Prize recipients announced for 2025 Eileen Hogarth Awards

The Royal Academy of Dance Australia is proud to announce the prize recipients of the 2025 Eileen Hogarth Awards, held on Sunday 27 July at the Adelaide College of the Arts.

Formerly known as the South Australian RAD Awards, this year marked the first presentation under the new name, honouring Eileen Hogarth, the first examiner from South Australia. Eileen Hogarth was a distinguished RAD Life Member and an influential figure in the development of dance in South Australia. These Awards are the longest-running RAD student awards in Australia and continue to provide aspiring dancers with vital stage experience, performance confidence, and an inspiring sense of community.

Held in the Main Theatre, the Awards brought together over 150 students from Grade 2 through to Solo Seal, all of whom are current South Australian RAD exam candidates. Throughout the day, students took part in either a syllabus or open class on stage, before an audience of families, friends, and esteemed adjudicators Suzanne Arrigo and Chylie Cooper, led by guest teachers Chantal Berry and Helen Cooper, who created a welcoming and encouraging environment for all dancers involved. Finalists were selected from each award class to perform again in the morning or afternoon finals presentation, culminating in the announcement of a winner and runner-up per level.

Adjudicator Suzanne Arrigo reflected on the day: “Such an array of talent was seen at the RAD Eileen Hogarth Awards yesterday. I felt honoured and privileged to watch students at all levels perform and showcase their classical technique with passion and commitment. From the youngest of students to the more advanced, it was such a joyful day of dance!”

Adjudicator Chylie Cooper also shared her thoughts: “Congratulations to all the RAD teachers in SA for presenting strong and talented young students. It was a privilege to award to our up-and-coming artists. It was a trip down memory lane, and it felt special to be a part of the day!”

Philippa Lynas, RAD Regional Manager for SA, WA and NT, shared her reflections on the significance of the Awards: “This year, we were especially proud to have renamed the event in honour of Eileen Hogarth. In keeping with her pioneering spirit, 2025 saw the expansion of awarding four training scholarships with major Australian dance institutions, including The Australian Ballet School and Sydney Dance Company. These secondment-style opportunities aim to connect talented South Australian students with leading companies nationwide – we wish each of them an inspiring and enriching experience. What a fabulous day celebrating the culmination of months of hard work and preparation by our South Australian students and teachers in their 2025 examinations”

The Prize Winners for the 2025 Eileen Hogarth awards are:

Badenoch Iversen Award for Grades 2-3
Winner – Summer Ferguson (GWB Studios)
Runner Up – Isabel Romeo (Aldgate Dance)

Gwen Mackey Award for Grades 4-5
Winner – Emika Ichinohe (Vivienne Winter School of Ballet)
Runner Up – Emelia Petronzio (GWB Studios)

Jacqueline Tucker Award for Grades 6, 7 & 8
Winner – Thomas Hobbs (Terry Simpson Studios)
Runner Up – Roux Walter-Engelsma (Vivienne Winter School of Ballet)

Sheila Laing Training Enhancement Award
Winner – Mila Laughlin (Terry Simpson Studios)

Terry Simpson Encouragement Award
Winner – Julianne Sison (Turning Point Dance)

Joyce Clother OAM Scholarship
Winner – Ivy Bainger (GWB Studios)

Sydney Dance Company Holiday Workshop Scholarship
Recipient – Roux Walter-Engelsma (Vivienne Winter School of Ballet)
Recipient – Holly Zbierski (Terry Simpson Studios)

Floyd & B’Nay Award for Intermediate Foundation & Intermediate
Winner – Laura Thomas (Turning Point Dance)
Runner Up – Emika Ichinohe (Vivienne Winter School of Ballet)

Sir Robert Helpmann Award for Advanced Foundation & Advanced 1
Winner – Ilya Degroot-iouguina (Turning Point Dance)
Runner Up – Aubrey Adams (Hills Ballet School & Terry Simpson Studios)

Kathleen Short Memorial Cup for Advanced 2 and Solo Seal
Winner – Ruby Gool (Terry Simpson Studios)
Runner Up – Holly Zbierski (Terry Simpson Studios)

Eileen Hogarth Award
Winner – Ruby Gool (Terry Simpson Studios)

Lorraine Irving OAM Scholarship
Winner – Josiah Spode (Whyalla Ballet School)

Susan Taylor Encouragement Award
Winner – Aaliyah Williams (Turning Point Dance)

2025 Bloch Encouragement Award
Winner – Mila Laughlin (Terry Simpson Studios)

Sydney Dance Company PPY secondment
Recipient – Bundjalung Coker (Terry Simpson Studios)

Australian Ballet School: 1-week short-term Scholarship
Recipient – Ilya Degroot-iouguina (Turning Point Dance)

The RAD extends sincere thanks to our wonderful volunteers, whose support behind the scenes helped bring the event to life, and to the South Australian RAD Panel for their commitment to making this Awards day possible.

We also gratefully acknowledge the support of our event sponsors, and our National Student Event Sponsors: Bloch, Energetiks, and Capezio, whose generosity helps us continue to provide meaningful opportunities for young dancers across the country.