It’s been an amazing start to 2020 reading through incredible award applications, especially hearing from champions in the performing arts community supporting teachers and those rallying behind the work of others making a difference and giving it their all.

We’ve loved the opportunity to serve our community and showcase your passion, expertise, remarkable generosity and achievements. We’re always encouraging our members (and ourselves) to stay curious because we know the best stuff happens when we say yes to trying new things, exploring the work and journey of others and absorbing new skills.

There is no doubt that the COVID-19 health crisis is having a far reaching impact on the world as we know it, including right across Australia. It is for this reason we felt it was more important than ever before to continue with our awards program, to celebrate our performing arts community and to acknowledge the talents and inspiration of others teaching, educating and working in the performing arts.

Importantly we’re here for you, thinking of you and incredible proud of our industry and community in the performing arts as we all work together through time of uncertainty and immense challenge.

Congratulations to all who entered or were nominated by Champions in the community for The Australian Performing Arts Teachers Association (APATA) 2020 National Awards Program. The high calibre of applications, dedication and passion for each and everyone’s vocation was heartfelt and exceptional. The judging committee have commented on several occasions the high calibre of applications has been truly inspiring.

Congratulations to our winners, their schools and communities! We’re super proud to share your story!

Contribution in Arts Education Award
Congratulations The Song Room

The Song Room is a national not-for-profit organisation that brightens the futures of Australia’s most disadvantaged children with tailored, high-quality music and arts programs, delivered in partnership with schools across the country. Their programs are independently proven to lift the academic performance, school attendance, social-emotional wellbeing and community involvement of Australian school children. The Song Room vision is that all Australian children have the opportunity to participate in music and the arts to enhance their education, personal development and community involvement, giving them the best possible start in life. The impact the incredible team at The Song Room has achieved delivering independent research, student and classroom outcomes through to tailored programs to give children the opportunity to participate in music and the arts is remarkable.

Connect with the team at The Song Room www.songroom.org.au 

Cornerstone & Outstanding Mentor Awards      Prize: $1,000 (conference / event pack)
Congratulations Kerri Hilton

“I believe that being a mentor is an integral part of being a teacher”

Duel award winner Kerri Hilton inspired our judges across two award categories with her demonstrated leadership, expertise, vocation for the performing arts and dedication to students, in particular emerging teachers and industry practitioners. Kerri is a drama teacher from St Norbert’s College in Western Australia and has passionately followed her vocation in the performing arts for over 35 years, going above and beyond for her students and the performing arts community. For over 20 years Kerri has been heavily involved in the Independent Theatre Association of Western Australia a body that is the umbrella organisation for all community theatre in Western Australia. Kerri is actively involved every day in the classroom working with students and outside school is a judge for the Robert Finley Awards and sits on the committee for the ITA Youthfest – the Youth arm of Dramafest – The Western Australian State One Act Play Festival. www.ita.org.au 

Performing Arts Social Change Maker Award      Bursary: $1,500 Proudly Sponsored by
Congratulations Sensorium Theatre

“I have worked in this school for 20 years and nothing has been anywhere near as good as this in bringing multi-sensory stimulation to our children.”
Teacher, Sir David Brand School

Sensorium Theatre is Australia’s only company making live shows specifically designed for young audiences with disabilities. Their aim is to improve the lives of children with disability by sparking their imaginations. Based in Western Australia, and formed in 2010, the team at Sensorium have enchanted thousands of young people with disability with the magic of live theatre. A highlight for the company and a landmark for arts access was the presentation of their Helpmann-nominated show Oddysea at the Sydney Opera House and the Arts Centre Melbourne in 2015. In 2017 the team completed a national tour of Oddysea to 8 different cities and towns across Australia. In 2018, Sensorium shared their work at the Lincoln Center, New York, as part of The Big Umbrella Festival for audiences with autism. They’re also under demand with international audiences where recently they presented a season at The Artground, Singapore. Their third production and biggest yet, Whoosh! – a fly-your-own spaceship adventure has achieve outstanding success and changed the lives of many including children on the autism spectrum and those with complex and multiple disabilities who many have limited movement and/or sensory impairment and complex communication needs.

Connect with the team at Sensorium Theatre www.sensoriumtheatre.com.au 

Performing Arts Private Studio of the Year       Prize: $1,000 (conference / event pack)
Congratulations Radiance Academy

‘Ra d i ance Academy Toowoomba is a dance school where all dancers are welcomed and celebrated’

More than dance lessons… a dance studio with a difference!

Led by Studio Director, Sally Andrew the academy was founded in 2015, where Radiance Academy is a dance studio in the bustling regional town of Toowoomba. Being an industry leader in the region, the school sets the barre high for all things dance. Tuition is inclusive, progressive, convenient and family focused with one of the world’s fastest growing syllabus of dance to 600+ students from 18 months of age to 82 years. The studio offers high level dance tuition in classical ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, acrobatics, contemporary and much more.

