Awards for Excellence 2023

Following the results from our Winter exam session, we were delighted to be able to present our annual awards for excellence to the candidates who had achieved he highest marks in their exams during 2023.

VICKI PATERSON SHIELDS FOR EXCELLENCE

The Vicki Paterson Shields for Excellence are awarded to the candidates with the highest marks in a Royal Academy of Dance ballet exam throughout the year. The shields are named after former CSBS student Vicki Paterson who gained a perfect 100% for her Grade 4 ballet exam as well as regularly scoring in the high 90s for her other examinations. Vicki went on to train full-time and on graduating worked as a professional ballet dancer before opening and running her own successful dance school.

The Junior Shield was awarded to Charlie Fleming (12) for his score of 83% for his Grade 3 ballet exam. He previously won the shield in 2019 when he scored the highest mark in Scotland for his Primary Grade ballet.

The Senior Shield was awarded to Heidi Russell (13) for her impressive score of 91% for her Grade 4 ballet exam. Heidi has previously won the Junior shield in both 2021 and 2022 for her results in the lower grades!

KATIE DEACON PERFORMANCE AWARD
This trophy is presented to the candidate who gaines the highest score in a Royal Academy of Dance Solo Performance Award. It is named after former CSBS student Katie who went on to full-time training before performing as a professional ballet dancer then moving to perform around the world before starring in the West End.

The trophy was presented to **Charlie Fleming** (12) for gaining 88% in his Grade 3 Solo Performance Award. He also won the trophy in 2022 for his Grade 2 SPA result!

THE ANDREWS TAP AWARD

These annual shields are presented to the candidates who gain the highest marks in a graded tap exam. It is named in recognition of our “two Andrews”, Andrew Halliday and Andrew Coleman, both former CSBS students who went on to full-time training and have forged successful careers in dance across the world. And they both love tap!

Remarkably, the Junior Tap Award was won jointly by FOUR young dancers! They all gained 88% for their graded tap exams! Many congratulations to Emilia Goddard (11), Orla MacDonald (9), Marcus Miller (13) and Amy Yates (10) for their impressive result in their IDTA Grade 1, Primary, Grade 2 and Grade 1 exams respectively.

The Senior Tap Award was also won jointly this year… by two sisters! Jill Russell (15) and Heidi Russell (13) both scored an incredible 92% for their IDTA Grade 3 tap exam. Very well done girls!