The Australian Ballet and Telstra have announced that Adam Elmes, Coryphée artist, has been awarded the 2025 Telstra Ballet Dancer Award.
The accolade was presented on stage at the Sydney Opera House following the opening night of David McAllister’s The Sleeping Beauty, recognising Adam’s exceptional talent, leadership, and contribution to the Company.
Adam was born in Brisbane and grew up in Sydney; he started dance classes at the age of eight. He trained at the Valerie Smith Stage School, the Tanya Pearson Academy and The Australian Ballet School. He joined The Australian Ballet in 2020. Adam was promoted to coryphée in 2023.
Now in its 22nd year, the Telstra Ballet Dancer Award celebrates emerging artists who exemplify The Australian Ballet’s core values: ambition, boldness, inclusivity, respect, and responsibility.
Made possible through Telstra’s 41 year partnership with the Company, the award recognises both the artist’s on-stage achievements and their contribution to the Company’s creative culture, serving as an important milestone in their career.
Nominees were chosen by The Australian Ballet’s artistic team, with a final round of interviews conducted by Artistic Director David Hallberg and Telstra’s Lyndall Stoyles, Group General Counsel and Group Executive, Legal, Regulatory, Government and Sustainability.
This year, under Hallberg’s guidance, the award criteria focuses on artists whose leadership, dedication, and character reflect the ethos of The Australian Ballet both on and off stage.
“The Telstra Ballet Dancer Award recognises exceptional artistry, commitment, and character, the qualities that allow a dancer to grow and inspire their peers. It is a pleasure to celebrate Adam’s achievement and the incredible contribution he has made to the artform as well as our audiences,” said The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director, David Hallberg.
“For 22 years, the Telstra Ballet Dancer Award has highlighted the remarkable talent shaping Australia’s ballet stage. Supporting emerging artists remains a priority for Telstra, and it is a privilege to continue our long-standing partnership with The Australian Ballet in recognising the next generation of leaders in dance,” said Lyndall Stoyles, Telstra’s Group Executive.
Adam receives a $15,000 cash prize generously provided by Telstra, celebrating their talent, leadership, and contribution to The Australian Ballet. Many past recipients have gone on to achieve Principal and Soloist roles, demonstrating how this recognition can serve as a pivotal milestone in an artist’s career.
Through the Telstra Ballet Dancer Award, The Australian Ballet and Telstra continue to nurture and support emerging talent, ensuring the next generation of artists can thrive within Australia’s national ballet company.
For more information about the Telstra Ballet Dancer Award, visit: www.australianballet.com.au for details.
Image: Adam Elmes in The Australian Ballet’s 2025 production of Carmen (Inger) – photo by Kate Longley