The Royal Academy of Dance presented a hugely successful 2021 Festival of Dance in Perth over the long weekend in June, returning to its full strength this year after a slightly abridged event in 2020.
Every year the Festival gives dance students, in and beyond the RAD community, a place to develop their skills and perform on a professional stage in front of leading industry professionals. Over 400 students entered this year despite the disruption to their studies in 2020; a number the RAD attributes to the candidate’s sheer dedication and commitment to excellence.
The adjudicators were Aurélien Scannella (Artistic Director, West Australian Ballet) Sandy Delasalle-Scannella (Principal Ballet Mistress and Artistic Associate, West Australian Ballet) and Melissa McCabe (Demi-Soloist with West Australian Ballet and former dancer with The Australian Ballet and Alberta Ballet). Other adjudicators included Brooke Jacobs, Justin Rutzou, Scott Elstermann, Diana de Vos and Denise Nunn. Long time supporter David McAllister was unable to attend because of lockdown restrictions.
The adjudicators agreed the standard across the board was very high and selected the major scholarship winners as:
Evelyn Hodgkinson Scholarship (10-12yrs): Millie Cottey (trained by Perth Classical and Contemporary Coaching) with Phoebe Sedgman (Graduate College of Dance) as runner up.
Gay Cruickshank Scholarship (13-14yrs) Rhett Davies with Kyla Payne runner up (both trained by Perth Classical and Contemporary Coaching).
Joan Stacy Scholarship (15-16yrs) Sonja Braunl (trained by Perth School of Ballet) and Isabella Lockyer ( Graduate College of Dance) as runner up.
Linley Wilson Scholarship (17+yrs) Zane Smith-Taylor with Aimee Yong as runner-up (both trained by Perth Classical and Contemporary Coaching).
Other notable highlights included the Grishko Award which also went to Rhett Davies and the Claire Marshall Trophy for National Dance which was awarded to Olivia Devine from Perth School of Ballet.
The annual David McAllister Cup went to Perth Classical and Contemporary Coaching.
A new prestigious medal was introduced into the program in 2021 to commemorate the RAD celebrating 100 years of teaching dance globally. The Centenary Medal was awarded in three levels as follows:
Junior - Phoebe Sedgman (Graduate College of Dance), Intermediate - Rhett Davies (Perth Classical and Contemporary Coaching) and Senior - Zane Smith-Taylor (Perth Classical and Contemporary Coaching).
These winners displayed "exceptional artistry and performance for an audience".
The Festival culminated on Monday 7 June with a gala evening including a performance from guest artists Carina Robert and Jesse Homes, Demi Soloists from West Australian Ballet. The duo performed Natural Dualities choreographed by Matej Perunicic. They were joined on stage by 3rd year students from West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) who performed Barroco, choreographed by Kim McCarthy. A full list of the winners can be downloaded here.
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