Kathleen Hamilton reports from the 2018 AICD Houston Ballet Academy Scholarship & NSW Junior Awards, held April 17 at Hurstville Entertainment Centre.
The NSW Junior Award was attended by 43 contestants, aged 13 and 14 years of age, from all the top schools in NSW and some from interstate. Marilyn Jones OBE and Mark Brinkley OAM adjudicated and first place went to Celine Urquhart from McDonald College, second place, Corey Gavan from Beverley Rowels School of Dance and third place, Abbi Lewis from Tania’s Strictly Dancing. Will Dyson from Premiere Studios and Natalie Sorensen from Vocational Ballet College received encouragement awards.
The AICD Houston Ballet Academy Scholarship was held in the afternoon and commenced with class on stage to show off the contestant’s technical abilities. Class was given by international guest teacher, Olivia Jenkins, with guest pianist, Alla Orlievsky. There were 48 NSW and interstate contestants who did class and performed their solos. Marilyn Jones OBE, Mark Brinkley and Vicki Attard, interim director of HBA, adjudicated the Scholarship and chose Chloe Reynolds from National College of Dance for first place and scholarship winner. Second place was given to Grace Humphris from National College of Dance and third place/Encouragement Award went to Hyo Shimizu from The Conlan College and Alicia Mason from National College of Dance. Second place award was presented by Leia Hajduczok and Radim Kafka who were representing the major sponsor for this AICD event, Bloch dancewear.
The winner of this scholarship, Chloe Reynolds, will attend the Houston Ballet Academy’s six week Summer Intensive Program in USA with all expenses paid. Previous winners of this scholarship have been selected to attend the HBA full time program and have gone on to have great careers in dance. The HB Academy directly connected to Houston Ballet and Houston Ballet II. It is with the collaboration of Houston Ballet and Artistic Director, Stanton Welch AM that the Australian Institute of Classical Dance can hold this wonderful event for young dancers each year.
- Kathleen Hamilton, AICD
Pictured top: Winners of the AICD Houston Ballet Academy Scholarship L-R: Second place: Grace Humphris (National College of Dance), first place and scholarship winner: Chloe Reynolds (National College of Dance) first place, third place/encouragement award: Alicia Mason (National College of Dance) and Hyo Shimizu (The Conlan College).
