Prize Recipients of the WA Festival of Dance 2025 Announced

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Australia is delighted to announce the prize recipients of the WA Festival of Dance 2025, a spectacular celebration of talent, artistry, and community held from 29 May to 1 June at the John Curtin College of the Arts in Fremantle.

This year’s Festival was particularly special, taking place in the same year that RAD marks its 90th anniversary in Australia—a significant milestone that celebrates nine decades of shaping generations of dancers, teachers, and artists across the country. The Festival was a fitting tribute to this legacy, showcasing over 200 dancers from across Western Australia and drawing a vibrant audience of supporters, families, and dance enthusiasts.

The Festival culminated in a spectacular Gala Evening on Sunday 1 June, featuring outstanding performances from prize recipients and guest artists from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and West Australian Ballet, creating an atmosphere of inspiration and celebration.

The 2025 Festival also offered award recipients exclusive scholarship opportunities from leading institutions including the Australian Ballet School, Queensland Ballet Academy, West Australian Ballet, and Sydney Dance Company, helping further the development of promising young dancers and connecting them with the broader Australian dance industry.

Adjudication across the Festival included David McAllister AC, Lisa Pavane, Kim McCarthy, Sean Williams, and Dayana Hardy—each bringing a wealth of experience and insight to the selection process.

Philippa Lynas, Regional Manager for SA, WA, & NT, shared her enthusiasm: “The 2025 Festival of Dance was a breathtaking celebration of talent, from our youngest performers in the new 8–9 years age group through to pre-professional artists. It was truly inspiring to witness the next generation of dancer’s shine on stage, all culminating in a spectacular Gala that captured the spirit and excellence throughout the four days of the Festival.”

Shelley Yacopetti, RAD Australia National Director, added: “The 2025 Festival of Dance was an extraordinary celebration of talent, passion, and creativity. It was a joy to witness such a vibrant showcase of diverse performances, each one reflecting the dedication and artistry of the dancers, choreographers, teachers and artistic teams. I couldn’t be prouder or more thankful to our talented RAD staff and dedicated volunteers for what they accomplished together — this year’s Festival of Dance including the highly entertaining Gala evening, was one of our best yet!”

The winners are:
Major Scholarship Recipients
Evelyn Hodgkinson Scholarship (10-12 years): Avianna Neilson from Dynamic Performing Arts
Gay Cruickshank Scholarship (13-14 years): Miru Jung from The Graduate College of Dance
Joan Stacy Scholarship (15-16 years): Amelia Baker from The Graduate College of Dance
Linley Wilson Scholarship (17+ years): Amelia Marson from Youth Ballet WA

Major Prize Recipients
Junior Female Dancer Award: Miru Jung from The Graduate College of Dance
Junior Male Dancer Award: Louis Lenanton from Perth Classical and Contemporary Coaching
Senior Female Dancer Award: Amelia Marson from Youth Ballet WA
Senior Male Dancer Award: Haruku Hoshi from Perth Classical and Contemporary Coaching
Linley Wilson Contemporary Prize: Natasha Jacob from Youth Ballet WA
The coveted David McAllister Cup was awarded to Youth Ballet WA.

Other Notable Awards
Most Promising Dancer Award (10-12 years): Asia Obales from Perth Classical and Contemporary Coaching
Most Promising Dancer Award (16+ years): Preston Shean from John Curtin College of the Arts
Grishko Most Promising Dancer Award: Haruku Hoshi from Perth Classical and Contemporary Coaching
Claire Marshall Trophy for National Dance: Ella Teh from The Graduate College of Dance
For a full list of winners in all categories, please download the 2025 Festival Prize Recipients list here.

The success of the WA Festival of Dance 2025 would not have been possible without the incredible support of our community. We extend our sincere thanks to our national sponsors: Bloch Australia, Energetiks, and Capezio, and our Major Event Sponsors: Diamond Level: Perth Dance Physio, Grishko
Sapphire Level: Voss Moves, Iluka Physio
Ruby Level: Bodile, Costume and Ballet Centre

We also gratefully acknowledge the contributions of our volunteers, adjudicators, teachers, and supporters. Special thanks to Alinta McRae, Chair of the Western Australia Regional Advisory Panel, for her leadership and continued advocacy for dance in WA. We also thank Regional Manager Philippa Lynas, Regional Coordinator Erin Bond, and all WA Panel members for their dedication and tireless work behind the scenes. Appreciation is extended to Dance Pro Photography for capturing the Festival’s most memorable moments.

As we continue to honour 90 years of RAD in Australia, we look forward to another year of extraordinary talent, community celebration, and inspiration at the WA Festival of Dance 2026.