The TBDA nominees for 2013 have been announced! Congratulations to Benedicte Bemet, Cameron Hunter, Natasha Kusen, Chris Rodgers-Wilson, Sharni Spencer and Valerie Tereshchenko. The nominees are chosen by our artistic staff, our principal artists, and past winners of the award, on the basis of their performances in 2012, their development as artists, and their support of fellow company members. However, there’s also a prize that depends on – you! It’s the People’s Choice Award (much coveted by the dancers) and it’s won by public vote. Do you have a favourite in this bunch? Put them in the running by texting the first name of your preferred nominee, along with your full name and postcode, to 0439 BALLET (0439 225 538). You can also vote online. Your vote will put you in the running for a fantastic ballet prize including tickets to Cinderella!
Check out the media shoot of the nominees in Melbourne’s Hosier Lane
Would it be possible for someone or other to give a narrative or commentary on the six young dancers this year?
I am not particularly interested in their pets or personal life preferences, but I would be very interested in their views on how they would like to dance: how they would like to dance themselves that is, which is not necessarily how someone else has told them to dance, what they see as important in the way they dance their roles, and how they feel that they can finesse a part. The absolute elite amongst dancers, particularly the ballerinas, are not simply good, they are different and they are personal.
An empathetic critique of their performances would not go astray. Individuals can get lost in the corps and unfamiliar faces are hard to recognise, so some indications of intended castings would be appreciated.
Now I just know that this will be all too hard, nevertheless I do believe that a little bit of spotlight does make a dancer shine.
Peter, did you watch last year’s webumentary covering a year in the life…featuring Amy Harris and Jake Mangakahia? Exactly what you are looking for.
I agree with Peter. The webumentary only showed 2 dancers – Amy & Jake. Guess who won the prizes….. Amy & Jake!
So it would only be fair if ALL nominees were allowed to have this kind of exposure.
Dancers do get hidden in the corps. The general public don’t have the privilege of watching them in class, seeing them rehearse & then perform on stage. All aspects of a dancers life should be taken into account in order to make an informed vote.