Dancing for Joy – 2011 Telstra Ballet Dancer Award nominees
Filed under: awards, ballet, sponsorship, The Australian Ballet
What a moment for the six talented 2011 Telstra Ballet Dancer Award nominees! I remember the sense of shock, numbness and buzzing excitement when my name was announced in 2010; it was so wonderful to relate to the surprised and ecstatic faces.
Each dancer is now at the beginning of their own TBDA journey. The Award, and all the experiences it involves, provided me with a unique opportunity to learn about myself and the industry I’m so passionate about. It became a ‘time-capsule year’; a year to reflect on the past, embrace the present and aspire for the future. It was also special to involve my family and friends in the Award process, as without their support I would not be in the position I am today. We are so fortunate that Telstra invests in both our careers as dancers and our development as young, aspiring people.
I will be following the six nominees on their TBDA journey – I hope you will too!
(l-r): Rudy Hawkes (Ipswich, Queensland), Robyn Hendricks (Port Elizabeth, South Africa), Luke Marchant (Maitland, New South Wales), Brett Chynoweth (Mount Waverley, Victoria), Karen Nanasca (Auckland, New Zealand) and Chengwu Guo (Jiangxi, China),
Photo credit: Cameron L’Estrange
The Telstra People’s Choice Award gives you the chance to get in on the act! Give your favourite dancer a lift in the online vote that puts them in the running to win $5,000 – in addition to the $20,000 prize for the dancer selected by the judging panel. And you go in the draw for a prize too – in a weekend for two in Sydney that includes flights, accommodation, and Premium Reserve tickets to The Australian Ballet’s performance of Romeo and Juliet. Winners are announced in November. Vote now
VIDEO – We video’d the announcement of this year’s nominees in The Australian Ballet’s rehearsal rooms, and talked with Dana and 2010 co-winner Ty-King Wall about what winning this Award means to them.