Sally began dancing at the age of four and has learnt many styles including contemporary, jazz, tap, Latin American, modern, character and of course ballet. She studied the Ceccetti Method of ballet before moving over to Beth Baudistel’s studio.  Subsequently, Sally went on to be examined in the Royal Academy of Dancing syllabus up to major’s level.  Sally then travelled to Melbourne to the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet to complete her teacher training in the Vagaonova Method of classical ballet.  She has also completed her teacher training in the Living Dance Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary Syllabus.  In May 2017 Sally completed her study in Dance Teaching and Management and became an Affiliate teacher with the Australian Teachers of Dance.  In August 2017 Sally completed further examinations with the ATOD to become an Associate. In February 2018 Sally trained at the Queensland Ballet with Parkinsons Australia to begin her pilot Dance for Parkinsons classes in Toowoomba.  In April 2018 Sally became an accredited Acrobatic Arts teacher.  In 2019 she also completed her TAE so that she can facilitate students doing their Certificate III nationally recognised qualification through the studio. Sally also recently completed her Diploma of Dance Teaching and Management with the Australian Teachers of Dancing. Sally has been teaching dance since 1995 when she opened and operated a ballet school part-time.

Connect with Sally and the Radiance Academy www.radianceacademytoowoomba.com 

Performing Arts Teacher of the Year      Prize: $1,000 (conference / event pack)
Congratulations Dr Janet Wyvill

‘Dr Wyvill is an amazing teacher. She is inspiring, passionate, positive and engaging and I am honoured to have been taught by her’

Director of the Arts Academy at Canterbury College in Queensland, Dr Janet Wyvill teaches curriculum in drama, music, visual art and musical theatre and co-curricula for the Boys Vocal Group, Drama Ensemble, Canterbury Festival Choir, Theatre Company, Percussion Ensemble and manages the Hip Hop Dance Team. A universal teacher overseeing 43 performing arts ensembles and managing the Studio Tuition Program with 14 teachers, 400+ lessons each week in orchestral instruments, piano, guitar, voice, drama, acting, dance and public speaking, keeps Dr Wyvill busy as well as 7 portfolio strands across choral, orchestral strings, band, piano and chamber music, Rock School, drama and dance.

Throughout 2019 Dr Wyvill instigated several new and innovative programs and projects. These included an Arts Food and Wine Festival within the school as a community engagement event. The festival had 2 separate stages for students to perform, (over 600 students being given opportunities to perform) Chamber Music, Jazz Dance, Student devised Drama, Rock Concerts, Choirs, Orchestras, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Tap Dances, as well as some solo performances. Over 3,000 members of the local (and far reaching) community attended and celebrated students in the performing arts.

Dr Wyvill connects students with the performing arts by keenly focusing the schools programming, learning and development to deliver the interests and passions of her students.

Connect with Dr Janet Wyvill at Canterbury College www.canterbury.qld.edu.au

The Meskell Honorary Award     

Prize $15,000 Broadway Teachers Workshop NEW YORK CITY
Congratulations Elena De Cinque

‘Elena, lives and breathes dance and the performing arts’

ED5INTERNATIONAL based in New South Wales is currently celebrating 30 years of providing excellent service through their performing arts school and 20 years for their full-time course. ED5INTERNATIONAL endeavours to nurture good people who become great artists. The De Cinque name is synonymous with training and tuition of young Australians in performing arts. The performing arts centre was founded in 1991 by Elena and Mario De Cinque. The Certificate IV in Performing Arts written by Elena De Cinque commenced in 2001. In 2006, the ED5 Performing Arts Centre was privileged to partner with William Forsythe to become what is known today as ED5INTERNATIONAL. In 2011 the two-year Diploma in Performing Arts written by Elena De Cinque replacing the Certificate IV course.

Elena De Cinque founder of ED5INTERNATIONAL is a qualified Ballet, Tap and Jazz teacher. She has taught for over 35 years, performed and adjudicated nationally and internationally. During the past three decades of operating the college ED5INTERNATIONAL has become one of the most prestigious training establishments in Australia built on excellence, honesty, integrity and professionalism with high standards of service and care for both staff and students.

Elena’s high level of organisation and ‘hands-on’ approach ensures she is a robust presence around the studio. She has forged national and international connections, bonds and partnerships that all inevitably benefit her students in the performing arts; whether that be her partnership with William Forsythe in the development and delivery of the Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts, a rigorous two year course producing talented, savvy and ‘industry-ready’ performers, or implementation of the Angelina Ballerina program for tots. Elena’s passion and dedication to the nurturing of talent in the performing arts is nothing short of exceptional.

Connect with Elena De Cinque at ED5INTERNATIONAL  www.ed5international.com.au