More than 500 dancers ranging from under six to 17 and over graced the stage at the West Gippsland Arts Centre during the September school holidays, showcasing their talents in ballet, jazz, tap, neo-classical, song and dance, contemporary, hip hop and more at the 32nd West Gippsland Dance Festival.
The annual festival was held between Friday September 20 to Sunday September 28.
The following is a list of first place results.
SOLOS
Classical
6 years & under – Alice Shields, Sophie Kenna; 7 years & under 9 novice – Luka Cameron; 7 years & under 9 open – Estelle Gaget; 9 years & under 11 novice – Olive Mottershead
9 years & under 11 open – Elise Stalker, Zara Lindsay; 11 years & under 13 novice – Bethany Henderson; 11 years & under 13 open – Macy Stalker, Luke McGann; 13 years & under 15 novice – Olivia Boughey; 13 years & under 15 open – Georgia Williams, Ava Scott; 15 years & under 17 novice/open – Sam McSweeney.
Demi-Character
6 years & under – Isla Hughes; 7 years & under 9 novice – Estelle Gaget; 7 years & under 9 open – Penelope Baker; 9 years & under 11 novice – Maiya Harben; 9 years & under 11 open – Laikyn McGrath; 11 years & under 13 novice – Kayla Paturzo; 11 years & under 13 open – Bailey Bobrowski; 13 years & under 15 novice/open – Georgia Williams; 15 years & under 17 novice/open – Sam McSweeney
Modern/Jazz
6 years & under – Isla Hughes, Ivy Dunstan; 7 years & under 9 novice – Capri McGrath, Amelia Lindsay; 7 years & under 9 open – Estelle Gaget; 9 years & under 11 novice – Imogen House; 9 years & under 11 open – Elise Stalker, Charlee Woods; 11 years & under 13 novice – Luke McGann; 11 years & under 13 open – Macy Stalker, Selene Gribbin; 13 years & under 15 novice – Charlotta Apps; 13 years & under 15 open – Lucie Doody, Eleanor Baxter; 15 years & under 17 novice – Amy Staunton; 15 years & under 17 open – Maggie Dargan, Chelsea Whitmore; 17 years & over – Cari Weybury
Song & Dance
6 years & under – Isla Hughes; 7 years & under 9 novice/open – Olivia Jennion; 9 years & under 11 novice – Pollyanna Nelson; 9 years & under 11 open – Angela Phillips; 11 years & under 13 novice/open – Axel Shirt; 13 years & under 15 novice – Hamish Peatman; 13 years & under 15 open – Zuriyah Shirt; 15 years & under 17 open – Grace Farmer; 17 years & over – Lucy McKenzie
Tap
6 years & under – Isla Hughes; 7 years & under 9 novice – Esher Russo; 7 years & under 9 open – Lacey Hughes; 9 years & under 11 novice – Wendy Van Der Put; 9 years & under 11 open – Tahlia Skarajew; 11 years & under 13 novice – Zara Gannon; 11 years & under 13 open – Axel Shirt; 13 years & under 15 novice – Naomi Finocchiaro; 13 years & under 15 open – Zuriyah Shirt; 15 years & under 17 novice/open – Jess Everitt; 17 years & over – Cari Weybury
National
9 years & under 13 – Skye Ingram; 13 years & over – Anna Ingram
Neo-Classical
6 years & under open – Amelia Squires; 7 years & under 9 novice – Chloe Poxon; 7 years & under 9 open – Estelle Gaget; 9 years & under 11 novice – No Placing; 9 years & under 11 open – Laikyn McGrath; 11 years & under 13 novice – Bailey Bobrowski; 11 years & under 13 open – Macy Stalker; 13 years & under 15 novice – Millie Ryan; 13 years & under 15 open – Ava Scott; 15 years & under 17 novice/open – Ashlea Rush; 17 years & over – Lucy McKenzie
Contemporary
9 years & under 11 open - Elise Stalker; 11 years & under 13 novice - Jenna Lewis; 11 years & under 13 open - Macy Stalker; 13 years & under 15 novice - Kira Evans; 13 years & under 15 open - Ada Gordon, Georgia Williams; 15 years & under 17 novice - Evie Pummell; 15 years & under 17 open – Sam McSweeney; 17 & over open – Cari Weybury
Lyrical
9 years & under 11 novice – Harry Hennessy; 9 years & under 11 open – Isla Logan; 11 years & under 13 novice – India Woods; 11 years & under 13 open – Hayley Rowe; 13 years & under 15 novice – Abigail Winsall; 13 years & under 15 open – Alisha Kilpatrick, Ada Gordon; 15 years & under 17 novice – Lily Imlach; 15 years & under 17 open – Keira Dorey, Maggie Dargan; 17 years & over – Jessica Ryan
Hip Hop
12 years & under open – Selene Gribbin; 13 years & under 15 open - Ada Gordon; 15 years & under 17 open - Ayrlee Smith; 17 years & over open – Cari Weybury
Classical Variation
12 years & under - Macy Stalker; 13 years & over - Sam McSweeney
IMPROVISATIONS
12 years & under Classical - Elise Stalker; 12 years & under Tap - Skye Ingram; 12 years & under Modern Jazz - Elise Stalker; 12 years & under Lyrical/Contemporary - Macy Stalker; 13 years & over Modern Jazz - Maggie Dargan; 13 years & over Lyrical/Contemporary - Maggie Dargan
DUOS/TRIOS
Modern/Jazz
10 years & under – Charlee Woods and Imogen House; 12 years & under – Cailin Richards, Isla Gordon and Poppy Ginsberg; 14 years & under – Alexandra Procter and Isla Buffington; 15 years & over – Cari Weybury and Jessica Ryan
Demi-Character
12 years & under – Mia Blandford and Skye Ingram; 13 years & over – Eleanor Baxter and Isabella Gardner
Song & Dance
