Four Pre-professional students represent the School at the YGP Japan Gala

Pre-professional students Alecsia, Nanoha, Fabrizzio and Wendel represented The Royal Ballet School at the Youth Grand Prix Japan (YGP) ‘Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow’ Gala in Tokyo on 12 October 2025. The performance featured student representatives from the competition’s partner schools around the word alongside professional dancers and competition alumni, including May Nagahisa, a Japanese First Soloist at the Mariinsky Ballet. Head of Artistic Programmes and Production José Carayol accompanied the students on this international adventure. 

This was the first time that the gala was held in Tokyo’s Bunkamura Orchard Hall, as the parent organisation, Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), has historically held an annual gala during the competition finals in New York City’s Lincoln Center. 

Our students performed Frederick Ashton’s Rhapsody pas de deux,  with permission from The Frederick Ashton Foundation, and Anima Mea by fellow Pre-professional student Millán De Benito. After returning to London, the four shared their experiences performing in the gala and exploring Tokyo. 

What roles did you perform at the gala? How did you feel while representing the School on stage? 

Alecsia: I performed the Rhapsody pas de deux by Frederick Ashton, set to Serghei Rachmaninoff’s score, which is one of my favourite Ashton works of all time. Performing this alongside my partner, Fabrizzio, on Bunkamura’s stage felt so rewarding, and I felt so much pride representing the School with this gorgeous pas de deux enriched with Ashton style and heritage.   

Nanoha: I performed Anima Mea with Wendel, choreographed by Millán De Benito. 

I was truly happy to bring Millán’s beautiful work to Japan and share it with a Japanese audience. Representing the School on such a prestigious stage was a great honour and an unforgettable experience. 

Fabrizzio: I had the immense honour of performing Rhapsody by Frederick Ashton, an iconic and historically rich ballet. Bringing this masterpiece to life was a true privilege, especially alongside Alecsia, an incredible partner whose artistry and trust made the experience even more special. Representing The Royal Ballet School on stage filled me with pride and gratitude; it was both humbling and exhilarating to share our art on such an important international platform. 

Wendel: I performed Anima Mea pas de deux choreographed by Millán. It felt so gratifying to represent a school that strives for excellence. Being in a country that I haven’t been to before made the experience even more meaningful and memorable. 

How was the rehearsal/coaching process before you flew to Japan? Who did you work with? 

Alecsia: The rehearsal and coaching process before we departed was almost as fulfilling and rewarding as performing. Fabrizzio and I worked with our class teachers, Jessica Clarke, Kevin Emerton and Ricardo Cervera. While in Japan, José worked with us in our final rehearsals. Working on this piece with our teachers was extremely fulfilling as they generously shared knowledge, took time every day to help us achieve the highest quality and supported us through moments of doubt, nerves and anxiety before performing.   

Nanoha: I was coached by Jessica and Kevin. I also worked closely with our choreographer, Millán, who helped us explore musicality and understand the meaning behind each step. Although the choreography is classically based, with its jazzy interpretation of Solfeggietto, musicality and rhythm are key in the piece. It tells a love story between two souls (anima), and we really enjoyed expressing that emotional journey through movement.   

Fabrizzio: The rehearsal process before travelling to Japan was vigorous yet incredibly rewarding – and so much fun. Under the guidance of Jessica and Ricardo, we worked tirelessly to perfect every detail, refining not only our technique but also our artistry and emotional connection to the piece. Their support, wisdom and sense of humour made every rehearsal enjoyable, even during the most challenging moments. I learned so much from both of them and found the process deeply fulfilling and inspiring. 

Wendel: It was so fun and exciting. I got to work with Millán, who is my closest friend. The piece has lots of nuances with unique meanings, so he would explain what he wants to see. We worked hard and thoughtfully to apply each correction, together and independently. Performing Anima Mea with Nanoha was absolutely incredible. We have been doing pas de deux together for two years, and she is such an amazing partner and great person.  

What was your favourite part about participating in the gala?  

Alecsia: It was such an incredible experience performing alongside other students from YAGP partner schools. It was so inspiring getting to know most of them, observing their different styles and learning about their lives in other cities. The YAGP atmosphere during classes, rehearsals and stage calls was a very warm and friendly one which made us all feel so welcomed and appreciated on and off stage.   

