Prize Recipients Announced for 2026 Eileen Hogarth Awards
South Australia’s young dancers took centre stage on Sunday 2 August as the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) hosted the 2026 Eileen Hogarth Awards at Helen Reid Hall in Adelaide, celebrating outstanding achievement, dedication and artistry across all levels of the RAD syllabus.
The 2026 Awards welcomed a record number of participants, with students from Grade 2 through to Solo Seal taking part in one of Australia’s longest-running dance awards events. Open exclusively to current South Australian RAD examination candidates, the Awards provide students with the opportunity to perform before an audience while developing their confidence and performance skills in a supportive environment.
Named in honour of Eileen Hogarth, South Australia’s first RAD examiner and a distinguished RAD Life Member, the Awards continue to recognise excellence while celebrating the rich history and ongoing strength of the state’s dance community.
Throughout the day, dancers participated in syllabus and open classes taught by RAD examiner Helen Cooper before families, friends and guest adjudicator Guy Wheatstone, Guest Academy Program Coordinator and Academy Teacher at Queensland Ballet Academy. Finalists from each section returned to the stage for the afternoon finals, where winners and runners-up were announced across the various award categories.
Reflecting on the event, Guy Wheatstone said:
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Adelaide and would like to congratulate the organisers on delivering such a professional and welcoming event. I was genuinely impressed by the standard of teaching and by the enthusiasm, talent and hard work of the students. It was a pleasure to be part of the Eileen Hogarth Awards, and I hope to return in the future.”
RAD Regional Manager for South Australia, Philippa Lynas added:
“The 2026 Eileen Hogarth Awards were a wonderful celebration of the talent, dedication and passion within our South Australian dance community. With record participation this year, it was incredibly special to see so many young dancers come together to perform, support one another and share their love of dance. I am immensely proud of every student who took part and so grateful to our teachers, families, volunteers and supporters who continue to make this event such an important part of the RAD calendar in South Australia.”
2026 Eileen Hogarth Awards Prize Recipients
Badenoch Iversen Award for Grades 2–3
Winner – Portia Woolston (Rosie Clark Dance)
Runner Up – Vivienne Cleland (Vivienne Winter School of Ballet)
Gwen Mackey Award for Grades 4–5
Winner – Ellesse Tan (Carisma Dance & Fitness)
Runner Up – Hannah Woon (Carisma Dance & Fitness)
Jacqueline Tucker Award for Grades 6, 7 & 8
Winner – Roux Walter-Engelsma (Vivienne Winter School of Ballet)
Runner Up – Ilya Degroot (Turning Point Dance)
Sheila Laing Training Enhancement Award
Winner – Isabel Romeo (Aldgate Dance)
Terry Simpson Encouragement Award
Winner – Henry White (Carisma Dance & Fitness)
Joyce Clother OAM Scholarship
Winner – Mila Laughlin (Terry Simpson Studios)
Floyd & B’Nay Award for Intermediate Foundation & Intermediate
Winner – Roux Walter-Engelsma (Vivienne Winter School of Ballet)
Runner Up – Amelie Bredenkamp (Vivienne Winter School of Ballet)
Sir Robert Helpmann Award for Advanced Foundation & Advanced 1
Winner – Maisie Stark (Terry Simpson Studios)
Runner Up – Sofia Lydyard (Radiance Dance Studios)
Kathleen Short Memorial Cup for Advanced 2 & Solo Seal
Winner – Ruby Gool (Terry Simpson Studios)
Runner Up – Evangeline Chang (Terry Simpson Studios)
Susan Taylor Encouragement Award
Winner – Aaliyah Williams (Turning Point Dance)
Lorraine Irving OAM Scholarship
Winner – Alice Ramos (Terry Simpson Studios)
2026 Bloch Encouragement Award
Winner – Evie Mazzone (Terry Simpson Studios)
Eileen Hogarth Award
Winner – Ruby Gool (Terry Simpson Studios)
The Royal Academy of Dance extends its thanks to the dedicated volunteers, South Australian RAD Panel members, teachers and families whose support helped make the 2026 Eileen Hogarth Awards another memorable celebration of dance. The RAD also gratefully acknowledges the continued support of National Student Event Sponsors Bloch, Energetiks and Capezio, whose generosity helps provide valuable performance opportunities for young dancers across Australia.
