Gibraltar exchange award
Janice Felices - The first dancer from Gibraltar to appear in the Sussex Festival of Performing Arts.
In 2011 Seamus Bryne and Jacquie Storey introduced a twinning scheme. Gibraltar International Festival and Sussex Festival of Performing Arts initiated a scheme which has grown into a “special relationship”. The scheme has proved to be very successful and offers young dancers from both festivals the opportunity to experience different dance styles and new cultures.
Our criteria for selection is simple. The adjudicator is asked to select and dancer who they feel would benefit from the experience but the performer must have taken part in at least 4 solo classes in our festival.
The recipient will travel to Gibraltar with expenses paid to an agreed sum. One guardian may accompany the performer. They are invited to enter free into any solo classes and to take part in the Championship.
“I had an amazing time in Gibraltar last year. It was so interesting - I had never seen flamenco before!”
— Eleanor Vince 2011
“Gibraltar made us SO welcome and Ollie will have the memories of the trip of a lifetime. Thank you for making it possible.”
—Oliver Charman 2014
“What a wonderful final evening we had in Gibraltar, thank you so much to Sussex Festival for giving us this amazing opportunity!!”
— Tara Holland 2017
“It was nerve racking to be there, but the girls from Gibraltar and their teachers were very welcoming. The gala was fantastic. I am very grateful that I had the experience...”
— Chrissie Bhima 2012
“I was very proud to be selected from so many great dancers, I was the only dancer from the UK but everyone was really supportive. It was the chance of a lifetime.”
— Ellie Mizen 2016
“I really enjoyed watching the other competitors who displayed a number of different styles and demonstrated excellent levels of talent.”
— Rosabella Murphy 2018
DANCERS FROM SUSSEX WHO VISITED GIBRALTAR
2011 ~ Eleanor Vince
2012 ~ Chrissie Bhima
2013 ~ Talia Wenstone
2014 ~ Oliver Charman
2015 ~ Bethany Clark
2016 ~ Ellie Mizen
2017 ~ Tara Holland
2018 ~ Rosabella Murphy
2019 ~ Harvey Pearce
2020 ~ Not awarded
2021 ~ Not awarded
2022 ~ Scarlett Brown
2023 ~ Louisa Best
2024 ~ Emily Tonsi
DANCERS FROM GIBRALTAR WHO VISITED SUSSEX
Janice Felices, Nicole Victor, Amy Avellano, Fay Gomez, Amy Wink, Caitlin Rodriguez
We are delighted that this scheme has proved rewarding. The opportunity to compete with dancers from Spain, Italy and even further afield is an invaluable education and experience. The festival which is part of British Federation of Festivals is held at the John MacIntosh Halls in the evenings leaving the days free to explore Gibraltar with a trip to the top of the rock to visit the Barbary apes always included by our hosts. The Festival ends with a fabulous party for all the dancers, teachers, festival staff and families.
Ellie Vince, 2011 winner, competing in the Bursary Award Class at Gibraltar Stage Festival in 2012.
Ellie Vince, 2011 winner, competing in the Bursary Award Class at Gibraltar Stage Festival in 2012.
Seamus Byrne, organiser of the Gibraltar Stage Festival and Adjudicator Jacqui Ison and winners of the Bursary Class in 2012
Ellie Vince with Spanish Flamenco dancers from Gibraltar Stage Festival 2012
Ellie Vince, Becky Kirkham and Jacqueline Storey.
Debbie Johnson, Jacqueline Storey, Seamus Byrne, Jo Arnett-Morrice, Elaine Holliday and Becky Kirkham at the Gibraltar Stage Festival 2012.
Chrissie Bhima the 2012 Gibraltar Winner: Chrissie represented Sussex Festival at the Gibraltar Stage Fesitval in 2013 - Chrissie was chosen by our adjudicator Miss Jennifer Haley.
Caitlin Rodriguez representing Gibraltar winner of the Sussex Festival Award 2015 taking part in the Junior Trophy Class
Bethany Clarke from Jean Butterworth School of Dancing 2015 winner of the Gibraltar award - Bethany competed in the Gibraltar Stage Festival in February 2016.
2011 Gibraltar bursary winners: Ellie Vince won the Sussex Festival Gibraltar award and Janice Felices from Gibraltar won the award to perform in Sussex Festival and won the Junior Trophy Class.
Janice Felices from Gibraltar won the Gibraltar Bursary Award at the Gibraltar Stage Festival and performed at Sussex Festival where she won the Junior Trophy Dance Class in 2011.