Australian Dance Awards

The Australian Dance Awards recognise excellence and promote dance in Australia. They are awarded under the auspices of the Australian Dance Council for performance, choreography, design, dance writing, teaching and related professions. They especially recognise and honour professional Australian dance artists who have made an outstanding contribution to Australian dance.

History

The awards have their origin in the informal community Dancers' Picnic founded by Keith Bain first held in 1986 on or close to International Dance Day.
In 1997, Ausdance NSW with support from the City of Sydney and The Australian Ballet, presented the inaugural Australian Dance Awards at the Sydney Opera House. Over time, the Awards have evolved into a major industry event. For three years from 2008, the Awards were held in Melbourne and produced by Ausdance Victoria with support from the Joan and Peter Clemenger Trust and The Australian Ballet.
From 2011 until 2017 the location varied, as the awards were held by tender among the state-based organisations of the Ausdance network. In 2018 Ausdance National hosted the event at the Brisbane Powerhouse in Brisbane, Queensland, and owing to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the event was held online by the national body in 2020, covering the years 2018 and 2019.
In 2022 the board of Ausdance National announced that the awards were under review and on hold.

2019

Awards not held.

2018

Presented by Ausdance National and Harlequin Floors, the 2018 Australian Dance Awards were presented on Saturday 8 September at Brisbane Powerhouse.

Award	Recipient	Work	Notes
Lifetime Achievement Award	OAM
Hall of Fame	No inductees
Services to Dance	Hilary Trotter
Services to Dance Education	Katrina Rank
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography	Stephanie Lake	Pile of Bones	Stephanie Lake Company
Outstanding Achievement in Youth Dance	Co3	Project NEXT
Outstanding Achievement in Community Dance	Tracks Dance	Man Made
Outstanding Achievement in Dance on Film or New Media	Sue Healey	Eileen
Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Dance, Musicals or Physical Theatre	Gravity & Other Myths	BACKBONE
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance	Martin del Amo	CHAMPIONS
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer	Jana Castillo	construct
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer	Beau Dean Riley Smith	Bennelong	Bangarra Dance Theatre
Outstanding Performance by a Company	Dancenorth	Attractor

2017

Presented by Ausdance Victoria, Harlequin Floors and Ausdance National, the 2017 Australian Dance Awards were presented on Sunday 24 September at Arts Centre Melbourne.

Award	Recipient	Work	Notes
Lifetime Achievement Award	Helen Herbertson
Hall of Fame	Noel Tovey AM
Services to Dance	Jennifer Irwin
Services to Dance Education	Kim Walker
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography	Lucy Guerin	The Dark Chorus	Lucy Guerin Inc.
Outstanding Achievement in Youth Dance	Catapult Dance, The Flipside Project	In Search of the Lost Things
Outstanding Achievement in Community Dance	Liz Lea & collaborators	Great Sport!	with Canberra Dance Theatre, the National Museum of Australia, the GOLD company, Dance for Parkinson's ACT and KAGE
Outstanding Achievement in Dance on Film or New Media	The Samaya Wives	The Knowledge Between Us
Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Dance, Musicals or Physical Theatre	Jack Chambers	Singin' in the Rain	TEG Dainty, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, David Atkins Enterprises & Michael Cassel Group
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance	Liesel Zink	The Stance
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer	Ako Kondo	Coppélia	The Australian Ballet
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer	Benjamin Hancock	The Dark Chorus	Lucy Guerin Inc
Outstanding Performance by a Company	Bangarra Dance Theatre	OUR Land People Stories

2016

Presented by Ausdance National and Harlequin Floors, the 2016 Australian Dance Awards were held at The State Theatre Centre of Western Australia, Perth, on Sunday 18 September at 6.30 pm as part of the MoveMe Festival 2016.

Award	Recipient	Work	Notes
Lifetime Achievement Award	Terri Charlesworth
Services to Dance	Roy David Page
Services to Dance Education	Dr Joan Pope OAM
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography	Lucy Guerin	Motion Picture	Lucy Guerin Inc.
Outstanding Achievement in Youth Dance	Force Majeure & Powerhouse Youth Theatre	Jump First, Ask Later
Outstanding Achievement in Community Dance	Dancenorth	Twilight	Cheryl Stock
Outstanding Achievement in Dance on Film or New Media	Meryl Tankard	Michelle’s Story
Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Dance, Musicals or Physical Theatre	Circa Contemporary Circus	Il Ritorno
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance	Sue Healey	On View: Live Portraits
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer	Elma Kris	Lore	Bangarra Dance Theatre
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer	David Mack	Frame of Mind	Bangarra Dance Theatre
Outstanding Performance by a Company	Bangarra Dance Theatre	Lore

2015

The 2015 Australian Dance Awards were presented by Ausdance National at Her Majesty's Theatre in Adelaide on Saturday 12 September 2015.

