• Shirley Treacy Awards. Image supplied by RAD Australia
    Shirley Treacy Awards. Image supplied by RAD Australia
  • Audrey Nicholls Awards. Photo by Belinda Strodder
    Audrey Nicholls Awards. Photo by Belinda Strodder
  • Betsy Sawers Awards. Photo by Mode Imagery
    Betsy Sawers Awards. Photo by Mode Imagery
  • Kathleen Gorham Awards. Photo by Belinda Strodder
    Kathleen Gorham Awards. Photo by Belinda Strodder
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Celebrating Excellence: RAD Australia Student Award Winners 2025

24 September 2025
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The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Australia has proudly concluded another season of major student awards, shining a spotlight on the dedication, artistry, and promise of young dancers across the country. In 2025, as RAD Australia marks its 90th anniversary, these events remain a much-loved platform for students to showcase their skills and honour the legacy of Australian dance greats.

Kathleen Gorham Awards (Victoria)

Held on 14 September at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS), the Kathleen Gorham Awards paid tribute to the legendary Prima Ballerina Kathleen Gorham OBE.

Intermediate Foundation

  • Winner: Hannah Stamford – The Academy of Classical Ballet

  • Runner Up: Ishani Dinara Wattearachchige – Expressions Ballet Academy

  • Artistry Award: Poppy Emerson – The Academy of Classical Ballet

  • Encouragement Award: Grace Miller – Expressions Ballet Academy

Intermediate

  • Winner: Milla Calyk – Expressions Ballet Academy

  • Runner Up: Poppy Hayes – Expressions Ballet Academy

  • Artistry Award: Neve Cope – VCASS

  • Encouragement Award: Tim Xianzhou Cheng – Jiayin Masterclass

Advanced Foundation

  • Winner: Mimi Cook – Expressions Ballet Academy

  • Runner Up: Jasper Zajacek-Tieu – VCASS

  • Artistry Award: Alice Lutz – The Academy of Classical Ballet

  • Encouragement Award: Isla Howsam – VCASS

Advanced 1

  • Winner: Chloe Lahood – VCASS

  • Runner Up: Eden-Rose Driver – VCASS

  • Artistry Award: Ella Eastoe – VCASS

  • Encouragement Award: Fletcher Thomas – The National Ballet School

Advanced 2 & Solo Seal

  • Winner: Keira Lee (Solo Seal) – VCASS

  • Runner Up: Olive Forbes – VCASS

  • Artistry Award: Anabelle Tran – VCASS

  • Encouragement Award: Lyla Betts – Geelong Ballet Centre

Overall Awards

  • Kathleen Gorham Overall Winner: Milla Calyk – Expressions Ballet Academy

  • Martin Rubenstein Award: Jasper Zajacek-Tieu – VCASS

  • Paul Hammond Award: Sienna Lopes – VCASS

  • Australian Ballet School Scholarship: Jasper Zajacek-Tieu – VCASS

Audrey Nicholls Awards (Victoria)

The 44th annual Audrey Nicholls Awards Finals were held on 6 September at VCASS, following earlier heats and semi-finals.

Grades 1–4

  • Overall Winner: Pollyanna Sutcliffe – Expressions Ballet Academy

  • Overall Runner-Up: William Ferguson – Geelong Ballet Centre

  • Martin Rubinstein Award: Stanley Ding – Bev Palmer Performing Arts Academy

Grades 5–8

  • Overall Winner: Stella Rankin – Expressions Ballet Academy

  • Overall Runner-Up: Milla Calyk – Expressions Ballet Academy

  • Martin Rubinstein Award: Ari Tobias – Jiayin MasterClass

Shirley Treacy Awards (Queensland)

Concluding on 14 September with a special online presentation, the Shirley Treacy Awards brought together finalists from regional events in Mackay, Townsville, Cairns, and Rockhampton.

