Almost 500 dancers from across the region graced the stage at the West Gippsland Arts Centre during the September school holidays, showcasing their talents in ballet, jazz, tap, neo-classical, song and dance, contemporary, hip hop and more at the 33rd West Gippsland Dance Festival.
The annual festival was held between Friday September 19 and Sunday September 28.
The following is a list of first place results.
SOLOS
Classical
6 years & under – Ralph Innes; 7 years & under 9 novice – Amelia Lindsay, Wei Fang; 7 years & under 9 open – Suheli Hettiarachchi, Capri McGrath; 9 years & under 11 novice – Amelia Bennetto; 9 years and under 11 open; Elise Stalker, Chelsea Barry; 11 years & under 13 novice - Aaliyah Simmonds; 11 years & under 13 open - Maya Tranter, Laikyn McGrath, Luke McGann; 13 years & under 15 novice - Sienna Mones; 13 years & under 15 open - Indigo Chatfield, Ava Scott; 15 years & under 17 novice - Isabelle Lewis; 15 years & under 17 open – Sophie Reid; 17 years and over – Madison Perez
Demi-Character
6 years & under – Ida Sarros; 7 years & under 9 novice – Sophie Kenna; 7 years & under 9 open – Lily Mehmetoglu; 9 years & under 11 novice – Jade Brodrick; 9 years & under 11 open – Elise Stalker; 11 years & under 13 novice – Julia Elizabeth Zhukova; 11 years & under 13 open – Kayla Paturzo, Maya Tranter; 13 years & under 15 novice - Anoushka Talitha Rastogi; 13 years & under 15 open – Ava Scott; 15 years & under 17 Novice/Open – Lucie Doody; 17 years & over – Madison Perez
Modern/Jazz
6 years & under – Ida Sarros; 7 years & under 9 Novice/Open – Evie Sarros; 9 years & under 11 novice – Amelia Henderson; 9 years & under 11 novice – Olivia Nicoli; 11 years & under 13 novice – Estelle Gaget; 11 years & under 13 open – Angela Phillips; 13 years & under 15 novice/open – Makayla Healy; 15 years & under 17 novice/open – Lucy Phillips; 17 years & over – Maggie Dargan
Tap
6 years & under – Ida Sarros; 7 years & under 9 novice – Matisse Karlovic; 7 years & under 9 open – Evie Sarros; 9 years & under 11 novice – Scarlett Coignet; 9 years & under 11 open – Tahlia Skarajew; 11 years & under 13 novice – Olivia Hudson; 11 years & under 13 open – Axel Shirt; 13 year & under 15 open – Zuriyah Shirt; 15 years & under 17 Novice/Open –Naomi Finocchiaro; 17 years & over – Katyn Russell
National
9 years & under 13 – Scarlet Findlay; 13 years & over – Anna Ingram
Neo-Classical
6 years & under Open –Karah Ratnayaka; 7 years & under 9 Novice – Lily Mehmetoglu, Rose Vagg, Zoe Engwerda; 7 years & under 9 Open – Amelia Lindsay, Florence Gualtieri; 9 years & under 11 Novice – Milla Antunes, Sevni Linesa Widanapathirana; 9 years & under 11 Open - Elise Stalker, Mila Ferizis;11 years & under 13 Novice – Haven Smith; 11 years & under 13 Open – Laikyn McGrath, Olive Mottershead; 13 years & under 15 Novice – Allirah Pfister; 13 years & under 15 Open – Lexie David, Ava Scott; 15 years & under 17 Novice – Darcee Marshall; 15 years & under 17 Open – Savannah Laurito; 17 years & over – Madison Perez
Contemporary
9 years & under 11 Open – Elise Stalker; 11 years & under 13 Novice – Baily Bobbrowski; 11 years & under 13 Open – Haven Smith; 13 years & under 15 Novice – Sophie Ryan; 13 years & under 15 Open – Georgia Williams, Ava Scott; 15 years & under 17 Novice – Gemma Edwards; 15 years & under 17 Open – Lucie Doody, Sophie Reid; 17 & over Open – Madison Perez
Lyrical
9 years & under 11 Novice – Lily Williams; 9 years & under 11 Open – Everly Ades; 11 years & under 13 Novice – Akira Usha Rastogi; 11 years & under 13 Open – Maya Tranter, Abbie Karnatz; 13 years & under 15 Novice – Indigo Chatfield; 13 years & under 15 Open – Sophie Perez, Ayasha Ursa Nugroho, Ava Scott; 15 years & under 17 Novice – Ruby Carter; 15 years & under 17 Open – Lucy Phillips, Lucie Doody; 17 years & over – Gerika Abbott
