Harlow Menzies has been named Outstanding Dancer at the Royal Academy of Dance’s 2026 Betsy Sawers Awards, where the introduction of a family-supported artistry prize gave fresh recognition to the teaching priorities of the woman behind the event.
Held at Gungahlin College Theatre in Canberra on Sunday 20 September, the awards brought together dancers from across the ACT and Riverina, from Grade 2 through to Advanced 2. Menzies, of Kim Harvey School of Dance, also won Grade 6, while Ballet Canberra’s Abbey Brough took first place in both Grade 7 and Intermediate.
Aimee West, also of Kim Harvey School of Dance, received the inaugural Sawers Family Award for Artistry. Established through the support of Betsy Sawers’ family, the $500 prize will be presented annually.
Artistry was central to Sawers’ life and teaching, making it a fitting focus for her family’s contribution. Affectionately known as “Mrs S”, she trained dancers and teachers who went on to professional careers, while encouraging a lasting enjoyment of dance among countless other students. The new prize gives that artistic emphasis a specific place in the awards, recognising the expressive qualities young dancers develop as they learn to perform.
RAD examiner and registered teacher Kerrie Smith adjudicated this year’s event, with Caitlyn-Rae Crook teaching the Graded classes and Tara Chapman the Vocational classes.
2026 Section Winners
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Grade 2: Koko McClean, GDance Academy
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Grade 3: Elspeth Brunker, MAKS Ballet Studio
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Grade 4: Katherine Shears, GDance Academy
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Grade 5: Bailey McLoughlin, The Training Ground
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Grade 6: Harlow Menzies, Kim Harvey School of Dance
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Grade 7: Abbey Brough, Ballet Canberra
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Grade 8: Victoria Seymour, Kim Harvey School of Dance
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Intermediate Foundation: Daisy Piper-Schulstad, MAKS Ballet Studios
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Intermediate: Abbey Brough, Ballet Canberra
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Advanced Foundation: Lila Hynson, Lisa Clark Dance Centre
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Advanced 1: Zahra Zulkapli, Kim Harvey School of Dance
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Advanced 2: Claire Hinds-Salter, Lisa Clark Dance Centre
Bloch Encouragement Awards went to Alexandra Lelliott and Sophia Anderson in the Graded sections, and Miriam Tate, Allegra Violi, Lily Bellchambers, Rose Thompson and Emily McCoy in the Vocational sections.
For students across this broad range of levels, the event provides an opportunity to put their training into practice before an audience. The addition of an annual artistry prize places particular value on how they communicate through dance, alongside the technical skills they spend so many hours developing.