Entry Information

Heats:
Sunday, 14 July 2024 at Bangarra | Studios

All entrants present a classical ballet solo before an audience. Traditional classical repertoire is allowed. Time limits up to 3 minutes. Adjudicators' reports will be written for the classical solos only. No marks will be given on these reports.

Semi - Final | Free Variation (By invitation only):
Sunday, 14 July 2024 at Bangarra | Studios

40 entrants will be selected to perform their free variation solo (contemporary, lyrical or neoclassical). Adjudicators' reports will be written for the classical solos only. No marks will be given on reports.

Semi - Final | Masterclass (By Invitation only):
Monday, 15 July 2024 at Bangarra | Studios

18 entrants will be selected to attend a masterclass which is closed to the public. The masterclass will take place over approximately 90 minutes. Dancers selected to progress to the Final will be announced at the end of the masterclass. Each finalist will be required immediately after for interviews with the adjudicators. Entrants will need to be prepared to be onsite at the Concourse for the entire day, bringing with them both costumes for each dance, should they be chosen to perform in the Finals.

Finals:
Sunday, 21 July 2024 at the Sydney Opera House | Concert Hall

8 entrants will be selected to perform two routines:
i. Classical ballet solo from the heat
ii. Free contrasting routine.

These will not be performed consecutively. Please be aware of the music upload requirements.

Time limits up to 3 minutes for each routine. After the free variation, all finalists are asked to change back into their classical costumes for the presentation and photographs on stage.

Adjudicators

Lynette Wills

Area of Specialty:
Classical Ballet

Alumni:
1987

Lynette Wills began her ballet training in Canberra and graduated from The Australian Ballet School in 1990. She joined The Australian Ballet in 1991 and steadily rose through the ranks. Lynette was promoted to Principal Artist after her fiery and moving portrayal of Baroness von Rothbart in the Sydney premiere of Graeme Murphy’s Swan Lake in 2002. She toured extensively with the company to Italy, London, China, Japan and the United States. Throughout her 17-year career, Lynette danced principal roles in many classics, with highlights including Onegin, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Merry Widow, La Bayadere, In the Middle Somewhat Elevated, Stepping Stones, Forgotten Land, Gemini, Voluntaries and Serenade. Lynette retired in 2009 and was invited to teach, coach, and adjudicate nationally and internationally for leading competitions, schools and companies. In 2010, Marilyn Rowe invited Lynette to join the faculty of The Australian Ballet School after completing a Vocational Graduate Certificate in Elite Classical Dance. In 2023, Lynette was appointed Head of Teaching and Learning and enjoys the privilege of passing on her passion and insight to the next generation of dancers.

Christian Tatchev

Area of Specialty:
Classical Ballet

Christian trained at the National School of Choreography in Sofia, commencing his professional career at age 16, and achieving the rank of Principal Artist at 21. He joined Queensland Ballet in 2008 after participating in the Company’s International Ballet Gala that year. His prior engagements include positions with the Bulgarian contemporary dance company Ballet Arabesque, Sofia National Opera and Ballet, the Performing Arts Council of Transvaal (PACT Ballet), and the South African Ballet Theatre, where he also held a role as a Coach and Repetiteur. Christian has represented the above-mentioned companies in various prestigious galas and dance events. His repertoire includes principal roles in the major classical repertoire as well as in numerous works by celebrated choreographers of modern times. He retired from the stage in 2011 and was appointed the Company’s Ballet Master. He took up the position of Director of Training in 2013 and was instrumental in the development of Queensland Ballets’ new training programs alongside Artistic Director Li Cunxin AO. In 2016, Christian was named Director of Queensland Ballet Academy.

Stanton Welch AM

In July 2003, Australian Stanton Welch AM assumed leadership of Houston Ballet, America's fifth-largest classical ballet company. Since he took the helm of the company, Mr. Welch has revitalized Houston Ballet, bringing in new dancers, commissioning new works, and attracting a top-flight artistic staff. Mr. Welch has created works for such prestigious international companies as Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, America Ballet Theatre, The Australian Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and the Royal Danish Ballet. Mr. Welch was born in Melbourne to Marilyn Jones OBE and Garth Welch AM, two of Australia's most gifted dancers of the 1960s and 1970s. In 1989, he was engaged as a dancer with The Australian Ballet, where he rose to the rank of leading soloist, performing various principal roles. He has also worked with internationally acclaimed choreographers such as Jiří Kylián, Nacho Duato, and Maurice Bejart. In 1995, Mr. Welch was named resident choreographer of The Australian Ballet. For his contributions to the world of dance, he was awarded the Order of Australia (AM) in June 2015. For Houston Ballet, he has choreographed more than 20 works, including a new full-length narrative ballet Marie (2009), inspired by the life of the legendary Marie Antoinette, and spectacular stagings of Swan Lake (2006), La Bayadère (2010), Romeo and Juliet (2015), Giselle (2016), The Nutcracker (2016), and Sylvia (2019). To learn more about Stanton Welch, AM, click here.

