Marilyn Jones Awards

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The Australian Institute of Classical Dance (AICD) proudly presented the inaugural AICD Marlyn Jones Awards and NSW Ballet Awards at The McDonald College on 3 May 2026, bringing together some of Australia’s most promising young classical dancers for a day that celebrated technical excellence, artistry and the future of ballet training.

Under the expert adjudication of Darren McIntyre, dancers from across New South Wales took to the stage in pursuit of prestigious awards, scholarships and professional opportunities. A graduate of The Australian Ballet School, McIntyre has enjoyed an international career spanning performance, artistic leadership and education, with credits including Minnesota Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Louisville Ballet and Ajkun Ballet Theatre in New York, before transitioning into leadership roles with professional companies and training institutions across Australia and overseas.

Class teacher for the 13–14 Years and 15–18 Years divisions was respected educator Mitchell Rayner, who guided dancers through class work before they returned to the stage to present their variations.

A landmark addition to the 2026 awards was the introduction of the Marilyn Jones Awards, established in honour of AICD founder Marilyn Jones OBE. Created in recognition of the financial demands associated with pursuing a professional ballet career, the awards provide the financial flexibility for further professional training here in Australia or for travel expenses to audition for training or dance jobs overseas. Open to classical dancers regardless of the syllabus they study, the initiative reflects AICD’s commitment to supporting excellence across the broader dance community.

Bloch Australia continued its longstanding commitment to supporting Australian dancers through its sponsorship of the event and providing the $800 4th prize in the Marilyn Jones Awards, while all award recipients also received a one-year dancetrain subscription.

Marilyn Jones Awards – 15–18 Years
With international training opportunities often exceeding $20,000 once tuition, accommodation and travel are considered, the Marilyn Jones Awards have the potential to make a significant difference to a young dancer’s professional pathway. The transparent allocation of substantial cash prizes represents a meaningful investment in the next generation of Australian dancers.

The inaugural Marilyn Jones Award carried a total value of $7,250, including $7,000 in cash and a $250 Bloch gift voucher. The Garth Welch Memorial Award, named in honour of AICD’s inaugural President, carried a total value of $3,250, including $3,000 in cash and a $250 Bloch gift voucher. The AICD Award carried a $1,000 cash prize and a $200 Bloch gift voucher, while the Bloch Artistry Award included $800 cash prize and a $200 Bloch gift card.
McIntyre described the senior division as inspiring, emphasising that class work remains the foundation of a sustainable professional career. “My biggest piece of advice would be to continue to focus on your class work. That is how you will sustain your career,” he said, noting that professionalism extends well beyond performance opportunities. “Even once you have a contract, choreographers will come and watch class. How you present yourself in class is so important. It’s basically like you’re auditioning every day.”

He was equally impressed by the maturity and professionalism demonstrated throughout the division, commenting that “the etiquette was beautiful” and that it had been a pleasure to adjudicate a section that displayed not only strong technical ability, but a “beautiful sense of artistry developing.”

The standard throughout the Marilyn Jones Awards was exceptionally high, with several dancers distinguishing themselves through a combination of technical excellence, artistry and stage presence.

Results
1st – The Marilyn Jones Award
India-Rose Macé, Dance North Academy
2nd – The Garth Welch Memorial Award
Brent Helm, TJS Dance Academy
3rd – The AICD Award
Anna Stephensen, Dance North Academy
4th – The Bloch Award
Maya Kingsmill, Tanya Pearson Academy
Highly Commended
Maddison Gardner, Bergen Lavelle Classical Coaching, Ablaze Dance Academy
Madeleine Konstantakos, Dance North Academy
Elodie Lamont, Queensland College of Dance
Holly Robinson, Dance North Academy

Emerging Talent – 11–14 Years
The 11–14 Years divisions showcased the exceptional depth of emerging classical talent across New South Wales, from dancers taking their first steps onto a major awards stage through to those tackling increasingly demanding repertoire.

Award recipients received cash prizes, Bloch gift vouchers and a one-year dancetrain subscription, with the 13–14 Years First Place recipient receiving a prize valued at $1,100, including $500 in cash and a $600 Bloch gift voucher, and Second Place receiving a prize valued at $700, including $300 in cash and a $400 Bloch gift voucher and Third Place receiving a prize value of $500, including $200 cash and $300 Bloch gift voucher. The 11-12 Years Frist Place recipient receiving a prize valued at $900 including $400 cash and $500 Bloch gift voucher, Second Place receiving a prize valued at $500 including $200 cash and $300 Bloch gift voucher and Third Place receiving a prize valued at $300 including $100 cash and $200 Bloch gift voucher.

McIntyre was particularly impressed by the dancers’ developing artistry, noting that what often separates a performance is not simply technical execution, but the relationship between movement and music. “Most of the time what sets a performance apart is how you execute your choreography to the music with a quality of movement that arises from that connection.”

As dancers progressed into increasingly challenging repertoire, McIntyre emphasised that artistry must develop alongside technique. “You’re human first. We want to see that breadth and dynamic in your musicality and artistry, as well as all your beautiful technique,” he explained, also encouraging dancers to continue refining the finer details of their classical training, particularly the coordination of the head with the port de bras, which he noted showed some lovely attention to detail throughout the section.

Several performances left a lasting impression on the adjudicator, who praised Lury Lee’s performance and highlighted the choreography presented by 11–12 Years winner Gabriela Goeta-Cheng. In the 13–14 Years division, he described Ava Radojevic’s winning variation as “a beautiful performance, really detailed, with exquisite musicality.”

Radojevic’s own experience reflected the preparation required to perform at this level. She admitted she felt little nervousness heading onto the stage, explaining, “I felt really well prepared because I’d rehearsed it so much.” Although surprised by the result, she said she was relieved and happy, knowing the award reflected the hard work she had invested in her preparation.

11–12 Years Results
1st Place
Gabriela Goeta-Cheng, Tanya Pearson Academy
2nd Place
Lury Lee, Tanya Pearson Academy
3rd Place
Beatrix Griffiths-Witt, Tanya Pearson Academy
Highly Commended
Lauren Li, Dance North Academy
Isabelle La, Raising the Barre Academy
Emika Ichinohe, Dance North Academy
Evelyn Gijselman, Dance North Academy
13–14 Years Results
1st Place
Ava Radojevic, Dance North Academy
2nd Place
William McMahon, National College of Dance
3rd Place
Liam Forsyth, Sonja Dene Dance Studios
Highly Commended
Angela Lee, Redlands Dance Academy and Allegria Dance Studios
Wahta Handy, National College of Dance
Suzanne Liu, Dance North Academy
Ava Meng, Raising the Barre Academy
Beyond the prizes and placings, the 2026 AICD NSW Ballet Awards highlighted the remarkable strength of classical ballet training in Australia. Through the introduction of the Marilyn Jones Awards and the ongoing support of organisations such as Bloch Australia, the event continues to provide meaningful recognition and opportunities for the next generation of Australian ballet artists.

ballet.org.au