AHA 2011 Award Recipients
Click here for the full list of award winners, finalists and semi-finalists in 2011.
POST EVENT REPORT 2011
The 20th anniversary of the biennial AHA awards was held Easter weekend 2011 at the Bruce Mason Centre Takapuna Auckland NZ commemorating a promising 11yr old Wellington dancer Alana, tragically killed Xmas eve 1989. This event was founded in 1991 by Alana’s mother & former RNZB dancer Katie Haines. It has grown to be the most prestigious in Australasia & is highly respected throughout the world as are our Australasian dancers.
An exceptional standard of contestants 11-21yrs – the cream of Australasia from Perth to Dunedin presented classical solos from the professional repertoire & modern solos to a standard rarely ever seen in NZ at this level. 260 contestants entered including 103 from Australia with over $250,000 prizes in cash & scholarships awarded to 47 contestants from Semi-Finalists up including three ‘Audience Choice Awards’. Incidentally, allocation of awards between NZ/Australia was equal throughout, however this event is not about winning. Rather it is a spring board of opportunities - to inspire/develop their art while maintaining comparable standards throughout Australasia.
Supreme Winner of the $11,000 cash Award plus a £30,000 scholarship of one year to the ‘Royal Ballet School’ in London was won by B group (16-21yrs) 18yr old Shayarne Matheson Tanya Pearson Academy NSW Australia. A group Winner (13-15yrs) was won by 15yr old Brooke Ray from Mount Eden Ballet Academy Auckland winning $3000 cash & a scholarship to ‘American Academy of Ballet’ New York. Junior Scholars Winner (11-13yrs) was 11yr old Thomas McClintock also from Mount Eden Ballet Academy Auckland who won $2000 cash plus a scholarship to the ’Australian Ballet School’ Melbourne. One scholarship to Royal Ballet School has been extended to up to 3yrs by RBS director/adjudicator for 15yr old Georgina Martin 2nd Runner-up A group from QLD.
The prestigious jury of six internationally renown celebrities included stars from the inspiring movie ‘Mao’s Last Dancer’ Li Cunxin & Mary McKendry, plus ‘Royal Ballet School’ Director London Gailene Stock - former 1991 AHA recipient from ‘The Australian Ballet Co’ Mark Cassidy, ‘Swedish Ballet Co’ Tibor Horvath & ‘Australian Ballet School’ Leigh Rowles.
The event spanning 4 days opened with a full house to view the celebrated Movie of ‘Mao’s Last Dancer’ sponsored by Auckland Council with Li Cunxin speaking & signing books. This continued with adjudicated classes then 3 rounds of performances over the next 3 days culminating with the Grand Finals to a capacity audience of over 1000 followed by a cocktail party. Finals host was Sir Jon Trimmer –Leading artist RNZB & patron of the AHA Awards - guest performer was Hannah O’Neill ‘Australian Ballet School’ who was 1st runner-up in AHA Awards 2005 & 2007. Hannah went on to win the prestigious Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland 2009 & the Youth America Grand Prix in New York 2010 & was a great inspiration to an already excellent standard of dancers.
Scholarships for the 2011 event included elite international companies & schools from Hong Kong, Europe & USA. All Supreme Finalists from 2011 on will be able to apply through the new AHA Awards ‘Ongoing Financial Support’ scheme to help towards all scholarships related costs.
AHA Awards is the only competition in the world to offer ongoing financial support to recipients but with only NZ$60,000 in this fund to distribute in 3 rounds we need contributions towards these funds to make a difference.
This event attracts thousands of dance enthusiasts, tutors, families throughout Australia & many past recipients of these awards are now international stars - performing in professional companies throughout the world.
POST EVENT REPORT 2011
The 20th anniversary of the biennial AHA awards was held Easter weekend 2011 at the Bruce Mason Centre Takapuna Auckland NZ commemorating a promising 11yr old Wellington dancer Alana, tragically killed Xmas eve 1989. This event was founded in 1991 by Alana’s mother & former RNZB dancer Katie Haines. It has grown to be the most prestigious in Australasia & is highly respected throughout the world as are our Australasian dancers.
An exceptional standard of contestants 11-21yrs – the cream of Australasia from Perth to Dunedin presented classical solos from the professional repertoire & modern solos to a standard rarely ever seen in NZ at this level. 260 contestants entered including 103 from Australia with over $250,000 prizes in cash & scholarships awarded to 47 contestants from Semi-Finalists up including three ‘Audience Choice Awards’. Incidentally, allocation of awards between NZ/Australia was equal throughout, however this event is not about winning. Rather it is a spring board of opportunities - to inspire/develop their art while maintaining comparable standards throughout Australasia.
