Lucie Saronova Memorial Award

Madam Saronova was the founding organiser and first chairman of the Australian Cecchetti Society Branch of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing;

Her term of office covering a record span of 37 years from 1934 - 1971. Born in Mill Bank, London her associations with Australia go back to 1916 when she set sail for a 3 year tour of Australasia and the Far East with a company which revolved around the talents of English actress and variety star, Ada Reeves. Madam's future husband, Mr. Harry Jacobs, was the musical director and conductor for the company. Although a student of the Maestro Enrico Cecchetti, Madam was already a trained dancer and well seasoned professional of some 8 years before joining the London classes of Cecchetti following her return from the Southern Hemisphere tour. It was on her 9th birthday that her mother took her daughter Lucie for her first dancing lesson. For 3 years she studied with Paul Valentine, a French dancing master of repute who had settled in London; at the same time she also took classes with the Italian dancer Rita Zalmame thus receiving an introduction to the Cecchetti set work.

2025

We are delighted to announce important information about Cecchetti's pre-eminent National competition, the Lucie Saronova Memorial Awards for 2025.

NATIONAL COMPETITION DATE: Thursday, 10 July 2025
Adelaide. South Australia.

NATIONAL AWARD PRIZES

Gold Winner - $3,000
Gold Runner Up - $650
Silver Winner - $1,700
Silver Runner Up - $400

Gold Winner will receive a Gold Medal and the perpetual Gold Trophy.
Gold Runner Up will receive a Runner Up Certificate.

Silver Winner will receive a Silver Medal and the perpetual Silver Plaque.
Silver Runner Up will receive a Runner Up Certificate.

All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation.

GOLD FEMALE VARIATIONS

Candidates may choose any variation; however, the solo must be from a reputable ballet company. Acceptable versions include original choreography or reproductions by renowned companies such as the Australian Ballet, Royal Ballet, Paris Opera, ABT, NYC Ballet, Marinsky, and Bolshoi.

Candidates are to choose ONE from the following:

COPPELIA

Prayer Act 3
Swanhilda’s variation Act 3

DON QUIXOTE

Kitri Act 3
Grand Queen of the Dryad Act 2

SWAN LAKE

Pas de Trois 1st variation Act 1
Pas de Trois 2nd variation Act 1

LES SYLPHIDES

Waltz
Prelude

LA BAYADERE

1st variation Shades
2nd variation Shades
3rd variation Shades
Gamzatti variation

PAQUITA
Any of the female variations

THE NUTCRACKER
Sugar Plum Fairy

SLEEPING BEAUTY

All fairy variations (Provide name of variation)
Princess Florine variation - from Act 3 Bluebird Pas de deux
Aurora Act 3

GISELLE
Giselle’s variation Act 1

NAPOLI
All 4 variations from Act 3

LA ESMERALDA
Esmeralda variation
DIANA & ACTEON PAS DE DEUX

Diana variation

FLAMES OF PARIS
Jeanne variation

THE AWAKENING OF FLORA
Grand pas de deux female variation

GRAND PAS CLASSIQUE
Female variation

FLOWER FESTIVAL OF GENZANO
1st female variation

GOLD MALE VARIATIONS

Candidates are to choose ONE from the following:

GISELLE
Peasant Pas de Deux 2nd variation Act 1
Albrecht variation Act 2
SWAN LAKE
Pas de Trois male variation Act 1
Black Swan male variation Act 3
PAQUITA

Either of the male variations
SLEEPING BEAUTY
Bluebird variation Act 3
Grand Pas de Deux Act 3 - Prince Desire variation
DON QUIXOTE
Grand Pas de Deux male variation Act 3
NAPOLI
All 4 variations from Act 3
LE CORSAIRE
Grand Pas de Deux male variation
FLOWER FESTIVAL OF GENZANO
Male variation
FLAMES OF PARIS
Phillippe/Jerome variation
LA SYLPHIDE
James variation Act 1
LA ESMERALDA
Male variation
DIANA & ACTEON PAS DE DEUX
Acteon variation

CONTEMPORARY SOLO
Candidates are to choose ONE from the following:

Diversion. Choreographer: Emma Moran
Bait. Choreographer: Leigh Warren,
Heartscape. Choreographer: Scott Pokorny,
To Take Flight. Choreographer: Riannon McLean

SILVER FEMALE VARIATIONS

SILVER FEMALE VARIATION A

Dance choreographed by Eve Pettinger.

