A Dance Spectacular Down Under | Showcase National Dance Championships

Published in Print March 2025 order now!
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By Danielle Brown

Battle of the Stars | Dancer of the Year

I had the incredible opportunity to witness firsthand Peter Oxford’s Battle of the Stars and Dancer of the Year held at The Star on the Gold Coast on 19th January. It was a fantastic evening celebrating some of Australia’s finest talent, as well as an opportunity for up-and-coming choreographers to showcase their work. The event featured incredible theatrical full-cast routines alongside poignant statements addressing mental health and the urgent need to continue discussions about the rise of domestic violence against women and children.

In his opening video onstage, Peter Oxford, founder of Showcase National Dance Championships, reflected, “I began dancing at the age of 4. There was no one else in my family dancing; they would say I was the black sheep or the pink sheep. I was the competition boy. Well, being on stage under the lights in front of an audience, that’s always what I’ve been attracted to. Hand me the microphone. I’ll take over. In my early twenties, I went to the US and won the American Dance Championships, and then I somehow ended up owning a dance studio, and then decided it was time to do something different. That’s why I created Australia’s 1st national dance competition, which I started in 1994.”

Peter had a vision to expand the event. “No matter how hard it was, I just kept striving to make it the best competition in Australia,” he added. “I started putting together these well-produced American-style competitions in big ballrooms, and no one was really doing that at the time.”

Reflecting on the early days, Peter recalled, “We ran Showcase before the internet age, without emails. Everything was done by fax or post. I’d be on the phone to dance studios, ‘Do you want to come to this event?’ I had so many hang-ups until around 1999, and that’s when it really started to grow. I remember feeling quite nervous. It was the first time on such a big stage, such a professional dance comp. I walked out on stage, started tapping, and the whole audience just fell silent. I was like, ‘What?’ Once the national competition started, the standard of dance in Australia soared rapidly.”

“In the ’80s, if you could do a double turn, you were doing really well,” he remarked. “Now, 5-year-olds are doing triples and quadruples, and the commitment to dance is very different. Showcase winners like Paris Kavanagh, Emily Seymour, Michael Dameski, and Maddie Peat, who now brings her own students to our events, have gone on to do amazing things.”

“There’s something special about Showcase, and I honestly think it’s because of Peter,” said a colleague and longtime friend, Deborah Johnson, who also served as a judge in 2025. “Every final, every event, Peter turns it into this huge production for the kids. That’s why he’s been so successful with Showcase. He genuinely loves it, and he really believes in the kids.”

Peter, chatting candidly on stage, reflected, “What a magical week it’s been. So many new faces, so many regulars coming to celebrate this milestone. As you know, Showcase started back in 1994. It was a vision that I never thought would get to this stage or last as long as it has now. Back in 1994, we didn’t even have the internet, no Wi-Fi, no social media. I managed everything by writing out envelopes and praying entries would come in. Moving forward, I want to thank everyone for their support. There were times, due to my cystic fibrosis, when I didn’t think I’d still be here today. But thanks to miracle drugs and gene therapy, I’m symptom-free now.”

Reflecting on the journey, he added, “Around five years ago, we thought it might be the end, but here we are. This is the home of the Australian Dance Championships National Finals, and I couldn’t be prouder to stand here at The Star today presenting such an amazing event that’s part of Australian history.”

The judges for 2025 included Karina Lawrence, Matt Browning, Lisa Marie Barnes, Deborah Johnson, Mark Hill, Lisa Jane Holt, Arad Smyth, Shannon Atkins, Christopher Wood, and Kennedy.

When asked about what makes a winning routine stand out, Judge Karina Lawrence shared, “I think when I see the passion coming through, I’m very much about energy and that undefinable something that you can’t teach; it’s just there. Technique and everything else should be a given. It’s when I’m swept into another world and captivated from start to finish. If a routine manages to maintain that spirit and vibe throughout, it leaves a lasting impression.”

Reflecting on whether this differs by age group, she commented, “Expectations naturally increase with age and maturity. Younger kids need solid training and rehearsal experience from the start. It’s about the expertise, attention to detail, and most importantly, them having fun out there. At the end of the day, they’ve made it this far, and it could go any way.”

Discussing changes in choreography, Karina noted, “I think song choice is crucial, but choreographically, there’s a growing awareness. It’s a slow process, but there’s a sense of urgency in the industry. Kids are sometimes pushed too fast. There’s time for them to mature naturally. It’s about being aware of how they’re presented to the audience, keeping it appropriate and respecting their comfort.”

Karina, who started her own studio in 1997 and had significant success in Battle of the Stars, explained why she continues to be involved with Showcase: “Starting at Showcase was great training; it’s fast-paced and structured differently. You have a team of judges, so there’s a sense of support. The Showcase family is unique, and what Peter offers is original. While there are more opportunities now, there’s nothing quite like the original.”