Awards for Excellence 2024
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 the year, 2024.
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 Ailsa Deans (8) for her score of 79% in her Primary Grade ballet exam. This is only the second time the award has been won by a Primary candidate!.
The Senior Shield was awarded to Jill Russell (15) for her impressive score of 88% for her Grade 6 ballet exam. Jill has previously won the Junior shield in both 2017 and 2020, as well as also winning this Senior Shield for her results 2020 and 2022!
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 jointly to Charlie Fleming (13) for gaining 88% in his Grade 4 Solo Performance Award, and Ava Green (14) for 88% in the Grade 5 Solo Performance Award. This is the third time Charlie has won the award!
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!
The Junior Tap Award was won jointly by Harry fleming (10) and Kara Peterson (11) for their impressive score of 92% in their IDTA Grade 2 tap exams. Both dancers also received a nomination for the inaugural national IDTA Junior Theatre Awards
The Senior Tap Award was won by Charlie Fleming (13) for his score of 95% for Grade 4 tap in the Spring session. He also gained an incredible 94% for Grade 5 tap in the Winter session!
You can view a full list of previous annual award winners on our website and view some of the previous trophies on display in CSBS Studio 1.