YOUTH FESTIVAL FAST+FRESH DANCE ANNOUNCES WINNERS
Form Dance Projects has announced the prize winners of Fast+Fresh Dance following last Saturday night’s final at Riverside Parramatta.
Fast+Fresh Dance’s sixth big year showcased 52 young choreographers and 100 performers over 4 nights. The popular youth dance festival’s displayed some of Sydney’s finest young talent.
With the best works chosen from three heats, the final was judged by a panel of elite industry professionals: renowned performance producer of “The Voice”, Marko Panzic, journalist Caroline Baum, independent dance artist Vicki van Hout and FORM Director, Annette McLernon.
Among the winners were Afro Contemporary Youth Dance member Abuzar Abdelrahim of Toongabbie with “Active-me” and Sumire Antonioli of Academy Ballet, Drummoyne with “Make You Feel My Love” who were awarded best male and female dancer respectively.
Most Outstanding Choreography was won by Kei Ishii of Ev & Bow Dance school in Jannali. His piece “A Memory” featuring dancers Tiana Lung, Courtney Raftry, Kristina Richmond and Maddie Tratt also won best group dance.
Lacinda Fisk of Dance Kinetic in Menai won best solo for her piece “Hourglass” while Hannah Danon and Kai Taberner of Rose Bay Secondary College won best duet for “The Past”.
The Judges’ Choice award went to popular youngster Joseph Dufty for his piece “Magic Shoes” co-choreographed with fellow Thornton Public School (Maitland) student Jaryn Smith.
Audience Choice winner was “Raise Your Weapon” by St Columba’s, Springwood students Maria Esquivel and Brett Hartnett, while Cheltenham Girls High’s Jessica Du (Epping) was awarded the coveted industry placement prize.
AWARDS (Prizes listed in list under separate cover)
Best Male Dancer – Active-me by Abuzar Abdelrahim
Best Female Dancer – Make You Feel My Love by Sumire Antonioli
Best Solo – Hourglass by Lacinda Fisk
Best Duet – The Past, group-devised by Rose Bay Secondary College,
dancers Hannah Danon, Kai Taberner
Best Group – A Memory, choreographer Kei Ishii, performed by Tiana Lung, Courtney Raftry, Kristina Richmond and Maddie Tratt
Most Outstanding Choreography – A Memory, Kei Ishii
Industry Placement – Rat Song 2 by Jessica Du
Judges Choice Award – Magic Shoes by Joseph Dufty
(co-choreographed by Jaryn Smith and Joseph Dufty)
Audience Choice Award – Raise Your Weapon performed by Maria Esquivel and Brett Hartnett
The festival’s producer, Carl Sciberras of Form Dance Projects said the standard of this year’s festival was ‘extraordinary’ and that it would most certainly have unearthed major stars of the future.
“This year’s Fast+Fresh Dance was an exceptional display of technical and creative ability. I am certain that many of the dancers from this year’s festival will forge life-long careers in dance.”
- The presenters of Fast+Fresh Dance, FORM Dance Projects, Riverside and funding body Arts NSW would like to thank our Fast+Fresh Dance sponsors for this year including Ars Musica, Sydney Dance Company, AusDance NSW, BLOCH, Brent Street Studio, Dance Australia, Dirtyfeet, Flatline, Urban Dance, Dance Central, Anything Dance, Centre Stage Dancewear, and Sirmai Arts Marketing. We would also like to thank Caroline Baum and David Roach for their donation.