Grade 4 and 5

  • Winner: Ashley Ekert – Turning Pointe Dance Studios (Cairns)

  • Runner Up: Mikaylee Hastie – FNQ Dance Academy (Cairns)

  • Encouragement Award: Zara Boldery – The Dance Collective (Townsville)

Intermediate Foundation and Intermediate

  • Winner: Cayden Connors – Turning Pointe Dance Studios (Cairns)

  • Runner Up: Madeline Thompson – Leisa Payne School of Dance (Mackay)

  • Encouragement Award: Gianna Torres – Capricorn School of Dancing (Rockhampton)

Advanced Foundation, Advanced 1 and Advanced 2

  • Winner: Sienna Westcott – Capricorn School of Dancing (Rockhampton)

  • Runner Up: Marika Zarzecki – Monique’s Classical Coaching (Mackay)

  • Encouragement Award: Ella Mackie – Capricorn School of Dancing (Rockhampton)

Betsy Sawers Awards (ACT & Riverina)

Hosted at Gungahlin College Theatre, Canberra, on 7 September, the Betsy Sawers Awards drew 157 participants from the ACT and Riverina.

Grade 2

  • Winner: Miela Baker – Jayz Dance Academy

  • Runner-Up: Phoebe Donovan – Acclaim Dance and Cheer Co

Grade 3

  • Winner: Katherine Shears – GDance

  • Runner-Up: Arthur McHutchison – Kim Harvey School of Dance

Grade 4

  • Winner: Hilary Seow – MAKS Ballet Studio

  • Runner-Up: Alexis Moore – GDance

Grade 5

  • Winner: Matilda Nicholls – Allegro Ballet School

  • Runner-Up: Maya Giron – Lisa Clark Dance Centre

Grade 6

  • Winner: Alessandra Brown – Acclaim Dance and Cheer Co

  • Runner-Up: Lisa Hynson – Lisa Clark Dance Centre

Grade 7

  • Winner: Victoria Seymour – Kim Harvey School of Dance

  • Runner-Up: Claire Hinds-Salter – Lisa Clark Dance Centre

Grade 8

  • Winner: Lola Hamlyn-Harris – Lisa Clark Dance Centre

  • Runner-Up: Savannah Apoderado – Legs Performing Arts

Bloch Encouragement Awards (Grades 2–8)

  • Grades 2–5: Bailey McLoughlin – The Training Ground

  • Grades 6–8: Cayley Loh – OnBeat Dance Studios

Intermediate Foundation

  • Winner: Allegra Violi – GDance

  • Runner-Up: Lexie Kelly – MAKS Ballet Studios

  • Bloch Encouragement Award: Sophia Anderson – Lisa Clark Dance Centre

Intermediate

  • Winner: Riley Fakhouri – MAKS Ballet Studio

  • Runner-Up: Evelyn Cannings – Lisa Clark Dance Centre

  • Bloch Encouragement Award: Eluney Tapply Orozco – MAKS Ballet Studio

Advanced Foundation

  • Winner: Victoria Seymour – Kim Harvey School of Dance

  • Runner-Up: Grace Wigham – Lisa Clark Dance Centre

  • Bloch Encouragement Award: Naomi Knight – OnBeat Dance Studios

Advanced 1

  • Winner: Claire Hinds-Salter – Lisa Clark Dance Centre

  • Runner-Up: Amelia Turnbull – Kim Harvey School of Dance

  • Bloch Encouragement Award: Camilla Machado – Kim Harvey School of Dance

Advanced 2

  • Winner: Olivia Enders – Kim Harvey School of Dance

  • Runner-Up: Lola Hamlyn-Harris – Lisa Clark Dance Centre

  • Bloch Encouragement Award: Thomas Walker – Legs Performing Arts

Betsy Sawers Outstanding Dancer 2025

  • Gabriella Haebich – Ballet Canberra

A Milestone Year

Across the awards season, RAD Australia has brought together hundreds of students, teachers, and families to celebrate the artistry and discipline of young dancers. National Director Shelley Yacopetti described the program as “a vital platform for celebrating dedication, discipline, and artistry while creating pathways to future opportunities in dance”

With three more awards still to come, including the Susan Sargison Awards and the Joan Burnett Awards in Tasmania as well as the Diana de Vos Awards in Western Australia, the 90th anniversary year of RAD Australia promises further opportunities to acknowledge excellence and honour the legacies of dance educators nationwide

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