Award	Recipient	Work	Notes
Outstanding Achievement in Youth Dance	STEPS Youth Dance Company	Fights & Flights
Outstanding Achievement in Community Dance	Tracks Dance Company	Milpirri
Services to Dance Education	Tanya Pearson OAM
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography	Narelle Benjamin	Hiding in Plain Sight
Hall of Fame	Marilyn Jones and Dr Elizabeth Cameron Dalman OAM
Outstanding Achievement in Dance on Film or New Media	Claire Marshall	Ward of State
Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Dance, Musicals or Physical Theatre	Gravity & Other Myths	A Simple Space
Services to Dance	Jeff Busby
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance	Torque Show and Michelle Ryan with Lavender vs Rose	Intimacy
Lifetime Achievement Award	Marilyn Rowe OBE
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer	Lucinda Dunn OAM	Manon	The Australian Ballet
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer	Waangenga Blanco	Patyegarang	Bangarra Dance Theatre
Outstanding Performance by a Company	Queensland Ballet	Romeo & Juliet

2014

The 2014 Australian Dance Awards. Held in the Joan Sutherland Theatre of the Sydney Opera House, 9 November 2014. Hosted by Francis Rings and Kip Gamblin.

Award	Recipient	Work	Notes
Outstanding Achievement in Youth or Community Dance	Buzz Dance Theatre	Look The Other Way
Services to Dance Education	Janet Karin OAM
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography	Stephanie Lake	Aorta
Hall of Fame	Gailene Stock AM CBE
Outstanding Achievement in Dance on Film or New Media	Sue Healey	On View
Services to Dance	Annie Grieg
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance	Dalia Pigram	Gudirr Gudirr
Lifetime Achievement Award	Leigh Warren
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer	Leanne Stoymenov	Cinderella	The Australian Ballet
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer	Jame Vu Anh Pham	Aorta	Choreographed by Stephanie Lake
Outstanding Performance by a Company	The Australian Ballet	Cinderella

2013

The 2013 Australian Dance Awards. Held at The Playhouse of the Canberra Theatre Centre, 6 August 2013. Hosted by Andrea Close.

Award	Recipient	Work	Notes
Outstanding Achievement in Youth or Community Dance	Tracks Dance Company	Eight to Eighty—Architecture of Age
Services to Dance Education	Jackie Hallahan
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography	Rafael Bonachela	2 One Another	Sydney Dance Company
Peggy Van Praagh Choreographic Fellowship	Kay Armstrong
Outstanding Achievement in Dance on Film or New Media	Sue Healey	Virtuosi
Services to Dance	Shane Carroll
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance	Antony Hamilton	Black Project 1
Lifetime Achievement Award	Ronne Arnold
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer	Charmene Yap	2 One Another	Sydney Dance Company
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer	Kimball Wong	Proximity	Australian Dance Theatre
Outstanding Performance by a Company	Sydney Dance Company	2 One Another

2012

The 2012 Australian Dance Awards. Held at Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre, Perth. Hosted by Verity James. Winners were:

Award	Recipient	Work	Notes
Outstanding Achievement in Youth or Community Dance	Shaun Parker and Company	Captivate
Services to Dance Education	Sarah Calver
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography	Natalie Weir	R & J	Expressions Dance Company
Peggy Van Praagh Choreographic Fellowship	Stephanie Lake
Outstanding Achievement in Dance on Film / New Media	Bryan Mason & Sophie Hyde	Life in Movement
Services to Dance	Lucinda Sharp
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance	Barry Moreland & Daryl Brandwood	HELIX
Lifetime Achievement Award	Nanette Hassell
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer	Elise May	R & J	Expressions Dance Company
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer	Daryl Brandwood	HELIX
Outstanding Performance by a Company	Bangarra Dance Theatre	Belong

2011

The 2011 Australian Dance Awards. Held at QPAC Playhouse, Brisbane. Hosted by Fenella Kernebone. Winners were:

Award	Recipient	Work	Notes
Lifetime Achievement Award	Robina Beard
Services to Dance Education	Valda Craig
Outstanding Achievement in Youth or Community Dance	QL2 Dance	Hard Yards
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography	Rafael Bonachela	6 Breaths	Sydney Dance Company
Outstanding Performance by a Company	Expressions Dance Company	Where the Heart Is
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance	Narelle Benjamin	In Glass
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer	Amy Hollingsworth	Irony of Fate	Sydney Dance Company
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer	Daniel Gaudiello	Coppelia	The Australian Ballet
Outstanding Performance in a Stage Musical	Alinta Chidzey	West Side Story
Hall of Fame	Keith Bain OAM
Award for Services to Dance	Ruth Osborne		Artistic Director – QL2 Dance

2010

The 2010 Australian Dance Awards. Hosted by Neil Pigot. Held at Melbourne's Arts Centre, State Theatre. Winners were:

Award	Recipient	Work	Notes
Lifetime Achievement Award	Bill Akers AM
Services to Dance	Stephen Page
Services to Dance Education	Maggi Phillips
Outstanding Achievement in Youth or Community Dance	Restless Dance Theatre	Hard Yards
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography	Meryl Tankard & Paul White	The Oracle
Outstanding Performance by a Company	Bangarra Dance Theatre	Fire – A Retrospective
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance	Sue Peacock	Questions Without Notice
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer	Lana Jones	Firebird	The Australian Ballet
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer	Paul White	The Oracle
Outstanding Performance in a Stage Musical	Caroline O'Connor	Chicago

