Australian Dance Awards

The Australian Dance Awards recognise excellence in dance in Australia, they are awarded under the auspice of the Australian Dance Council (Ausdance) for performance, choreography, design, dance writing, teaching and related professions. They especially recognise and honour professional Australian dance artists who have made an outstanding contribution to Australian dance.

The awards date from 1997, first held in Sydney,[1] moving to Melbourne in 2008, followed by Brisbane and Perth.

The Awards have their origin in the informal community Dancers' Picnic founded by Keith Bain first held in 1986 on or close to International Dance Day.[1] In 1997, Ausdance NSW with support from the City of Sydney and The Australian Ballet, presented the inaugural Australian Dance Awards at the Sydney Opera House. Over time, the Awards have evolved into the industry’s ‘night of nights.’

2008 marked the beginning of a new era, with the Awards celebration held in Melbourne and produced by Ausdance Victoria for three consecutive years, thanks to the generosity of the Joan and Peter Clemenger Trust and The Australian Ballet.

Now, with a truly national focus, the Australian Dance Awards is promoting the art form, raising the profile of Australian artists and providing a focal point for the celebration of excellence.

2012

The 2012 Australian Dance Awards. Held at Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre, Perth. Hosted by Verity James. Winners were:[2]

Award Recipient Work Notes
Outstanding Achievement in Youth or Community Dance Shaun Parker and Company Captivate
Services to Dance Education Sarah Calver
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography Natalie Weir R & J Expressions Dance Company
Peggy Van Praagh Choreographic Fellowship Stephanie Lake
Outstanding Achievement in Dance on Film / New Media Bryan Mason & Sophie Hyde Life In Movement
Services to Dance Lucinda Sharp
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance Barry Moreland & Daryl Brandwood HELIX
Lifetime Achievement Award Nanette Hassell[3]
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer Elise May R & J Expressions Dance Company
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer Daryl Brandwood HELIX
Outstanding Performance by a Company Bangarra Dance Theatre Belong

2011

The 2011 Australian Dance Awards. Held at QPAC Playhouse, Brisbane. Hosted by Fenella Kernebone. Winners were:[4]

Award Recipient Work Notes
Lifetime Achievement Award Robina Beard OAM[3]
Services to Dance Education Valda Craig
Outstanding Achievement in Youth or Community Dance QL2 Dance Hard Yards
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography Rafael Bonachela 6 Breaths Sydney Dance Company
Outstanding Performance by a Company Expressions Dance Company Where the Heart Is
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance Narelle Benjamin In Glass
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer Amy Hollingsworth Irony of Fate Sydney Dance Company
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer Daniel Gaudiello Coppelia The Australian Ballet
Outstanding Performance in a Stage Musical Alinta Chidzey West Side Story
Hall of Fame Keith Bain OAM
Award for Services to Dance Ruth Osborne Artistic Director - QL2 Dance (Canberra)

2010

The 2010 Australian Dance Awards. Hosted by Neil Pigot.[5] Held at Melbourne’s Arts Centre, State Theatre. Winners were:[6][7]

Award Recipient Work Notes
Lifetime Achievement Award Bill Akers AM[3]
Services to Dance Stephen Page
Services to Dance Education Maggi Phillips
Outstanding Achievement in Youth or Community Dance Restless Dance Theatre Hard Yards
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography Meryl Tankard & Paul White The Oracle
Outstanding Performance by a Company Bangarra Dance Theatre Fire - A Retrospective
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance Sue Peacock Questions Without Notice
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer Lana Jones Firebird The Australian Ballet
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer Paul White The Oracle
Outstanding Performance in a Stage Musical Caroline O'Connor Chicago

2009

The 2009 Australian Dance Awards winners were:[8][9]

Award Recipient Work Notes
Lifetime Achievement Lucette Aldous[3]
Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education Jeff Meiners
Outstanding Achievement in Youth or Community Dance Tracks Inc STRUCK Awarded for the first time in 2009[10]
Outstanding Performance in a Stage Musical Nick Twiney, Rarmian Newton, Rhys Kosakowski, Lochlan Denholm, Joshua Waiss Gates, Dayton Tavares, Joshua Denyer & Michael Dameski Billy Elliot The Musical
Outstanding Performance by a Company Force Majeure The Age I'm In
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance Tanja Liedtke (posthumous) construct
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer Kristina Chan construct choreographed by Tanja Liedtke
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer Reed Luplau Sid's Waltzing Masquerade Sydney Dance Company
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography Tanja Liedtke (posthumous) construct
Award for Dance on Film Chris Scherer If The Shoe Fits
Award for Services to Dance Lee Christofis A former dance critic and now curator of dance at the National Library of Australia[9]

