The Royal Academy of Dance hosted the Boys DANCE Challenge competition as part of its third annual Boys DANCE workshop, held in Adelaide in early January.
Open to male dancers aged 7 and over from beginners to advanced, the workshop included participants from around Australia, and even as far afield as Malaysia.
The Boys Dance Challenge gave workshop participants the opportunity to perform a solo dance in a genre of their choice in front of a live audience. The Challenge was adjudicated by RAD Artistic Director Gerard Charles.
Results:
Junior:
Winner: Seth McInnis, Dance Explosions (Post Augusta, SA)
Runner-up: Leo Cocks, ACPA (Adelaide, SA)
Encouragement award: Lucas Projkoski, Point Cook Performing Arts (VIC)
Senior:
Winner: Joe Dufty, National College of Dance (Newcastle, NSW)
Runner-up: Lachlan George, Mildura Ballet & Dance School (VIC)
Encouragement award: Daniel Maxwell, Innovate Dance Studio (Adelaide, SA)
The faculty for Boys DANCE 20 included classical teacher Jake Burden – founder of the organisation Ballet Brothers which gives boys the opportunity to dance, network and share experiences. Dancing brothers Jesse and Joel Rasmussen taught tap and hip hop respectively. Jesse Rasmussen is best known for his role as creator, performer and producer of hit show The Tap Pack whilst Joel spent his professional dance career performing with some of the biggest names in pop and choreographing for shows such as The X Factor and So You Think You Can Dance. Finally, David Williams who is a former dancer with Sydney Dance Company, Expressions Dance Company and an all-male dance company Black Grace Dance Company, completed the line-up teaching contemporary.
The students were also surprised during rehearsal for a parent showcase on Saturday afternoon by a visit from Wade Neilsen, a RAD student currently playing the role of Billy Elliot in the national tour of the musical of the same name.
Pictured top is senior winner Joe Dufty.
