The Royal Academy of Dance Australia has announced the winners of the 2026 WA Festival of Dance, held from 28 May to 1 June at John Curtin College of the Arts in Fremantle.
A highlight of the Western Australian dance calendar, the festival brought together more than 200 dancers from across the state, competing in classical ballet, contemporary, demi-character, national, scholarship and ensemble categories.
The festival culminated in a Gala Evening on Sunday 31 May, featuring performances by prize recipients alongside guest artists from West Australian Ballet. The 2026 festival also provided award recipients with access to scholarship opportunities from institutions including The Australian Ballet School, Queensland Ballet Academy, West Australian Ballet and Sydney Dance Company.
Adjudication was led by Melissa McCabe, Hana Kato, Christian Tàtchev and Carina Roberts. Tàtchev praised the standard of the dancers, saying, “It was a pleasure to be part of the Festival of Dance in Perth this year, and to have had the opportunity to see the beautiful work of the young and talented dancers from WA. Congratulations to all participants and their teachers, who have worked tirelessly to achieve the high standard presented, as well as to everyone who supports these passionate artists on their journey towards the profession.”
Kato, who adjudicated the contemporary sections, added, “It has been such an honour to adjudicate the contemporary sections at the 2026 Festival of Dance. To be back in Western Australia and witness the talent here has been inspiring for me as a dancer and a choreographer.”
Major scholarship recipients included Avianna Neilson from Perth School of Ballet, who received the Evelyn Hodgkinson Scholarship for dancers aged 10 to 12 years, and Shelby McAuliffe from Perth Classical & Contemporary Coaching, who received the Gay Cruickshank Scholarship for dancers aged 13 to 14 years.
Miru Jung from The Graduate College of Dance received the Joan Stacy Scholarship for dancers aged 15 to 16 years, while Emelie Wong, also from The Graduate College of Dance, received the Linley Wilson Scholarship for dancers aged 17 years and over.
Neilson was also named Junior Female Dancer, while Louis Lenanton from Perth Classical & Contemporary Coaching received the Junior Male Dancer Award. Wong received the Senior Female Dancer Award, and Reuben Pitchforth from The Graduate College of Dance received the Senior Male Dancer Award.
The Linley Wilson Contemporary Prize was awarded to Julia Iso from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. The David McAllister Cup was awarded to Perth Classical & Contemporary Coaching.
Other notable awards included the Most Promising Dancer Award for 10 to 12 years, awarded to Avianna Neilson, and the Most Promising Dancer Award for 16 years and over, awarded to Emelie Wong. Miru Jung received the Grishko Most Promising Dancer Award, and Makai Lewis-Rees from Perth Classical & Contemporary Coaching received the Claire Marshall Trophy for National Dance.
The WA Festival of Dance will return in 2027.
The full list of prize winners can be found here.