20-year-old Max Revell from Cornwall has been named the Winner of BBC Young Dancer 2019. The Grand Final of the competition took place on Saturday 18 May at Birmingham Hippodrome.
On winning BBC Young Dancer 2019, Max said: “I’m completely over the moon. I just really didn’t expect it. It’s been such a humbling experience and everyone involved in the competition was just amazing.”
Emma Gladstone, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Dance Umbrella and Grand Final judge said: “This competition is all about performance, and I feel as though Max went on the greatest journey. For me, his final solo was the most exceptional piece of dance and it was for that reason that he was the winner for us today.”
The Grand Final was broadcast on Saturday 18 May at 8pm on BBC Two, presented by Anita Rani and Ore Oduba.
The BBC Young Dancer 2019 finalists were: Thomas Carsley, 22 (Street Dance), Chloe Keneally, 18 (Ballet), Matthew Rawcliffe, 19 (Contemporary), Max Revell, 20 (Wildcard/Street Dance) and Shree Savani, 20 (South Asian Dance).
Selecting this year’s winner was a judging panel comprised of some of the leading names in dance, including Emma Gladstone, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Dance Umbrella; Wayne McGregor, Founder of Studio Wayne McGregor and Resident Choreographer at the Royal Ballet; Shobana Jeyasingh, Choreographer and Artistic Director of Shobana Jeyasingh Dance; Junior Bosila Banya, dancer, teacher and member of Wanted Posse; Chitra Sundaram, Dance and Theatre Choreographer and performer and Christopher Hampson, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Scottish Ballet.
Competing for the title of BBC Young Dancer 2019, each finalist premiered a new piece commissioned by the BBC and created especially for the dancers by leading choreographers: Kenrick ‘H20’ Sandy (for Thomas Carsley), Kenneth Tindall (for Chloe Keneally), Sharon Watson (for Matthew Rawcliffe), Mayuri Boonham (for Shree Savani) and Dickson Mbi (for Max Revell).
The finalists were judged on technical skill, creative expression and overall performance.
Max Revell performed three pieces in the Grand Final: a solo created especially for him by Dickson Mbi, Unstrung; a second self-choreographed solo, Subject Number 6; and a duet performed with Tom Hughes Lloyd, Stranger, also choreographed by Max and Tom Hughes Lloyd.
Max started dancing when he was nine, going to break dancing and popping classes at Street Factory in Plymouth. When he was a teenager he began travelling to battles and competitions all around the country. After working with various theatre companies, Max decided he wanted to learn contemporary and auditioned for contemporary dance conservatoires in the UK. He now attends the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Max’s goal is to continue battling and competing but also to create and perform in both contemporary and hip hop theatre shows around the world.
The Grand Final of BBC Young Dancer 2019 is available to watch on BBC iPlayer for the next 30 days.