Perth dancer scoops top prize!

After an action-packed eight months of competition, Perth-born Kevin Jackson has been awarded the prestigious 2008 Telstra Ballet Dancer Award, the highest accolade of its kind for young ballet dancers.

As a second time nominee, 24-year-old Kevin was thrilled to receive the honour, along with a $20,000 cash prize provided by Telstra, from Sarah Murdoch, Board Member of The Australian Ballet and David Moffatt, Telstra Consumer Group Managing Director.

The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David McAllister said, “Each year this award celebrates the amazing talent within the company. Kevin Jackson is a man whose talent and passion for dance fuels every performance he is in, from Prince to Peasant.

“Since joining the company he has been picked out as a dancer to watch and has made his mark both as a beautiful classicist as well as a choreographer’s muse. I am sure this recognition will be a wonderful boost to what I believe will be a continued assent toward stardom for Kevin,” Mr McAllister continued.

The Telstra People’s Choice Award, a $5,000 cash prize also provided by Telstra, gives the general public the chance to vote for their favorite nominee online and via SMS.

This year tallied a record 72,000 number of votes, with Amy Harris from Ararat in Victoria named the most popular of the six nominated dancers for 2008.

In a coup for the 2008 Telstra Ballet Dancer Award, renowned Australian dance choreographer and resident judge on So You Think You Can Dance Jason Coleman joined the panel to judge the six nominees, who are selected by their peers and judged on criteria including artistic quality, innovation and creativity, leadership style and communication skills.

Watch Kevin in action in our online video
Watch  Amy in action in our online video