The 16^th Gibraltar National Dance Festival was recently organised by M.O. Productions at the John Mackintosh Hall Theatre between 15^th and 17^th February 2018. The event, that is affiliated to the British Federation of Festivals and the Gibraltar National Dance Organisation, saw 193 dancers from England, Gibraltar, Italy and Spain participate in various dance categories throughout the four sessions.

The overall winner was awarded to 14-year-old Marek Pisanu of Danza Damaris from Italy. For the second year running, Marek was awarded the main prize for the most promising dancer. Out of the 120 soloists, six were selected by the adjudicator Chris Hocking to perform in the grand final. Bursary finalists included Lucia Craido and Yoel Ferrar from Spain, Marek Pisanu from Italy and local dancers Amy Wink, Chenille Brown and Nathan Villalba.

Overall Winners as follows:

-M.O. Productions Bursary Award - Marek Pisanu from Danza Damaris, Italy

-Best Female Dancer of the Festival - Amy Wink from Stylos Dance Studio, Gibraltar

-Best Male Dancer of the Festival - Yoel Ferrer from Innovations Dance Company, Spain

-M.O. Productions Sussex Award - Amy Wink from Stylos Dance Studio, Gibraltar 

-Best Choreography Award - Lilian and Lauren Montero from Stylos Dance Studio, Gibraltar for their Junior Trio

-Most Promising Infant - Ella Hurtado from Stylos Dance Studio, Gibraltar

Festival Organiser, Seamus Byrne said: ‘We are delighted by the support received from everyone who has taken part. We are pleased with the high standards and quality of dance achieved and maintained throughout the four sessions of the festival. We will try our best to attract more international dancers and at the same time hope that more local dancers will participate in the future. Whether it’s via their own schools or with their own choreographies we need more locals, as this is a platform for them to be able to develop their artistic abilities and participate in what is such an educational experience. We do hope to be able to organise the event, for many more years to come.’

Aggregate Results:

-Junior Street Dance Solo

1^st Johan Tante

2^nd Javier Avila Vilches

3^rd Adrianna Duffy Parody

-Adult Street Dance

1^st Adrian Herrera

-Children Flamenco Solo

1^st Lucia Criado Jurado

2^nd Mariam Lobato

-Junior Flamenco Solo

1^st Aledro Ala Agusto

2^nd Gisella Sellar Reina

-Adult Flamenco Solo

1^st Sebastian Jimenez

2^nd Mario De Los Santos

3^rd Marcos Diaz Cuesta

-Junior Tap

1^st Tara Holland

2^nd Javier Avila Vilches

-Adult Flamenco Duet

1^st Samuel Perez Castillo and Cristobal Tapia Cozar

2^nd Carlos Alza Agusto and Jaime Gomez Martinez

3^rd Christian Bocanegra Ramos and Marcos Diaz Cuesta

-Children Song and Dance

1^st Joelle Figueras

2^nd Adele Caetano

3^rd Chanel Trinidad

-Song and Dance for 12 and Over

1^st Tara Holland

2^nd Danielle Fernandez

3^rd Eloise Caetano

-Children Duet and Trio

1^st Nathan Villalba and Anna Jimenez

2^nd Louise Navarro and Erin Saxby

3^rd Miah Vazquez, Lucia Ochello and Chloe Fendley

-Junior Duet and Trio

1^st Marek Pisanu and Sara Porcu

2^nd Faye Gomez and Amy Wink

3^rd Ayla Santos Pizarro, Isabella Wink and Sarah Wood

-Adult Duet and Trio

1^st Jerome Celecia and Liyah Tante

2^nd Jesus Gomez Martinez and Jairo Sanchez Carmona

3^rd Lauren Montero, Janis Jackson and Chelsie Victor

-Mini Kids Solo

1^st Ella Hurtado

2^nd River Mifsud

3^rd Yaelle Ballester

-Children Classical Ballet Solo

1^st Anna Jimenez

-Junior Classical Ballet Solo

1^st Yoel Ferrar Vargas

2^nd Amy Wink

3^rd Tara Holland and Lucia Pena Molina (Tied)

-Adult Classical Ballet Solo

1^st Jesus Gomez Martinez

-Mini Kids Duet

1^st Heaven Bocarisa and Ella Hurtado

2^nd Eryn Mauro Torres and Isabella Perez

-Junior Jazz Solo

1^st Marek Pisanu

2^nd Madison Baldachino

3^rd Chenille Brown

-Children Modern & Contemporary Solo

1^st Nathan Villalba

2^nd Sara Porcu

3^rd Zyanne Ticknel-Smith

-Junior Modern & Contemporary Solo

1^st Marek Pisano

2^nd Yoel Ferrar Vargas

3^rd Noelle Cassano

-Adult Modern & Contemporary Solo

1^st Alice Moretto

2^nd Janis Jackson

3^rd Jenella Sodi

-Children Show Dance & Jazz Solo

1^st Anna Jimenez

2^nd Erin Yeo

3^rd Sarah Procu

-Junior Show Dance Solo

1^st Marek Pisanu

2^nd Amy Wink

3^rd Yoel Ferrer Vargas

-Adult Show Dance & Jazz Solo

1^st Eva Collinson

2^nd Janis Jackson

3^rd Duncan Grech

-Children Improvisation Stage

1^st Anna Jimenez

2^nd Erin Saxby

3^rd Jyra Hendrick

-Junior Improvisation Stage

1^st Amy Wink

2^nd Ayla Santos Pizarro

3^rd Amber Chichon

-Adult Improvisation Stage

1^st Janis Jackson

-Children Improvisation Contemporary

1^st Nathan Villalba

2^nd Yuval Lahav

3^rd Katie Bado

-Junior Improvisation Contemporary

1^st Yoel Ferrar Vargas

2^nd Amy Wink

3^rd Amy Avellano

-Adult Improvisation Contemporary

1^st Janis Jackson

2^nd Jesus Gomez Martinez and Courtney Edwards (Tied)

3^rd Jairo Gomez Carmona

-Mini Kids Group

1^st Mediterranean Dance School

2^nd Show Dance Company

3^rd Transitions Dance Academy

-Children Group

1^st Stylos Dance Studios

2^nd Mediterranean Dance School

3^rd International Theatre School

-Junior Group

1^st Stylos Dance Studios

2^nd Innovations Dance Company

3^rd Transitions Dance Academy

-Adult Group

1^st Innovations Dance Company

2^nd Mediterranean Dance School

3^rd Transitions Dance Academy