The breadth of Western Australia’s dance sector was on full display this week, with major companies and independent artists recognised at the 2026 Performing Arts WA Awards, held on Monday 20 April at the Heath Ledger Theatre.
Now in its 27th year, the awards continue to expand beyond theatre to encompass dance, musicals, opera and cabaret, with a new panel introduced in 2026 to assess circus and physical theatre. Hosted annually by Artist Relief Fund WA, the awards recognise professional live performance across the state while supporting artists experiencing hardship.
In the dance categories, West Australian Ballet secured Best Mainstage Production for Cinderella, alongside multiple individual honours. Independent artists and collectives were also strongly represented, particularly through collaborations emerging from The Blue Room Theatre and STRUT Dance.
Below is the full list of nominees and winners across the dance categories.
Best Mainstage Production
Presented by Steamworks Arts
Winner
Cinderella, West Australian Ballet
Nominees
Butterfly Effect, West Australian Ballet
IN THE SHADOW OF TIME, Co3 Contemporary Dance & The Australian Chamber Orchestra
Manifest, Perth Moves, STRUT Dance in association with Perth Festival
The Wild Between Stars: Ballet at the Quarry, West Australian Ballet
Best Independent Production
Presented by Steamworks Arts
Winner
two thread, The Blue Room Theatre & Karlia & Danni Cook and STRUT Dance
Nominees
Hyperfantasia, The Blue Room Theatre & Enneagon Movement
Resistance | ചെറുത്തുനില്പ്, The Blue Room Theatre & Swaroopa Prameela Unni
Shifting Ground, Nadia Priolo & Dancers
The Scramble, The Blue Room Theatre & Shaun Johnston with STRUT Dance
Outstanding Duet or Ensemble
Presented by Steamworks Arts
Winner – Duet
Karlia Cook & Danni Cook, two thread
Winner – Ensemble
The Ensemble, Manifest, Perth Moves, STRUT Dance in association with Perth Festival
Nominees
Annmarie Clifton-James & Jo Omodei, Carcass
Dayana Hardy Acuña & Julio Blanes, Ripples from The Wild Between Stars: Ballet at the Quarry
Nathan Turtur & Luther Wilson, The Scramble
The Ensemble, IN THE SHADOW OF TIME
Outstanding Performer
Presented by Steamworks Arts
Winners
Luther Wilson, The Scramble
Pamela Barnes, Cinderella
Nominees
Alexa Tuzil, Butterfly Effect
Alexa Tuzil, The Wild Between Stars: Ballet at the Quarry
Asja Petrovski, Cinderella
Luther Wilson, Manifest
Mayume Noguromi, Cinderella
Mayume Noguromi, The Wild Between Stars: Ballet at the Quarry
Oscar Valdés, Don Quixote
Russell Thorpe, IN THE SHADOW OF TIME
Storm Helmore, IN THE SHADOW OF TIME
Outstanding Choreography
Presented by Steamworks Arts
Winner
Raewyn Hill, IN THE SHADOW OF TIME, Co3 Contemporary Dance & The Australian Chamber Orchestra
Nominees
Annmarie Clifton-James & Jo Omodei, Carcass
Karlia Cook & Danni Cook, two thread
Nadia Priolo, Shifting Ground
Tara Gower, Ripples from The Wild Between Stars: Ballet at the Quarry
Eligible productions span theatre, dance, musicals, opera, cabaret, circus and physical theatre, with awards recognising both mainstage companies and independent artists. Works must be presented in Western Australia within the 2026 calendar year, meet professional industry standards, and be assessed by a panel of judges.
The 2026 judging panels span multiple artforms, with dance adjudication including respected critics and practitioners such as Nina Levy, a regular contributor to Dance Australia, alongside Bryan Woltjen, Claire Voss, Floeur Alder, Isha Sharvani, Janine Oxenham, Muriel Hillion, Sharon Dalla-Costa, Sue Peacock, Tyrone Robinson
Congratulations to all nominees and award recipients recognised in this year’s Performing Arts WA Awards.