What do Lauren Langlois, Daniel Gaudiello, Tamara Rojo and Kimball Wong have in common? They have all been chosen as the “Most Outstanding Dancer” in the 2014 Dance Australia Critics' Survey!
Who else has been chosen?
See Sydney critic Jill Sykes's choices below and buy the Feb/Mar issue of Dance Australia to find out the remaining 13 critics' choices! Buy your copy from your favourite outlet or purchase online via our app, available for download here.
Jill Sykes (NSW)
The Sydney Morning Herald
Highlight of the year
Surprise has something to do with it, but the exhilarating collaboration between Anandavalli’s Lingalayam dancers and Ian Cleworth’s Taikoz drummers in Chi Udaka for the 2014 Sydney Festival was thrilling.
Most significant dance event
Bangarra’s 25th Anniversary – an achievement to celebrate not only for the dance and music but the introduction it has given many people to the indigenous world.
Most interesting Australian group or artist
Not a group but a concept: the opportunities for performers to express ideas and experiment with choreography through ventures such as "New Breed", "Big Dance in Small Chunks" and "iOU".
Most interesting overseas group or artist
MAU from New Zealand in Stones in Her Mouth – not perfect, but hauntingly memorable for its mixture of dance, artwork and concert that invites the audience into the Maori culture.
Most outstanding choreography
An oldie but a goodie: Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, in which Lucinda Dunn made her farewell to the Australian Ballet.
Best new work
Gudirr Gudirr is distinguished more by its political impact than its choreography but it is movement driven – a powerful polemic by solo performer Dalisa Pigram with an impressive team of technical and creative contributors for the Broome group Marrugeku.
Most outstanding dancer
Daniel Gaudiello and Lana Jones (AB); Charmene Yap, SDC; Waangenga Blanco, Bangarra.
Dancer to watch
Benedicte Bernet and Reiko Hombo (AB); Jasmin Sheppard, Bangarra; Linda Luke, independent dancer in Still Point Turning.
Lowlight
An awful tendency by music presenters to seize on dance to put colour and movement into performances as if the music was not enough. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Opera Australia were the sinners in 2014 with the operas Elektra and Eugene Onegin respectively. Such an insult to dance and a turn-off for an audience of any sophistication.