2015 will see the presentation of the Australian Dance Awards (ADAs) take place in Adelaide for the first time. The ADAs celebrate the achievements of the Australian dance industry – those working on the stage and those working behind the scenes. The ADAs are presented at a gala event, combining award presentations with performances. This year’s ceremony will be hosted by Adelaide television news presenter, Jane Doyle. This will the 18th staging of the Australian Dance Awards, which first began as a dancer’s picnic in Sydney.
Of the awards one of the most keenly anticipated is the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented to Adelaide choreographer Leigh Warren in 2014. The other awards are: Hall of Fame, Services to Dance, Services to Dance Education, Outstanding Achievement in Choreography, Outstanding Performance by a Company, Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance, Outstanding Achievement in Youth or Community Dance, Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer, Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer, Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Dance, Musicals or Physical Theatre and Outstanding Achievement in Dance on Film or New Media.
Traditionally, the ADAs profile the achievements of the host state. With South Australia’s Australian Dance Theatre (ADT) celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2015, it’s the perfect year for the awards to take place in Adelaide. The founder and first artistic director of ADT, Elizabeth Cameron Dalman will present an award and ADT will present early and more recent works from its repertoire. The evening’s entertainment will also include a performance by Restless Dance Theatre, a new Leigh Warren work performed by students of the Adelaide College of the Arts and an excerpt from Dance North’s new work, Syncing Feeling. Fringe events include a showing/conversation about new independent dance works. The list of nominees can be seen at www.australiandanceawards.net.au.
The Australian Dance Awards will be presented on 12 September 2015 at Her Majesty’s Theatre, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale at BASS.