Celebrating 21 years, the Australian Dance Awards is one of the country’s most prestigious performing arts awards. Across 12 categories, the Awards acknowledge people working in the professional dance sector who have made innovative and exceptional work of national significance, or have made an outstanding and enduring contribution to the dance industry.
“Arriving at the shortlist is a demanding job for the volunteer panel of 13 dance sector professionals representing all states and territories,” said Julie Dyson, nominations coordinator for the 2018 Australian Dance Awards.
“Panel members include educators, independent artists, dance company directors, and writers / reviewers. We receive between 450 and 700 nominations each year. A thorough voting system is in place, with two, sometimes three rounds of voting.”
Presented in an afternoon of performances showcasing some of Australia’s best dance of the past year, the annual Australian Dance Awards rely on the generosity and goodwill of the dance sector.
“Ausdance National is honoured to present the 21st Australian Dance Awards in partnership with industry sponsors,” said Kerry Comerford, Executive Director of Ausdance National. “The Awards ceremony is the time we acknowledge and celebrate the dance profession’s depth and diversity, both on and off the stage.”
The 2018 Australian Dance Awards take place on Saturday 8 September at the Brisbane Powerhouse. Tickets are now on sale. For more information, visit: www.ausdance.org.au for details.
Image: Bangarra Dance Theatre’s Bennelong – photo by Daniel Boud
2018 Australian Dance Awards Shortlist:
Services to Dance:
Philippe Charluet
Marilyn Miller
Philip Piggin
Hilary Trotter
Services to Dance Education:
Paige Gordon
Raewyn Hill
Sinsa Mansell
Katrina Rank
Outstanding Achievement in Community Dance:
Annette Carmichael for The Beauty Index
Tracks Dance for Man Made
QPAC, The Royal Ballet and Community Groups for We All Dance
Sprung!! Integrated Dance Group for Share House
Outstanding Achievement in Youth Dance:
Austinmer Dance Theatre for UNREAL
Co3 for Project next
QL2 Dance for This Poisoned Sea
Moorambilla Voices for Gundabooka
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography:
Lucy Guerin and Gideon Obarzanek for Attractor (Dancenorth and Lucy Guerin Inc)
Raewyn Hill for The Zone (Co3)
Stephanie Lake for Pile of Bones (Stephanie Lake Company)
Stephen Page for Bennelong (2017) (Bangarra Dance Theatre)
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance:
Martin del Amo for CHAMPIONS
Australian Dance Artists for Restraint(s)
Michelle Heaven for In Plan
Nick Power (choreography), Jack Prest (sound design) for Between Tiny Cities
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer:
Jana Castillo for construct (Australian Dance Theatre)
Amber Haines for Spectra (Dancenorth)
Ako Kondo for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (The Australian Ballet)
Charmene Yap for Ocho (Sydney Dance Company)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer:
Richard Causer for Behind Closed Doors (Expressions Dance Company)
Nelson Earl for Ocho (Sydney Dance Company)
Beau Dean Riley Smith for Bennelong (2017) (Bangarra Dance Theatre)
Kimball Wong for construct (Australian Dance Theatre)
Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Dance, Musicals or Physical Theatre:
Gravity & Other Myths for BACKBONE
Michael Ralph for SELF
Sydney Theatre Company for Muriel’s Wedding (Andrew Hallsworth, choreographer)
Nicola Gunn and Jo Lloyd for Piece for Person and Ghetto Blaster
Outstanding Achievement in Dance on Film or New Media:
Richard James Allen for Enchant
Sophia Bender for Behind Barres
Sue Healey for Eileen
Catherine Moore & Jade Lowry for Unstilled