A toast to the stars of West Australia’s vibrant dance sector

The West Australian Dance Awards raise a toast to the stars and rising stars of Western Australia’s vibrant dance sector.

The 2014 West Australian Dance Awards were celebrated on Wednesday 19 November at bamBOO (Luxe Bar Courtyard) in Highgate, WA.

Chrissie Parrott, December 2014The amazing career of this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Chrissie Parrott, was warmly celebrated. Chrissie Parrott's work spans five decades. As a performer, choreographer, teacher, director, independent artist and director, she has championed innovation in Western Australian dance. Photo: Andrea Evans

West Australian Ballet principal dancers Fiona Evans and Matthew Lehmann were both awarded for their Outstanding Performance in Onegin (West Australian Ballet, 2013).

The award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth or Community Dance was presented to independent artist Megan Wood-Hill for her production Men of The Red Earth, which was a community dance project produced for Roebourne Shire’s Red Earth Arts Festival in 2013 and performed by a group of all male miners and tradesmen.

Isabella Stone won the Emerging Artist Award for her 'vivid and unique choreographic style' and demonstration of leadership in her recent work with STEPS Youth Dance Company. Isabella, a 2010 WAAPA & LINK graduate, is currently working on her first full-length work Mouseprint, which will be presented at the State Theatre Centre in April 2015.

This year’s award for Outstanding Achievement in Choreography was awarded to Brooke Leeder for Mechanic which was performed as part of The Blue Room Theatre’s Summer Nights program for Fringe World Perth 2014.

Dance teacher Phillippa Clarke was awarded for her Outstanding Achievement in Teaching. Clarke’s teaching career spans over three decades, with teaching positions at the University of Notre Dame, WAAPA, John Curtin College of the Arts and the position of Artistic Director of Buzz Dance Theatre from 1991–1998.

The Design/Composition Award this year was awarded to Fiona Bruce, Lauren Ross, Ashley de Prazer, Joe Lui and Kingsley Reeve for their collaboration on Standing Bird 2 and Verge which were both presented by The Blue Room Theatre.

Industry legend David Mogridge’s long-term contribution to the WA Dance Sector was formally recognised last night as he accepted the 2014 Award for Services to Dance.

The inaugural People’s Choice Award for Outstanding Production was awarded to the community dance project Wheel of Fortunes, which was created by Perth choreographer Aimee Smith with writing facilitator Nicola-Jane le Breton and the communities of Hopetoun, Ravensthorpe and Jerdacuttup. The show explored the concepts of richness and loss in these communities and was performed entirely by locals aged 13 to 70.

The Minister for the Arts, the Honourable John Day, along with congratulating all short-listed nominees and winners, honoured the outstanding achievements of Buzz Dance Theatre and STEPS Youth Dance Company. During the evening, Ausdance WA and assembled guests also warmly welcomed the new flagship Contemporary Dance Company of Western Australia.

The full list of winners

  • Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer was awarded to Fiona Evans for Onegin (West Australian Ballet.)
  • Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer was awarded to Matthew Lehmann for Onegin (West Australian Ballet.)
  • Outstanding Achievement in Choreography was awarded to Brooke Leeder for Mechanic.
  • Award for Services to Dance was awarded to David Mogridge.
  • Outstanding Achievement in Teaching was awarded to Phillippa Clarke.
  • Award for Design and/or Composition in Dance was awarded to The Standing Bird 2 + Verge Team: Fiona Bruce, Lauren Ross, Ashley de Prazer, Joe Lui and Kingsley Reeve.
  • Award for Emerging Artist went to Isabella Stone.
  • Outstanding Achievement in Youth or Community Dance was awarded to Megan Wood-Hill for Men of The Red Earth.
  • The 2014 Ausdance WA Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Chrissie Parrott.
  • The inaugural People's Choice Award for Best Production went to Wheel of Fortunes.