12 years & under – Aisha Smith and Claudia Frendo; 13 years & over – Isabelle Jennings and Maggie Dargan
Tap
12 years & under – Angela Phillips, Jenna Lewis and Harry Hennessy; 13 years & over – Lucy McKenzie and Ruby Clifton
Neo-classical/Lyrical/Contemporary
10 years & under - Charlee Woods, Everly Ades and Imogen House; 12 years & under – Addison Fisher and Alexandra Procter; 14 years & under – Allirah Pfister and Isla Buffington; 15 years & over – Ebony Ricupito and Sam McSweeney
Hip Hop
12 years & under - Alexis Grayham and Claire Schram; 13 years & over - Charlotte Kelly and Malaika Geerdharry
TROUPES
Classical/Demi-Character
6 years & under - Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance
Classical
8 years & under – Dance On Academy; 10 years & under – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance; 12 years & under – KC's School of Dance; 14 years & under – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance; open age – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance
Neo-classical
8 years & under – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance; 10 years & under – Dance Lab; 12 years & under – KC's School of Dance; 14 years & under – KC's School of Dance; open age – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance
Lyrical
12 years & under – Suzie Ryrie School of Dance; 14 years & under – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance; open age – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance
Contemporary
12 years & under – Suzie Ryrie School of Dance; 14 years & under – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance; open age – urban Funk Dance
National
12 years & under – KC's School of Dance; open age – KC's School of Dance
Modern
6 years & under – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance; 8 years & under – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance; 10 years & under – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance; 12 years & under – Dance Lab; 14 years & under – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance; open age – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance
Tap
8 years & under – Dance Lab; 10 years & under – Dance Lab; 12 years & under – Dance Lab; 14 years & under – Lisa Pellin Dancers; open age – Dance On Academy
Song & Dance
8 years & under – KC's School of Dance; 10 years & under – KC's School of Dance; 12 years & under – Dance On Academy; 14 years & under – KC's School of Dance; open age – KC's School of Dance
Broadway Jazz
14 years & under – KC's School of Dance; open age – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance
Hip Hop
12 years & under – Lisa Pellin Dancers; 14 years & under – Dance Lab; open age – Dance on Academy
Championships
Junior classical championship – Taylah Allcock
Intermediate classical championship – Ava Scott
Senior classical championship – Sam McSweeney
Junior modern championship – Harry Hennessy
Intermediate modern championship – Lucie Doody
Senior modern championship – Cari Weybury
Junior tap championship – Axel Shirt
Senior tap championship – Katyn Russell
Senior contemporary/lyrical championship – Sam McSweeney
WGDF scholarship in memory of Barb Phillippi: Sam McSweeney
Age Aggregate Awards
6 years & under – Isla Hughes
7 years & under 9 novice – Esher Russo
7 years & under 9 open – Estelle Gaget
9 years & under 11 novice – Imogen House
9 years & under 11 open – Elise Stalker
11 years & under 13 novice – Bailey Bobrowski, Bethany Henderson, India Woods, Jenna Lewis, Kayla Paturzo, Luke McGann, Zara Gannon
11 years & under 13 open – Macy Stalker
13 years & under 15 novice – Naomi Finocchiaro
13 years & under 15 open – Georgia Williams
15 years & under 17 novice – Amy Staunton
15 years & under 17 open – Sam McSweeney
17 years & over – Cari Weybury
Adjudicators' Awards
6 years & under – Scarlett Pellin
7 years & under 9 novice – Lily Mehmetoglu
7 years & under 9 open – Ayla Van Pelt
9 years & under 11 novice – Pollyanna Nelson
9 years & under 11 open – Summer Mountford
11 years & under 13 novice – Sienna Mones
11 years & under 13 open – Scarlet Findlay
13 years & under 15 novice – Hamish Peatman
13 years & under 15 open – Lucy Phillips
15 years & under 17 novice – Isla Pearce
15 years & under 17 open – Nathan Ingram
17 years & over – Ruby Clifton
Adjudicators Award for Choreography:
Choreographer - Jack Egan
Dancer - Axel Shirt
School - Sharon Lawrence Academy of Dance
Carol Holman Memorial Award – Sam McSweeney and Macy Stalker
Teachers solo/duo/trio aggregate – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance
Teachers troupe – KC's School of Dance
Life Membership – Mark Spencer
Dancer of the Day 'Love of Dance' Awards
Friday 20th September 20 – Dakota Brown and Isla Mobbs; September 21 – Daphne Van Hoorn; September 22 – Addison Fisher; September 23 – Matilda Burke; September 24 – Emma Allcock; September 25 – Quinn Norris; September 26 – Indigo Chatfield; September 27 – Alex Beach; September 28 – Gemma Edwards.