Grades Teacher to celebrate their achievement.

Hannah Kidd, Head of Education and Exams said, “Introducing student awards this year felt like a natural and important step. Contemporary dance training is a shared journey, shaped by students who bring curiosity and energy into the studio every day, and by the teachers who guide and support them. The standard of work we’ve seen this year has been extraordinary, and these awards reflect a global community that is ambitious, generous and deeply committed to progressive dance education."

Looking Ahead

Rambert Grades is committed to celebrating and recognising the achievements of our teachers each year. All Trained Teachers who have submitted examination entries and the students examined between 1 January and 31 December 2026 will automatically be considered for the next Rambert Grades Examination Awards. We look forward to continuing to celebrate the creativity, dedication and excellence of our teaching community in the year ahead.