Track 1 SLOW
Track 2 QUICK

SILVER FEMALE VARIATION B

Dance choreographed by Valrene Tweedie, Music composed by Neil McNeil.

Track 3 – ORIGINAL

SILVER MALE VARIATIONS

SILVER MALE VARIATION A

Dance choreographed by Hilary Kaplan, Music composed by Archibald McKenzie.

MALE VARIATION A
Track 4 – ORIGINAL

SILVER MALE VARIATION B

Dance choreographed by Angus Lugsdin, music composed by Moszkowski.

ORIGINAL
SLOW
MEDIUM
FAST

MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON

2024

Lucie Saronova Memorial Award

The LSMA did not take place in 2024 due to the Cecchetti International Classical Ballet Competition taking place in July.

2023

Lucie Saronova Memorial Award

6th July

Proudly sponsored by

SILVER CANDIDATES

1 Jessica Cooper QLD HONOURABLE MENTION

2 Taya Najjar SA

3 Misa Titcher VIC WINNER

4 Claudia Wang NSW

5 Nina Penny QLD RUNNER UP

6 Abigail Morgan WA HONOURABLE MENTION

7 Emma Hawkins NSW

8 Kara O'Malley SA

9 Andie Watson WA

10 Yulia Nagashima VIC

GOLD CANDIDATES

11 Pippa Moore QLD

12 Flynn Masterton VIC

13 Arainn Pillay NSW WINNER

14 Takdanai McLeod-Smith VIC HONOURABLE MENTION

15 Ella Brownlow-Ziirsen NSW

16 Lila McGrath QLD RUNNER UP

17 Hope Murphy WA

18 Giselle Atkins WA

PERFORMANCE

Performance by Queensland Academy.

Penned Choreography: Paul Boyd.

Trio: Rin Kono, Gina Lee, Corina Poh.

Pas de deux: Jack Jones and Alyssa Park

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS

Thank you to Cecchetti Ballet QLD office bearers and committee.

The Lucie Saronova Memorial Award Panel:

Sandra Allan OAM (VIC), Helene Gowers (WA), Janice Heale (QLD), Jennifer Pollard (SA), and Robyn Ross (NSW)

Adjudicators: Lana Jones and Rani Luther

Adjudicated Class teacher: Janette Mulligan

Class pianist: Paul Brickhill

Rehearsal Mistress: Sandra Clack

To all the volunteers and theatre staff who helped to make this evening possible.

We thank Energetiks for their ongoing support and sponsorship of this event.

2022

Lucie Saronova Memorial Award

Proudly sponsored by

SILVER CANDIDATES

1 Oscar Haugerud NSW

2 Kara O'Malley SA

3 Caitlyn Martin VIC RUNNER UP

4 Georgia Lorange QLD WINNER

5 Abigail Morgan WA

6 Giselle Atkins WA

7 Ellissia King QLD HONOURABLE MENTION

8 Sam McSweeney VIC

9 Eileen Jeon NSW

GOLD CANDIDATES

10 Ava Marenjak QLD RUNNER UP

11 Olivia Jensen SA

12 Elizabeth Williams NSW

13 Maya Prtenjaca WA

14 Zachary Medved VIC HONOURABLE MENTION

15 Arainn Pillay NSW HONOURABLE MENTION

16 Gabrielle Brett QLD WINNER

17 Isabella Lowry SA

18 Emma Mills VIC

PERFORMANCE

Danzas Espana/as

- danced by students from Whitney Schofield Academy of Dance

Choreography by Whitney Schofield

PERFORMANCE

On Then and Now

- danced by students from Lane Cove Dance Academy

Choreography by Emma Moran

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS

Thank you to Cecchetti Ballet NSW office bearers and committee.

The Lucie Saronova Panel: Robyn Ross (NSW), Helene Gowers (WA),

Jennifer Pollard (SA), Sandra Allan OAM (VIC) and Janice Heale (QLD)

Adjudicators: Josef Brown and Brooke Lockett

Adjudicated Class teacher: Chelsea Andrejic

Class pianist: Franz Weindl

Rehearsal Director: Dianne Pokorny

To all the volunteers and theatre staff who helped to make this evening possible.