2009

The 2009 Australian Dance Awards winners were:

Award	Recipient	Work	Notes
Lifetime Achievement	Lucette Aldous
Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education	Jeff Meiners
Outstanding Achievement in Youth or Community Dance	Tracks Inc	STRUCK	Awarded for the first time in 2009
Outstanding Performance in a Stage Musical	Nick Twiney, Rarmian Newton, Rhys Kosakowski, Lochlan Denholm, Joshua Waiss Gates, Dayton Tavares, Joshua Denyer & Michael Dameski	Billy Elliot The Musical
Outstanding Performance by a Company	Force Majeure	The Age I'm In
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance	Tanja Liedtke	construct
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer	Kristina Chan	construct	choreographed by Tanja Liedtke
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer	Reed Luplau	Sid's Waltzing Masquerade	Sydney Dance Company
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography	Tanja Liedtke	construct
Award for Dance on Film	Chris Scherer	If The Shoe Fits
Award for Services to Dance	Lee Christofis		A former dance critic and now curator of dance at the National Library of Australia

2008

The 2008 Australian Dance Awards were hosted by Michael Veitch. The winners were:

Award	Recipient	Work	Notes
Lifetime Achievement	Paul Hammond OAM
Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education	Helen Cameron
Outstanding Performance in a Stage Musical	Hugh Jackman	The Boy From Oz	Choreographed by Kenny Ortega and Kelley Abbey
Outstanding Performance by a Company	Lucy Guerin Inc	Structure & Sadness	Choreographed by Lucy Guerin
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance	Shaun Parker	This Show Is About People	Produced by Marguerite Pepper Productions
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer	Lucinda Dunn	Don Quixote	The Australian Ballet
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer	Paul White	Honour Bound	Choreographed by Garry Stewart
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography	Garry Stewart	Honour Bound	Commissioned by Sydney Opera House & Malthouse Theatre
Award for Dance on Film	Sue Healey	Will Time Tell	Produced by Sue Healey
Award for Services to Dance	Dally Messenger III & Karen van Ulzen

2006

Hosted by Todd McKenney, Dancing with the Stars and Rachael Beck from It Takes Two. The winners were:

Award	Recipient	Work	Notes
Lifetime Achievement	Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education	Buzz Dance Theatre
Award for Services to Dance	Hilary Crampton
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography	Tanja Liedtke	Twelfth Floor
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance	Clare Dyson	Churchill's Black Dog
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer	Kristina Chan	Twelfth Floor	Tanja Liedtke Co.
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer	Byron Perry	Headlock	Kage Physical Theatre
Outstanding Performance by a Company	Australian Dance Theatre	Devolution	by Garry Stewart
Award for Dance on Film	Sam James & Julie-Anne Long	Nun's Night Out

2005

Hosted by Chloe Dallimore, the star of the Australian production of the musical The Producers and Eddie Perfect. The winners were:

Award	Recipient	Work	Notes
Lifetime Achievement Award	Kathryn Lowe
Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education	Jenny Kinder
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer	Margrete Helgeby	Aqueous
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer	Dein Perry	Tap Dogs
Outstanding Performance by a Company	Force Majeure	Already Elsewhere	Choreographed by Kate Champion
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography	Wendy Houstoun, Narelle Benjamin, Brian Carbee, Julie-Anne Long & Michael Whaites Graeme Murphy	In the Dark Grand
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance	Julie-Anne Long	The Nun's Picnic
Award for Services to Dance	Mark Gordon
Award for Dance Film	Gina Czarnecki	Nascent	Choreographed by Garry Stewart
Outstanding Performance in a Stage Musical	Josef Brown in	Dirty Dancing
Inducted to the Hall of Fame.	Colin Peasley, John Lanchbery and Ross Stretton

2004

2003

Hosted by Libbi Gorr. The winners were:

Award	Recipient	Work	Notes
Lifetime achievement award	Cheryl Stock		As a performer, choreographer, artistic director, advocate, researcher, academic, and leader in tertiary dance education
Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education	Keith Bain OAM
Outstanding achievement in choreography	Graeme Murphy AM	Swan Lake	Sydney Dance Company
Outstanding Performance by a Company	Sydney Dance Company	Underland	Choreographed by Graeme Murphy.
Outstanding Performance by a female dancer	Simone Goldsmith	Swan Lake	The Australian Ballet
Outstanding Performance by a male dancer	Bradley Chatfield	Underland	Sydney Dance Company
Outstanding Performance in a stage musical	Joshua Horner	Tivoli	Sydney Dance Company
Outstanding achievement in independent dance	Helen Herbertson and Ben Cobham	Morphia Series
Award for services to dance	Michelle Potter
Award for dance on film	Sue Healey	Fine Line