Fresh from its triumph at the Australian
Dance Awards, Expressions Dance Company has received another honour. The Brisbane contemporary company won
the “Best Ballet or Dance Work” category at the recent Helpmann Awards for
Where the Heart is, choreographed by artistic director Natalie Weir. Weir’s work won from an eclectic group
of nominees: Vertical Road, by the British company of Akram Kahn; Sutra, by
Flemish/Moroccan choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and the 17 Warrior Monks of the Shaolin
Temple; and Melbourne’s Balletlab. Where the Heart is also won the “Best
Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work”. Paul White and Kristina Chan won “Best
Male” and “Best Female” respectively “Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre
Work”, both for their performances in Narelle Benjamin’s In Glass. In music theatre, Mary Poppins won eight
of the 12 categories it was nominated in, including best musical, best
choreography and best male actor for Matt Lee. The 11th Helpmann Awards were held at
the Sydney Opera House on Monday August 1. See http://www.helpmannawards.com.au for the full list of
winners and nominees
A scene from Natalie Weir's award-winning ballet.
