Kylin Reynolds, representing the International Dance Academy (IDA) and the United States, has earned the prestigious honor of competing at the Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition, to be held for the first time in Latin America, at Auditório Ibirapuera in São Paulo, Brazil, from October 11–19, 2025.
Founded in 1931 as the Genée Competition and renamed in 2019 to honor the legendary Dame Margot Fonteyn, this competition is the flagship international ballet event run by the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). Over its 94-year history, it has launched the careers of countless ballet professionals.
The Fonteyn Competition is renowned not only for its elite standard but also for its rigorous entry requirements. Entrants must have achieved distinction in the RAD Advanced 2 Ballet exam, a milestone Kylin has proudly accomplished through IDA’s structured RAD curriculum. The event attracts top RAD-trained dancers worldwide. Last year’s competition featured over 60 candidates from 14 countries, judged by luminaries such as Dame Darcey Bussell and Alessandra Ferri.
The week-long schedule includes coaching classes at São Paulo’s Estúdio de Ballet Cisne Negro, semi-finals and finals on the famed Ibirapuera stage, and opportunities to perform classical and personal repertoire under an esteemed panel of judges. RAD Artistic Director Alexander Campbell described the Brazil debut as “very special indeed.”
For IDA, this is a monumental achievement. As the only school in the region registered with the Royal Academy of Dance, IDA has guided Kylin from Primary level through Advanced 2, each step marked by unwavering discipline and goal-driven progress. Now, her invitation to Fonteyn represents not only her triumph but validation of the school’s commitment to excellence.
Kylin arrives in São Paulo poised to shine among the world’s best, bringing honor to IDA and the USA. Her journey stands as a testament to the school’s RAD-aligned training, her tenacity, and the transformative power of ballet. The entire IDA community eagerly awaits her performance and plans to celebrate every moment of her success on that grand international stage.
