South Australia’s young dancers were recognised at the 2026 Eileen Hogarth Awards, held at Helen Reid Hall in Adelaide on Sunday, 2 August.
Presented by the Royal Academy of Dance, the event welcomed a record number of participants across levels ranging from Grade 2 to Solo Seal. Open exclusively to current South Australian RAD examination candidates, the Awards offer students the opportunity to perform before an audience while developing their confidence and performance skills in a supportive setting.
The Awards are named in honour of Eileen Hogarth, South Australia’s first RAD examiner and a distinguished RAD Life Member. The annual event continues her legacy by recognising student achievement while celebrating the history and strength of the state’s dance community.
Throughout the day, participants took part in syllabus and open classes taught by RAD examiner Helen Cooper. Finalists from each section later returned to perform before families, friends and guest adjudicator Guy Wheatstone, Guest Academy Program Coordinator and Academy Teacher at Queensland Ballet Academy.
Wheatstone praised both the standard of the students and the atmosphere of the event.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Adelaide and would like to congratulate the organisers on delivering such a professional and welcoming event,” he said.
“I was genuinely impressed by the standard of teaching and by the enthusiasm, talent and hard work of the students. It was a pleasure to be part of the Eileen Hogarth Awards, and I hope to return in the future.”
Ruby Gool of Terry Simpson Studios received the Eileen Hogarth Award, as well as the Kathleen Short Memorial Cup for Advanced 2 and Solo Seal. Roux Walter-Engelsma of Vivienne Winter School of Ballet was also recognised twice, winning both the Jacqueline Tucker Award for Grades 6, 7 and 8 and the Floyd & B’Nay Award for Intermediate Foundation and Intermediate.
Other major scholarship recipients included Mila Laughlin of Terry Simpson Studios, who received the Joyce Clother OAM Scholarship, and Alice Ramos, also of Terry Simpson Studios, who received the Lorraine Irving OAM Scholarship.
The 2026 prize recipients were:
Badenoch Iversen Award for Grades 2–3
Winner: Portia Woolston, Rosie Clark Dance
Runner-up: Vivienne Cleland, Vivienne Winter School of Ballet
Gwen Mackey Award for Grades 4–5
Winner: Ellesse Tan, Carisma Dance & Fitness
Runner-up: Hannah Woon, Carisma Dance & Fitness
Jacqueline Tucker Award for Grades 6, 7 and 8
Winner: Roux Walter-Engelsma, Vivienne Winter School of Ballet
Runner-up: Ilya Degroot, Turning Point Dance
Sheila Laing Training Enhancement Award
Winner: Isabel Romeo, Aldgate Dance
Terry Simpson Encouragement Award
Winner: Henry White, Carisma Dance & Fitness
Joyce Clother OAM Scholarship
Winner: Mila Laughlin, Terry Simpson Studios
Floyd & B’Nay Award for Intermediate Foundation and Intermediate
Winner: Roux Walter-Engelsma, Vivienne Winter School of Ballet
Runner-up: Amelie Bredenkamp, Vivienne Winter School of Ballet
Sir Robert Helpmann Award for Advanced Foundation and Advanced 1
Winner: Maisie Stark, Terry Simpson Studios
Runner-up: Sofia Lydyard, Radiance Dance Studios
Kathleen Short Memorial Cup for Advanced 2 and Solo Seal
Winner: Ruby Gool, Terry Simpson Studios
Runner-up: Evangeline Chang, Terry Simpson Studios
Susan Taylor Encouragement Award
Winner: Aaliyah Williams, Turning Point Dance
Lorraine Irving OAM Scholarship
Winner: Alice Ramos, Terry Simpson Studios
2026 Bloch Encouragement Award
Winner: Evie Mazzone, Terry Simpson Studios
Eileen Hogarth Award
Winner: Ruby Gool, Terry Simpson Studios
RAD Regional Manager for South Australia Philippa Lynas said the record participation made this year’s event particularly special.
“The 2026 Eileen Hogarth Awards were a wonderful celebration of the talent, dedication and passion within our South Australian dance community,” she said.
“With record participation this year, it was incredibly special to see so many young dancers come together to perform, support one another and share their love of dance. I am immensely proud of every student who took part and so grateful to our teachers, families, volunteers and supporters who continue to make this event such an important part of the RAD calendar in South Australia.”
The RAD also acknowledged the volunteers, South Australian RAD Panel members, teachers and families who supported the event, together with National Student Event Sponsors Bloch, Energetiks and Capezio.