The Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dance held their annual Dance Festival at major centres around Australia during June and July. The Dance Festival which took place in Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland from 26 June through to 13 July, attracted dancers from around the country who competed for trophies, medals and scholarships.
Guest adjudicator Jason Winters (creator of the Jason Winters Contemporary Technique) judged the contemporary section of the Victorian awards which was won, in the 14+ category, by Samantha Mitchell of Anita Coutts School of Ballet, while the under 14 section and 12 Year Age Group Aggregate was awarded to Mietta White of Centrestage. Other winners of the Victorian Awards were Madelyn Rothe of Anita Coutts School of Ballet (Commonwealth Classical Cup 14+) and Isabelle Farley of Bev Palmer Performing Arts Studio (Commonwealth Theatrical Cup 14+). The Junior Scholarship, along with the 12-14 Age Group Aggregate were awarded to Ada Sayasane of the Anita Coutts School of Ballet.
The May Downs Tap Championship (16+) was awarded to Jennifer Ray McClean of Michelle Slater-Coyne Performing Arts School with the Dorothy Gladstone Tap Championship (14 and U16) going to Jayden Watson of the same school. The Lily Allison Jazz Championship (16 and over) was awarded to CJ Slattery of The Edge Dance Centre with the 16+ Age Group Aggregate going to William Brougham of Patrick Studios. The Teacher’s Grand Aggregate went to Michelle Slater-Coyne Performing Arts School.
In Western Australia, The Norma Atkinson Modern Scholarship and Best Boy Award were awarded to Liam Green of Dynamics Performing Arts with the Betty Tilley Senior CSTD Cup going to Evelyn Roberts of Gail Meade Performing Arts Centre. Evelyn was also awarded the Helen Mackay Senior Ballet Championship. The Betty Tilley Junior CSTD Cup and the Helen Mackay Junior Ballet Championship went to Portia Secker of Jody Marshall Dance Company. In the Tap Section, the Valerie Heston 14 years Tap Championship as well as the Aggregate Winner went to Brooklyn Metropolis of Jody Marshall Dance Company. The Ron Jenkins 16 years Tap Championship went to Karlee Kaminski of Valerie Heston School of Dancing and the Noreen Meade Open Age Tap Championship was awarded to Georgia Anderson of Gail Meade Performing Arts Centre which also won the Teacher’s Aggregate Cup.
In Queensland, the CSTD Scholarship for the Junior Section was awarded to Bebecca O’Brien of Dance Force with the CSTD Senior Scholarship going to Ali Sinclair of Dance Centre. The Age Aggregates went to Kadelle Smith of the Sunshine Coast Conservatory of Dance (6 years), Charlize Goody of Dance Force (7years), Tahlia Buckley of Annette Roselli Ballet (8 years), Hana Nonala-Aillon of The Dance Company (9 years), Madison Randl of The Sunshine Coast Conservatory of Dance (10 years), Emily Wickins of The Dance Company (11 years), Jorja Warburton and Hannah Millcot of Dance Nation (12 years), Lucy Christodolou of Annette Roselli Ballet (13 years), Petrie Shuttleworth of Capricorn Dance Centre (14 years), Ali Sinclair of Dance Centre (15 years) and Hannah Schimke of Dance Force (16 years).
- Michelle Dursun
Above:
Victorian CSTD Classical Cup Participants with winner Madelyn Rothe second from left (front row - kneeling).
Photo: John Travers Photography