A huge thank you to our sponsors Energetiks.

2019

Lucie Saronova Memorial Award

Proudly sponsored by

2018

Lucie Saronova Memorial Award

Proudly sponsored by

details to come

2017

Lucie Saronova Memorial Award

Proudly sponsored by

The 2017 Lucie Saronova Memorial Awards took place at the Adelaide College of the Arts - TAFE SA on the 14th July and were adjudicated by Roma Egan and Oliver Toth. The audience were entertained by guest performers, 3rd year Adelaide College of the Arts dancers: Felicity Boyd, Jacinta Jeffries, Emma Leggett. Choreographer of work Fluidity, : Jacinta Jeffries . Stage Manager: Kerry Best, Adjudicated Class Teacher & Ballet Mistress: Sally Collard-Gentle, Class Pianist: Fiona Bartlett, and Rehearsal Director: Kay Cranwell. Thank you to all volunteers, the Lucie Saronova Panel and importantly, Cecchetti South Australia who put together a memorable night. A very special thank you to our wonderful sponsor Energetiks and their representative, David Williams for their continued support and generous gifts for the competitors.

Silver Candidate Details

In order of performance:

Laura Van Loon
Ayesha Lucido
Tyler Lindsay
Joshua Hunt
Emily Wilson
Larisa Magda
Tara Newberry
Isabelle Despoja

Gold Candidate Details

In order of performance:

Isabelle Greenwood
Indiana Mccann
Lucy Wilgosh-Kaesler
Amy Gallery
Natalie Koch
Cameron Holmes
Alyssa Hopkins
Emma Holder
Jessi Seymour

Silver Winner

Tara Newberry
Teacher: Anne Butler
VCASS, Cecchetti program

Silver Runner Ups (equal)

Joshua Hunt
Teacher: Anne Butler
VCASS, Cecchetti program

Laura Van Loon
Teachers: Jessica & Mike Van Loon
Van Loon Academy

Gold Winner

Jessi Seymour
Teachers: Hilary Kaplan & Archibald McKenzie
Alegria Dance Studios

Gold Runner Ups (equal)

Emma Holder
Teachers: Simone Jackson-Pike & Janine Ban
The Perth School of Ballet

Cameron Holmes
Teachers: Robyn Ross & Valerie Jenkins
Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy

2016

Lucie Saronova Memorial Award

Proudly sponsored by

Silver LSMA

Winner: Jessi Seymour, NSW, Teachers Hilary Kaplan & Archibald McKenzie, Alegria Dance Studio
Runner Up: Janae Kerr, NSW, Teachers Robyn Ross & Valerie Jenkins, Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy
Hon Mention: Milla Brinsden, WA, Teachers Simone Jackson-Pike & Janine Ban, Perth School of Ballet
Hon Mention: Tyler Cameron Lindsay, WA, Teachers Simone Jackson-Pike & Janine Ban, Perth School of Ballet
Hon Mention: Philippa Crawley, VIC, Teacher Justine Morris, Ballarat Ballet Centre

Gold LSMA

Winner: Mio Bayly, VIC, Teacher Carole Oliver, Anita Coutts School of Dance, Cecchetti Program
Runner Up: Cameron Holmes, NSW, Teachers Robyn Ross & Valerie Jenkins, Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy

2015

Lucie Saronova Memorial Award

Proudly sponsored by

Whilst our adjudicators, Kimblerly Davis & Steven Etienne were backstage making difficult decisions, the audience was entertained by The Queensland Ballet, Pre Professional programme students Harley Campbell and Zacharie Dun who performed, during the adjudication A little bit in love, Choreographed by Paul Boyd, Music by Bernstein.

During the award ceremony, each candidate received a Certificate of Participation and Large Dancers Bag filled with goodies presented by David Williams, from our generous sponsor Energetiks. A special thank you to our Rehearsal Director & Ballet Master Mr Guy Wheatstone, Class Pianist Waldemar Lis, Stage Manager Hannah Wegener, Backstage goddesses Sarah Chislett, Jacel Dunn, Helene Gowers and the numerous other members of Cecchetti QLD who helped put together a memorable night.