Entries will open on 1 October for the 2027 Alana Haines Australasian Awards, with the biennial ballet competition returning to Wellington over Easter next year.
The Awards will be held at St James Theatre from 25–29 March 2027, bringing together young dancers aged 11–18 from across Australasia.
Organisers are offering NZ$60,000 in cash awards, alongside elite scholarships for the 33 dancers who progress to the Grand Finals, with 11 finalists selected in each of three age divisions: Juniors, aged 11–12; Supreme A, aged 13–14; and Supreme B, aged 15–18.
The 2027 competition will be adjudicated by three prominent figures in Australasian ballet: Li Cunxin, former Artistic Director of Queensland Ballet and author of Mao’s Last Dancer; Mary Li, former principal dancer with English National Ballet and Houston Ballet and author of Mary’s Last Dance; and Ty King-Wall, former Principal Artist of The Australian Ballet and current Artistic Director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet.
Competitors begin with a short class before performing a classical solo selected from the competition’s repertoire list. Supreme A and Supreme B entrants also present a one-minute own-choice solo, with elimination rounds leading through to the Finals.
Named in memory of young Wellington dancer Alana Haines, the Awards have become an established fixture in the Australasian ballet calendar, with former finalists going on to train and perform at major schools and companies internationally.
Among its Australian alumni is Harrison Lee, a former winner of both the Junior and Supreme A divisions who is now a Soloist with The Royal Ballet.
Entries cost NZ$300 and officially open on 1 October 2026, closing once the competition quota has been reached.
Dancers and teachers can, however, begin entering their details ahead of the official opening date using the competition’s pre-registration portal.
Pre-register: https://perfhub.wedevelopments.co.nz/comp/aha-2027-04/ent