Important Notes

Upon progressing to the semi-finals, the following documentation will be required:
* Proof of age and Australian/New Zealand residency status (e.g. birth certificate or current passport - a driver's license or student ID is not acceptable).
* A 200-word biography
* A short statement outlining your current and proposed training, and how the Sydney Eisteddfod Robert & Elizabeth Albert Junior Classical Ballet Scholarship might help you.
* A publicity picture in colour as a JPEG file - in high resolution (minimum 2M.B.)
* Proposed repertoire for Final (required: title of the solo and ballet, the choreographer, and the composer of the music).

Changes to repertoire cannot be made any later than the fortnight leading up to heats.

All music is to be uploaded to the Sydney Eisteddfod Entrant Portal no later than two weeks prior to the event. Files should be in MP3 format.

Please use the following format when naming your file:
Event Number_Entrant Number_ Entrant First & Last Name_Style

e.g., Event 423 _entrant 8_Emily Jones_Classical

Please note: two uploads required for classical and contemporary routines.

Email: [email protected] if you have any questions relating to this submission method

Clothing Requirements for Heats & Masterclass:

Option 1 - Dark tights and a fitted plain t-shirt (any colour)
Option 2 - white or pink tights and a sleeveless plain leotard (any colour)

Conditions

1. Previous winners not eligible.
2. Event is open to any dancer who is a citizen or permanent resident of Australia or New Zealand.
~ Residency and proof of age documents are required when submitting your application. This can include a Birth Certificate or an Australian or New Zealand passport or a permanent resident stamp. A driver's licence is not acceptable.
3. Adjudicator reports will be written for the heats only. No marks will be given on these reports.
4. The awarding of the scholarship(s) is at the discretion of the adjudicators and is given on the understanding that the recipient(s) will undertake study for the furthering of their dance career both domestically and or internationally.
5. In awarding the scholarship the adjudicators will take into consideration presentation, current level of achievement and potential.
6. The scholarship must be utilised within two years of winning and completed within two years thereafter. The payment of instalments is upon application to Sydney Eisteddfod with satisfactory reports of progress from the recipient's teacher or teaching institution.
7. The Winner, Runner - up and Finalists must be reasonably available for media interviews and performance engagements. Sydney Eisteddfod will endeavour to continue to provide performance opportunities to alumni as a way of staying connected and nurturing the creative practices of all.
8. Please also refer to the Dance Rules & Conditions of Entry.

Prizes

Winner: Total Prize $7,000 ($1,000 cash, plus a Scholarship of $6,000 over two instalments). Supported by Robert Albert AO & Elizabeth Albert

2nd: $1,500. Supported by Robert Albert AO & Elizabeth Albert

Finalists: $500 each (excluding place-getters). Supported by Robert Albert AO & Elizabeth Albert

Houston Ballet Academy Award
Courtesy of Houston Ballet, at the discretion of the Artistic Director, a finalist may be offered the opportunity to attend a 4-week intensive with the Houston Ballet Academy based at the Houston Ballet Centre for Dance, a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Houston’s vibrant theatre district. The 4-week period will be arranged for a mutually convenient time with the recipient of the award and Houston Ballet Academy.
The Academy is the official school of Houston Ballet, America’s fourth largest ballet company. Under Stanton Welsh as Artistic Director, Houston Ballet is recognised as one of the nation’s leading ballet companies.

The Tanya Pearson Memorial Award: In honour of one of the world’s pre-eminent teachers of classical ballet, an award of $800 and a Tanya Pearson Memorial Medal & Certificate will be presented to a Junior Ballet Finalist who displays the highest level of artistry and stagecraft in keeping with the teachings of Tanya Pearson OAM. The funds are to assist with the costs of training and competition fees. The winner also receives workshop scholarships to the value of $595.