The Alana Haines Australasian (AHA) Awards has confirmed its lineup of guest performers for the upcoming 2025 Grand Finals. Scheduled to take place at the St James Theatre in Wellington over the Easter weekend (April 18th to 21st), the event provides a significant platform for young dancers. The inclusion of guest performances by professional artists is a traditional highlight, offering inspiration and showcasing professional standards.
This year's guest artists feature performers from prominent companies in the region and internationally recognised schools:
From The Australian Ballet: Alice McArthur and Principal Artist Marcus Morelli are scheduled to perform the Diana and Acteon pas de deux from La Esmeralda. McArthur, originally from Auckland, has a direct connection to the awards, having received an AHA scholarship in 2017 facilitating her training at the John Cranko Schule. Following further accolades, including gold medals at the Asian Grand Prix (2019) and The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition (2021), she joined The Australian Ballet in 2024. Morelli, who trained in Melbourne, joined The Australian Ballet in 2014 and was appointed Principal Artist in 2024.
From Queensland Ballet: Alfie Shacklock of Queensland Ballet will perform a variation from Le Talisman. Shacklock is another AHA alumnus, having been the Junior Winner in 2017 and receiving the Supreme Gailene Stock Award in 2019. After graduating from The Royal Ballet School and dancing with Birmingham Royal Ballet, he joined Queensland Ballet in 2024.
Representing The Royal Ballet School: Aucklander Lauren Wycherley, the 2023 Supreme Gailene Stock Award recipient, will perform the original Odile variation from Swan Lake. Wycherley is currently undertaking further training at The Royal Ballet School in London, illustrating the pathways facilitated by the competition.
From the Royal New Zealand Ballet: Principal Artists Kate Kadow and Laurynas Vėjalis of the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) will perform a Grand Pas Classique. Kadow trained at the Kirov Academy and was a principal artist with State Street Ballet before joining RNZB in 2018. Vėjalis, originally from Lithuania, trained in Tokyo and London, danced with the National Ballet of Canada, and also joined RNZB in 2018.
The presence of these accomplished guest performers, including several notable AHA alumni now pursuing professional careers, highlights the calibre of the Alana Haines Australasian Awards. Their performances during the Grand Finals weekend offer valuable exposure to professional artistry for competitors and audiences attending the event at the St James Theatre over Easter.