2008

The 2008 Australian Dance Awards were hosted by Michael Veitch. The winners were:[11]

Award Recipient Work Notes
Lifetime Achievement Paul Hammond OAM[3]
Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education Helen Cameron
Outstanding Performance in a Stage Musical Hugh Jackman The Boy From Oz Choreographed by Kenny Ortega and Kelley Abbey
Outstanding Performance by a Company Lucy Guerin Inc Structure & Sadness Choreographed by Lucy Guerin
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance Shaun Parker This Show Is About People Produced by Marguerite Pepper Productions
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer Lucinda Dunn Don Quixote (The Australian Ballet)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer Paul White Honour Bound[12] Choreographed by Garry Stewart
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography Garry Stewart Honour Bound Commissioned by Sydney Opera House & Malthouse Theatre
Award for Dance on Film Sue Healey Will Time Tell Produced by Sue Healey
Award for Services to Dance Dally Messenger III & Karen van Ulzen

2006

Hosted by Todd McKenney, Dancing with the Stars and Rachael Beck from It Takes Two. The winners were:[13]

Award Recipient Work Notes
Lifetime Achievement Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon[3]
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education Buzz Dance Theatre
Award for Services to Dance Hilary Crampton
Outstanding Achievement In Choreography Tanja Liedtke Twelfth Floor
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance Clare Dyson Churchill’s Black Dog
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer Kristina Chan Twelfth Floor (Tanja Liedtke Co.)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer Byron Perry Headlock (Kage Physical Theatre)
Outstanding Performance by a Company Australian Dance Theatre Devolution by Garry Stewart
Award for Dance on Film Sam James & Julie-Anne Long Nun’s Night Out

2005

Hosted by Chloe Dallimore, the star of the Australian production of the musical "The Producers" and Eddie Perfect. The winners were:[14]

Award Recipient Work Notes
Lifetime Achievement Award Kathryn Lowe[3]
Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education Jenny Kinder
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer Margrete Helgeby Aqueous
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer Dein Perry Tap Dogs
Outstanding Performance by a Company Force Majeure Already Elsewhere Choreographed by Kate Champion
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography Wendy Houstoun, Narelle Benjamin, Brian

Carbee, Julie-Anne Long & Michael Whaites

Graeme Murphy

In the Dark

Grand

Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance Julie-Anne Long The Nun’s Picnic
Award for Services to Dance Mark Gordon
Award for Dance Film Gina Czarnecki Nascent Choreographed by Garry Stewart
Outstanding Performance in a Stage Musical Josef Brown in Dirty Dancing
Inducted to the Hall of Fame. Colin Peasley, John Lanchbery and Ross Stretton

2004

Award Recipient Work Notes
Lifetime achievement award Julie Dyson AM[3] National Executive Officer of Ausdance since the Australia Council began funding the organisation in 1985 also received the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award for Administration in 1994
Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education Michelle Saunders General Manager of STEPS Youth Dance Company
Outstanding achievement in choreography Frances Rings Unaipon (Bangarra Dance Theatre)
Outstanding Performance by a Company Australian Dance Theatre Held Choreographed by Garry Stewart.
Outstanding Performance by a female dancer Larissa McGowan Held (Australian Dance Theatre)
Outstanding Performance by a male dancer Patrick Thaiday

Paul Zivkovich

Unaipon]]

Held

Bangarra Dance Theatre

Australian Dance Theatre.

Outstanding Performance in a stage musical Chloe Dallimore (The Producers)
Outstanding achievement in independent dance Kate Denborough Nowhere Man (Kage Physical Theatre)
Award for services to dance No award
Award for dance on film I Dream of Augustine Concept & Direction: Cordelia Beresford

Choreography & Performance: Narelle Benjamin

2003

Hosted by Libbi Gorr. The winners were:[15]

Award Recipient Work Notes
Lifetime achievement award Cheryl Stock[3] As a performer, choreographer, artistic director, advocate, researcher, academic, and leader in tertiary dance education
Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education Keith Bain OAM
Outstanding achievement in choreography Graeme Murphy AM Swan Lake (Sydney Dance Company)
Outstanding Performance by a Company Sydney Dance Company Underland Choreographed by Graeme Murphy.
Outstanding Performance by a female dancer Simone Goldsmith Swan Lake (The Australian Ballet)
Outstanding Performance by a male dancer Bradley Chatfield Underland Sydney Dance Company
Outstanding Performance in a stage musical Joshua Horner Tivoli Sydney Dance Company
Outstanding achievement in independent dance Helen Herbertson and Ben Cobham Morphia Series (Delirium and Morphia)
Award for services to dance Michelle Potter
Award for dance on film Sue Healey Fine Line

