Critics Circle NATIONAL DANCE AWARDS

The 25th National Dance Awards Ceremony

9th June 2025

The 25th Annual National Dance Awards were held at Barbican on June 9th. From nearly 400 recommendations submitted by dance critics, 88 nominees were chosen. Of those, 17 went home with awards. The categories included best companies, modern and classical choreography, dance films and performances by individual dancers. A star-studded audience applauded enthusiastically as each award was announced.

London Ballet Circle has sponsored the Outstanding Male Classical Performance (“classical” covering any classical dance genre, not just ballet) for the past few years. The nominees in this category were William Bracewell, Francesco Gabriele Frola, Johan Kobborg, Aakash Odedra and Marcelino Sambé. The winner was Aakash Odedra, a kathak dancer, the first time in 25 years that this award has been won by a dancer outside of ballet. Not only did Aakash receive this award, but he won the Best Male Classical Dancer award, jointly with Tommy Franzen. Another first, for the NDAs the award going to dancers from kathak and hip-hop.

Five members of LBC selected on a first-come-first-served basis, were invited to attend the awards ceremony and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Susan Dalgetty Ezra