Announcing the 2023 Telstra Ballet Dancer Award nominees

The Australian Ballet is thrilled to announce their 2023 Telstra Ballet Dancer Award nominees! This prestigious competition showcases artists of The Australian Ballet who have shown exceptional dedication, growth and potential over the past year.

This year, The Australian Ballet is proud to celebrate 20 years of the Telstra Ballet Dancer Awards. The awards were created in 2003 to support the rising stars of The Australian Ballet, and many winners have gone on to become principal artists at the company.

Being nominated for the Telstra Ballet Dancer Awards is an incredible achievement. These strong, brave and fearless five put themselves on the line every day, in pursuit of their dream to become an extraordinary dancer at the peak of their profession. Read on for the reveal of the 2023 nominees, and be sure to vote for your favourite to win the Telstra People’s Choice Award before voting closes on May 2.

First up is Isobelle Dashwood. Isobelle is down to earth, family oriented and an incredible talent. She exudes elegance and grace on the stage, and excels in all genres of dance. She is a third time nominee.

Next, is Adam Elmes. Adam is a second-time nominee, a beautiful dancer and a kind soul. He’s passionate about connecting with his audience through raw emotion on stage and is the ultimate storyteller through embodying a character or personifying a feeling.

Lilla Harvey is the third nominee. At only 21, Lilla is a deep thinker, and a dedicated and passionate dancer. She loves to explore contemporary movement and thrives off the energy from an audience to master her performances.

Following Lilla is Riley Lapham. Determined, curious and adventurous, Riley is constantly in the pursuit of excellence. Her love of music helps Riley immerse fully into a performance, and this sense of connection is infectious on stage.

The final nominee is Katherine Sonnekus. Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Katie is a citizen of the world, having lived and danced in four countries. She feels like the truest version of herself when she dances and she has the innate ability to mesmerise an audience with her poise and style.

Click here to cast your vote in this year’s Telstra Ballet Dancer Awards!