Nanoha: Since this was my first time performing in a gala, I was a bit nervous at first, but everyone welcomed us so warmly. Meeting young dancers from across the world was very inspiring. It was special not only watching them perform but also taking class with them. Watching professional dancers so closely and talking to Japanese dancers studying abroad was a meaningful experience. It made me feel connected and proud of our shared roots, even as we all pursue our paths in different parts of the world.   

Fabrizzio: Beyond the performance itself, my favourite part of the gala was the atmosphere – the energy, the people and the sense of community among dancers from all over the world. Meeting so many talented artists, exchanging cultures and feeling the shared passion for dance was truly inspiring. Experiencing Japan’s unique traditions, the excitement and nerves before performing and the warmth from everyone involved made the entire trip unforgettable. 

Wendel: It was my first time performing for that many people, and the audience gave me a great feeling and made the atmosphere even better. I really enjoyed showing my work to other people and hopefully making them feel something that they never had before.  

What was your schedule during the trip? 

Alecsia: We were in Japan for five days, and although we were recovering from the long travel, we tried our best to go and see as much as our schedule allowed. We started each day with a later morning, having breakfast and then walking around Shibuya, which is the central Tokyo area where our hotel was located. Then, we would make our way to a lunch spot to grab some food before heading to class or rehearsal. After, we would either have a cool-off evening or a stage rehearsal. We always ended the day with a delicious dinner at a traditional Japanese restaurant.   

Nanoha: We arrived on the morning of October 9th and explored Shibuya that afternoon, eating delicious ramen. The next day, we took classes with students from other schools, such as San Francisco Ballet School, John Cranko School, Princess Grace Academy and ABT JKO. We also had tech rehearsals at Bunkamura Orchard Hall – the stage was huge! 

On the 11th, we had a later start, so I had the chance to visit a shopping mall in Shibuya before rehearsal. Then, on the 12th, we had two performances – one  in the afternoon and one in the evening. We also had a class with all the gala participants, including May Nagahisa, which was so inspiring.   

Fabrizzio: Our schedule in Japan was full and intense, with rehearsals running from morning until evening, often from 9.00 to 18.00. Despite the jet lag, the motivation and joy of being there made every moment worthwhile. Being coached by José was an incredible privilege; his insight and guidance elevated our performance and inspired me to dig even deeper into the artistry of Rhapsody. We also had the chance to explore Tokyo – wandering  through Shibuya, tasting authentic Japanese cuisine and discovering the culture and beauty of Japan added another layer of richness to the experience. 

Wendel: For me, the schedule wasn’t as intense as it is at school. We’d have a good breakfast followed by class and rehearsal, then depending on the day, we would have some time to go out and explore a bit of Tokyo.  

What are your favourite memories from the trip? 

Alecsia: Some of my favourite memories were with my three graduating classmates that I was lucky enough to share this wonderful experience of traveling and performing in Tokyo with. Something that I’ll keep with me forever is how welcoming the Japanese audience was. It was so rewarding hearing them cheer for us at the end of our performance. It made me feel extremely proud and grateful to have been trusted by the staff and Artistic Director, Iain Mackay, to represent the School alongside my incredibly talented colleagues.   

Nanoha: Coming back to my home country, Japan, and having the chance to dance in front of a Japanese audience was such a joy! I loved every single moment on stage, and the dialogue between us on stage was very special. It gave us a deep emotional connection.    

Fabrizzio: The moments shared with my school teammates. Having Alecsia, Wendel and Nanoha by my side made everything even more meaningful. The support, admiration and joy we shared truly bonded us as a team. Walking off stage to the sound of applause and cheers was a moment I will never forget – it reminded me of art’s incredible power to connect people from all around the world. 

I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to our Artistic Director, Iain Mackay, for this extraordinary opportunity. Representing The Royal Ballet School in Japan has been one of the most inspiring and transformative experiences of my life. It has taught me so much about resilience, collaboration and the universal language of dance. I return home with a heart full of gratitude, memories I will cherish forever and a renewed sense of purpose as both a dancer and a person. 

Wendel: Definitely people coming up to me saying they were touched by my way of dancing. They were blown away by Nanoha and me, and this made my heart swell with gratitude. I also loved being with my friends, getting to know each of them better and having so much fun chatting at the dinner table.