The Australian Teachers of Dancing Australasian Energetiks Scholarships were held from July 19 to 21 at Mad House Dance and Gardens Theatre at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane. The national event was attended by dancers aged nine and above who had placed in the top four in their state. These students competed across a range of genres from jazz to tap and classical ballet to hip hop.
Students were judged on their performances both in class and on the stage, with a total of $60,000 in scholarship prize money and bursaries awarded over the course of the event.
The winner of the Senior Hip Hop Section was Stacey Anderson from Silhouette School of Dance in Queensland. The Senior Jazz Section was won by Tahlia Lewis from Cathy-Lea Dance Works in Victoria with 2nd place awarded to Serena Earley from the Dorothy Cowie School of Dance in NSW. Serena also won the Senior Classical Section with 2nd place awarded to Alexandra Brand from Julie Ryan Dancers in Victoria. Natalie Burland, from the Dorothy Cowie School of Dance, was the winner of the Senior Tap Section, while 2nd place went to Abbey Phelan from Dance Discovery (Vic).
The competition culminated on the evening of 20th July with the awarding of the David Atkins and Justine Summers Awards.
The David Atkins Award, adjudicated by Andrea Dalton, Mark Hill and Bill Simpson, was presented to Stephanie Di Coio, once again from the Dorothy Cowie School of Dance in NSW ($2500). The runner-up was Celeste Bayly from Strictly Dance in Queensland, winning $1000.
The Justine Summers Award was adjudicated by Justine Summers herself. She is a former principal dancer with the Australian Ballet and currently the patron of the ATOD). She was joined in her deliberations by Bertrand D’At (international freelance choreographer and ballet master) and Mark Pace (ex-soloist with the Australian Ballet). They awarded first prize to Madison Ayton, from Strictly Dance in Queensland ($2500). The runner-up Gabrielle Loveridge, also from Strictly Dance, who won $1000.
The winner of the Dorothy Cowie Award, named after former ATOD Patron, Examiner and Life Member Miss Dorothy Cowie, was awarded to Angela Pidgeon from Vogue Dance Studios in NSW. Angela was selected for the award due to her stage presence, love of dance and musicality by adjudicator Bertrand D’At.
In addition, five Dance Australia 12 month subscriptions were awarded to dancers across the scholarship weekend.
- MICHELLE DURSUN
See more photos in the October/November issue of Dance Australia.