Supreme Winner of the $11,000 cash Award plus a £30,000 scholarship of one year to the ‘Royal Ballet School’ in London was won by B group (16-21yrs) 18yr old Shayarne Matheson Tanya Pearson Academy NSW Australia. A group Winner (13-15yrs) was won by 15yr old Brooke Ray from Mount Eden Ballet Academy Auckland winning $3000 cash & a scholarship to ‘American Academy of Ballet’ New York. Junior Scholars Winner (11-13yrs) was 11yr old Thomas McClintock also from Mount Eden Ballet Academy Auckland who won $2000 cash plus a scholarship to the ’Australian Ballet School’ Melbourne. One scholarship to Royal Ballet School has been extended to up to 3yrs by RBS director/adjudicator for 15yr old Georgina Martin 2nd Runner-up A group from QLD.
The prestigious jury of six internationally renown celebrities included stars from the inspiring movie ‘Mao’s Last Dancer’ Li Cunxin & Mary McKendry, plus ‘Royal Ballet School’ Director London Gailene Stock - former 1991 AHA recipient from ‘The Australian Ballet Co’ Mark Cassidy, ‘Swedish Ballet Co’ Tibor Horvath & ‘Australian Ballet School’ Leigh Rowles.
The event spanning 4 days opened with a full house to view the celebrated Movie of ‘Mao’s Last Dancer’ sponsored by Auckland Council with Li Cunxin speaking & signing books. This continued with adjudicated classes then 3 rounds of performances over the next 3 days culminating with the Grand Finals to a capacity audience of over 1000 followed by a cocktail party. Finals host was Sir Jon Trimmer –Leading artist RNZB & patron of the AHA Awards - guest performer was Hannah O’Neill ‘Australian Ballet School’ who was 1st runner-up in AHA Awards 2005 & 2007. Hannah went on to win the prestigious Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland 2009 & the Youth America Grand Prix in New York 2010 & was a great inspiration to an already excellent standard of dancers.
Scholarships for the 2011 event included elite international companies & schools from Hong Kong, Europe & USA. All Supreme Finalists from 2011 on will be able to apply through the new AHA Awards ‘Ongoing Financial Support’ scheme to help towards all scholarships related costs.
AHA Awards is the only competition in the world to offer ongoing financial support to recipients but with only NZ$60,000 in this fund to distribute in 3 rounds we need contributions towards these funds to make a difference.
This event attracts thousands of dance enthusiasts, tutors, families throughout Australia & many past recipients of these awards are now international stars - performing in professional companies throughout the world.
One scholarship to Royal Ballet School has been extended to up to 3yrs by RBS director/adjudicator for 15yr old Georgina Martin 2nd Runner-up A group from QLD.
The prestigious jury of six internationally renown celebrities included stars from the inspiring movie ‘Mao’s Last Dancer’ Li Cunxin & Mary McKendry, plus ‘Royal Ballet School’ Director London Gailene Stock - former 1991 AHA recipient from ‘The Australian Ballet Co’ Mark Cassidy, ‘Swedish Ballet Co’ Tibor Horvath & ‘Australian Ballet School’ Leigh Rowles.
The event spanning 4 days opened with a full house to view the celebrated Movie of ‘Mao’s Last Dancer’ sponsored by Auckland Council with Li Cunxin speaking & signing books. This continued with adjudicated classes then 3 rounds of performances over the next 3 days culminating with the Grand Finals to a capacity audience of over 1000 followed by a cocktail party. Finals host was Sir Jon Trimmer –Leading artist RNZB & patron of the AHA Awards - guest performer was Hannah O’Neill ‘Australian Ballet School’ who was 1st runner-up in AHA Awards 2005 & 2007. Hannah went on to win the prestigious Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland 2009 & the Youth America Grand Prix in New York 2010 & was a great inspiration to an already excellent standard of dancers.
Scholarships for the 2011 event included elite international companies & schools from Hong Kong, Europe & USA. All Supreme Finalists from 2011 on will be able to apply through the new AHA Awards ‘Ongoing Financial Support’ scheme to help towards all scholarships related costs. AHA Awards is the only competition in the world to offer ongoing financial support to recipients but with only NZ$60,000 in this fund to distribute in 3 rounds we need contributions towards these funds to make a difference.
This event attracts thousands of dance enthusiasts, tutors, families throughout Australia & many past recipients of these awards are now international stars - performing in professional companies throughout the world.
