Lifetime Achievement
- This award honours the achievements of an outstanding senior figure in the Australian dance community who has dedicated a miniumum of 40 years to dance as a performer, choreographer, advocate, educator, administrator or visionary.
- The nominee’s body of work in dance should have clearly earned them national or international recognition.
- Nominees should be recognised as Australian even where they have worked extensively outside Australia.
Services to Dance
- This award acknowledges outstanding service by professionals who have collaborated with the dance sector over a sustained period (at least 20 years) in a dance-related field including musical composition, lighting or costume or set design, photography, writing, administration, criticism, historical research, health and injury prevention and allied practices.
- The nominee’s body of work should have clearly earned them broad national or international recognition.
- Nominees should be recognised as Australian even where they have worked extensively outside Australia.
Note: Nominees will be asked to provide a one-page CV/list of achievements.
Services to Dance Education
- This award acknowledges an individual who has performed an outstanding service to dance education as a studio teacher; a teacher in a school, college or university; a mentor, advocate or researcher; a dance education specialist working with an organisation.
- The nominee’s body of work should have clearly earned them a national or international reputation.
- Nominees should be recognised as Australian even where they have worked extensively outside Australia.
Note: Nominees will be asked to provide a one-page CV/list of achievements.
Outstanding Achievement in Community Dance
- This award honours an outstanding community-based project with a performance outcome produced by an individual or team.
- The project must have been produced in the eligible period and performed by non-professional dancers.
- Nominations for ‘body of work’ will not be accepted.
- Projects should involve community members and may include work produced in regional and remote communities.
- Nominees should be recognised as Australian even where they have worked extensively outside Australia.
Note: Nominees will be asked for a 500 word context statement outlining the impact and level of community engagement.
The panel will assess on impact and outcome, and will look for:
- High level of engagement with ideas and depth of commitment by the performers
- Strong audience appeal
- Excellence in choreography specific to the style of work
- Demonstrably high levels of technical skill specific to the style of work and to the age and training levels of the performers
- Excellent/high production values specific to the type of venue
Outstanding Achievement in Youth Dance
- This award honours an outstanding project with a performance outcome produced by an individual, team or company working with young people (up to 26 years).
- The project must have been produced in the eligible period and performed by young non-professional dancers.
- Nominations for ‘body of work’ will not be accepted.
- Nominations may include work produced in regional and remote communities.
- Nominees should be recognised as Australian even where they have worked extensively outside Australia.
(Performances by tertiary dance students, dance school concerts and eisteddfod groups are not eligible.)
Note: Nominees will be asked for a 500 word context statement outlining the impact and level of youth engagement.
The panel will assess on impact and outcome, and will look for:
- High level of engagement with ideas and depth of commitment by the performers
- Strong audience appeal
- Excellence in choreography specific to the style of work
- Demonstrably high levels of technical skill specific to the style of work and to the age and training levels of the performers
- Excellent/high production values specific to the type of venue
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography
- This award honours an outstanding achievement by an individual choreographer, or choreographic team, for a particular work that premiered in the eligible period.
- This award is for innovative, excellent or exceptional composition and choreography.
- Nominees may be from any field of dance and in any medium (stage, film, video).
- Work must have premiered in the eligible period (remounts or return seasons do not qualify.)
- The work should be recognised as making a significant or influential contribution to the art form.
- Nominees should be recognised as Australian even where they have worked extensively outside Australia.
Outstanding Performance by a Company
- This award acknowledges an outstanding performance by a dance company (i.e. must have a legal structure and a board) for a particular work presented in the eligible period.
- Nominees may NOT be an independent or freelance artist.
- Nominations should be for excellence in performance, production and realisation rather than for choreographic excellence or innovation.
- Nominations may be from any dance style or genre.
- Nominees should be recognised as Australian even where they have worked extensively outside Australia.
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance
- This award acknowledges an outstanding achievement by an independent dance artist or artists in a particular work (including, but not limited to, performance, production, direction, lighting design, sound design or score.)
- Work must have premiered in the eligible period (remounts or return seasons do not qualify.)
- Nominations should be for excellence in all aspects of performance, production and realisation rather than specifically for choreography.
- Nominations should be for work taking place outside a dance company structure.
- Nominees may be project funded but understood to be non-recipients of long-term funding.
- Nominees should be recognised as Australian even where they have worked extensively outside Australia.
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer
- This award acknowledges an outstanding performance by a female dancer in a particular work presented in the eligible period.
- Nominations may be from any dance style or genre.
- Nominations for ‘body of work’ or ‘years work’ will not be accepted.
- Nominees may work in a company or be an independent artist.
- Nominees should be recognised as Australian even where they have worked extensively outside Australia.
- Nominees should demonstrate exceptional artistry, technique, maturity and a discernible ability to connect with an audience.
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer
- This award acknowledges an outstanding performance by a male dancer in a particular work presented in the eligible period.
- Nominations may be from any dance style or genre.
- Nominations for ‘body of work’ or ‘years work’ will not be accepted.
- Nominees may work in a company or be an independent artist.
- Nominees should be recognised as Australian even where they have worked extensively outside Australia.
- Nominees should demonstrate exceptional artistry, technique, maturity and a discernible ability to connect with an audience.
Outstanding Achievement in Dance on Film or New Media
- This award acknowledges an outstanding achievement in dance in a particular work across any digital platform: film, video and all new media.
- This award is for innovation, excellent or exceptional production and realisation.
- Work must have premiered in the eligible period.
- Nominees should be recognised as Australian even where they have worked extensively outside Australia.
Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Dance, Musicals or Physical Theatre
- This award acknowledges outstanding dance in musicals, physical theatre or cabaret in both live or televised formats.
- The work must have premiered in the eligible period.
- Nominees may work in a company or be an independent artist.
- Nominees should be recognised as Australian even where they have worked extensively outside Australia.