‘Matilda’ and Bangarra Dance Theatre win big at the 2016 Helpmann Awards

The 16th Annual Helpmann Awards hit Sydney on Monday night, with Matilda the Musical especially racking up as it received all 13 awards from its 13 nominations. In the Dance and Physical Theatre category, Bangarra Dance Theatre stole the spotlight with four awards.

The Helpmann Awards is the premier event celebrating Australia’s vibrant live performance industry. This year’s Awards saw many of Australia’s favourite performers take the stage, including West Australian Ballet, Mark Vincent, Marina Prior and Sarah Blasko as well as the casts of Singin’ In The Rain, Matilda the Musical and The Sound of Music. With celebrity presenters including Adam Garcia, Helen Dallimore and Queenie van de Zandt, and the hilarious Umbilical Brothers, this was a night when the stars came out to celebrate.

See the full list of 2016 winners at www.helpmannawards.com.au. Scroll down to find out who won in each Dance and Physical Theatre category, with * indicating the award recipient. In addition, Peter Darling took home the Best Choreography in a Musical Award for Matilda the Musical and Live Performance Australia honoured Stephen Page, artistic director of Bangarra, as the recipient of the 2016 J.C. Williamson Award.

Best Ballet or Dance Work

– Habitus by Australian Dance Theatre (ADT)

– Spectra by Dancenorth

– Sheoak by Bangarra Dance Theatre*

– Cockfight by The Farm with Performing Lines, commissioned by NORPA, supported by Dancenorth and COCA

Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work

– Kyle Page and Amber Haines for Spectra by Dancenorth

– Garry Stewart and Larissa McGowan for Habitus by ADT

– Frances Rings for Sheoak by Bangarra*

– Stephen Page, Bernadette Walong-Sene and Djakapurra Munyarryun for Ochres by Bangarra

Best Female Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work

– Amber Haines of Dancenorth for Syncing Feeling

– Lonii Garnons-Williams of ADT for Habitus

– Yolanda Lowatta of Bangarra for Sheoak*

– Juliette Barton of Sydney Dance Company for Lux Tenebris

Best Male Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work

– Chengwu Guo of The Australian Ballet for The Dream

– Kimball Wong of ADT for Habitus*

– Gavin Webber of The Farm for Cockfight

– Daryl Brandwood of Expressions Dance Company for Natalie Weir’s The Host

Best Visual or Physical Theatre Production

– Il Ritorno by Circa for Brisbane Festival*

– Tangi Wai… the cry of water by Victoria Hunt for Artful Management and Performance Space

– Plexus by Compagnie 111 – Aurélien Bory for Perth International Arts Festival

– The Last Blast by The Farm (and Performing Lines) for Bleach* Festival

Photo: Bangarra’s Sheoak for Lore programme. Photo by Lisa Tomasetti.