2002

Award Recipient Work Notes
Lifetime achievement award Meryl Tankard[3]
Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education Nanette Hassall Founder of Dance Works and currently Head of Dance at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
Outstanding achievement in choreography Garry Stewart The Age of Unbeauty (Australian Dance Theatre)
Outstanding Performance by a Company Australian Dance Theatre The Age of Unbeauty Choreographed by Garry Stewart.
Outstanding Performance by a female dancer Roz Hervey Same Same but Different (Force Majeure)
Outstanding Performance by a male dancer Dean Walsh The Age of Unbeauty Australian Dance Theatre
Outstanding Performance in a stage musical Todd McKenney Singin' in the Rain
Award for services to dance Ian McRae
Award for dance on film No award

2001

Award Recipient Work Notes
Lifetime achievement award Shirley McKechnie OAM[3] Professorial Fellow at the Victorian College of the Arts and has pioneered of Australian contemporary dance in
Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education Margaret Markham Fellow of the Australian College of Educators and founder of The McDonald College in 1984.
Outstanding achievement in choreography Graeme Murphy AM Tivoli Artistic director of the now Sydney Dance Company, choreographed over forty works and was awarded the OM for his services to dance in Australia.
Outstanding Performance by a Company The Australian Ballet and

Sydney Dance Company

Tivoli Choreographed by Graeme Murphy as a joint production
Outstanding Performance by an Individual Harry Haythorne Tivoli Sydney Dance Company
Outstanding Performance in a stage musical Tracey Carrodus Tivoli Sydney Dance Company.
Award for services to dance Lucette Aldous Ballerina and an inspirational teacher and mentor to students at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
Award for dance on film Boro's Ballet Directed by Michelle Potter and Sally Jackson

Produced by ScreenSound Australia[16]
A documentary charting the work of choreographer Edouard Borovansky and the foundation of the Boronovsky Ballet

2000

Award Recipient Work Notes
Lifetime achievement award Kira Bousloff OAM[3]
Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education Martin Rubenstein OAM
Outstanding achievement in choreography Ted Bransden Carmen West Australian Ballet
Outstanding Performance by a Company The Australian Ballet In the Middle Somewhat Elevated Choreographed by William Forsythe
Outstanding Performance by an Individual Steven Heathcote AM Don Quixote The Australian Ballet
Outstanding Performance in a stage musical Todd McKenney The Boy from Oz
Award for services to dance Julie Dyson National Executive Officer of the Australian Dance Council
Award for dance on film No award

1999

Award Recipient Work Notes
Lifetime achievement award Keith Bain OAM[3] Fulfilled roles as dancer, teacher and choreographer and administrator over five decades, founder the Dancer's Picnic
Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education Professor Susan Street Performer, choreographer, educator and administrator.
Outstanding achievement in choreography Leigh Warren Shimmer
Outstanding Performance by a Company Leigh Warren & Dancers Masterpieces of the 20th Century and

Shimmer

Outstanding Performance by an Individual Delia Silvan Silent Cries Leigh Warren & Dancers
Outstanding Performance in a stage musical Carolyn O'Connor Chicago A dancer, actress and singer in the London West End and Australia with roles in a number of classic stage musicals
Award for services to dance Kristian Fredrikson As a costume designer
Award for dance on film Restoration Direction: Cordelia Beresford.

Choreography & Performance: Narelle Benjamin and Solon Ulbrich

1998

Award Recipient Work Notes
Lifetime achievement award[3] Margaret Scott OBE

Valrene Tweedie [17] OAM

Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education Joan Halliday OAM and

Monica Halliday OAM

Outstanding achievement in choreography Dein Perry

Stephen Baynes

Outstanding Performance by an Individual Damien Welch

Djakapurra Munyarryun

Award for services to dance Tony Geeves Author of Safe Dance I and II

1997

Award Recipient Work Notes
Lifetime achievement award[3] Elizabeth Cameron Dalman OAM

Laurel Martyn OBE

Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education Shirley McKechnie OAM

Ann Roberts


founder of Dancenorth
Outstanding achievement in choreography Stephen Page

Gideon Obarzanek

Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre

Artistic Director of Chunky Move

Award for services to dance Jill Sykes AM

Dally Messenger

Dance writer of the Sydney Morning Herald

Founder of Dance Australia

References

External links