Final 2019 Helpmann Award winners announced!
The 2019 Helpmann Awards Act II held on July 15th was a star studded black-tie gala event hosted by the fabulous dynamic duo of comedian, writer and actor, Susie Youssef, and Artistic Director of State Theatre SA, Mitchell Butel at Arts Centre Melbourne. Saluting artistic excellence and achievement on Australian stages over the past year, twenty three (23) prestigious Helpmann Awards were presented in the categories of comedy, cabaret, contemporary music, musicals, opera, classical music, theatre and ballet, dance and physical theatre.
These Awards complement the 20 Awards announced at the 2019 Helpmann Awards Act I. In addition, the 2019 JC Williamson Award was presented by Paul Kelly AO to the legendary singer-songwriter Kev Carmody, for his outstanding contribution to the live performance industry.
The Helpmann Awards were established in 2001 by Live Performance Australia (LPA). Congratulations to all 2019 Helpmann Award Nominees and Winners!
Acclaimed performances at the State Theatre included Victorian Opera with their new work Lorelei, featuring divas Ali McGregor, Dimity Shepherd and Danielle Calder; The Australian Ballet with an exquisite new piece from Aurum by choreographer Alice Topp; the breathtaking Bangarra dancers Beau Dean Riley Smith, Rikki Mason, Tyrel Dulvarie, Ryan Pearson, Baden Hitchcock and Bradley Smith in an excerpt from the Helpmann Award winning production Bennelong; a special tribute to Kev Carmody from electronic soul pop duo Electric Fields; musical theatre darling Silvie Paladino; and bringing the show home was the sensational Brent Hill and the extraordinary kids from the hit musical School of Rock.
The following category’s where awarded in the Ballet, Dance and Physical Theatre section of the evening.
BEST BALLET went to AURUM by The Australian Ballet.
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A BALLET, DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION went to ANTONY HAMILTON for Forever & Ever by Sydney Dance Company.
BEST DANCE PRODUCTION went to THE BEGINNING OF NATURE by Australian Dance Theatre.
BEST FEMALE DANCER IN A BALLET, DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION went to TARA JADE SAMAYA in Common Ground by Chunky Move.
BEST MALE DANCER IN A BALLET, DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION went to WAANGENGA BLANCO in Dark Emu by Bangarra Dance Theatre.
BEST VISUAL OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION went to OUT OF CHAOS… by Gravity & Other Myths.
For further information and a full list of winners and nominees: www.helpmannawards.com.au
Images of Bangarra Dance Theatre and The Australian Ballet at The Helpmann Awards red carpet event. Images courtesy of Lara Pilcher