Hip Hop
12 years & under Open – Haven Smith, Ella Booth; 13 years & under 15 Open – Lily Plunkett; 15 years & under 17 Open – Isabella Gardner; 17 years & over Open – Maggie Dargan
Classical Variation
12 years & under – Elise Stalker; 13 years & over – Sophie Reid
IMPROVISATIONS
12 years & under Classical – Elise Stalker; 12 years & under Tap – Axel Shirt; 12 years & under Modern Jazz – Kayla Paturzo; 12 years & under Lyrical/Contemporary – Grace Commerford; 13 years & over Modern Jazz – Lucie Doody; 13 years & over Lyrical/Contemporary – Savannah Laurito
DUOS/TRIOS
Modern/Jazz
10 years & under – Estelle Gaget and Penelope Baker; 12 years & under – Akira Rastogi and Yumali Hettiarachchi; 14 years & under – Alexandra Proctor and Isla Buffington; 15 years & over – Evie Pummell and Rachel Ryan
Demi-Character
12 years & under – Akira Rastogi and Yumali Hettiarachchi; 13 years & over – Madison Perez and Sophie Perez
Song & Dance
12 years & under – Estelle Gaget and Penelope Baker; 13 years & over – Anna Ingram, Emmerson Ward and Lucy Phillips
Tap
12 years & under – Scarlett Coignet and Stella Kheissy; 13 years & over – Anna Ingram and Emmerson Ward
Neo-classical/Lyrical/Contemporary
10 years & under – Chloe Moyes, Lola Jacobs and Willow Glover; 12 years & under – Akira Rastogi and Yumali Hettiarachchi; 14 years & under – Addison Fisher and Alexandra Proctor; 15 years & over – Isabelle Jennings and Maggie Dargan

Hip Hop
13 years & over – Charlotte Kelly and Malaika Geerdharry
TROUPES
Classical/Demi-Character
6 years & under – Karlie Grace Dancers
Classical
8 years & under – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance; 10 years & under – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance; 13 years & under – KC's School of Dance; 16 years & under – KC's School of Dance; Open Age – KC's School of Dance
Neo-classical
8 years & under – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance; 10 years & under – Karlie Grace Dancers; 13 years & under – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance;16 years & under – KC's School of Dance; Open Age – KC's School of Dance
Lyrical
10 years & under – Dance Lab; 13 years & under – Karlie Grace Dancers; 16 years & under – Suzie Ryrie School of Dance; Open Age – KC's School of Dance

Contemporary
10 years & Under- Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance; 13 years & under – Karlie Grace Dancers; 16 years & under – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance; Open Age – Karlie Grace Dancers
National
13 years & under – KC's School of Dance; Open Age – Dance On Academy
Modern
6 years & under – KC's School of Dance; 8 years & under – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance; 10 years & under – KC's School of Dance; 13 years & under – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance; 16 years & under – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance; Open Age – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance
Tap
8 years & under – Dance Lab; 10 years & under – Dance Lab; 13 years & under – Dance Lab; 16 years & under – Dance Lab; Open Age – Dance On Academy
Song & Dance
8 years & under – KC's School of Dance;10 years & under – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance; 13 years & under – KC's School of Dance; 16 years & under – KC's School of Dance; Open Age – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance
Broadway Jazz
13 years & under – Karlie Grace Dance; 16 years & under – Dance On Academy; Open Age – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance
Hip Hop
13 years & under – Evolve Performing Arts; 16 years & under – Dance On Academy; Open Age – Karlie Grace Dancers
Championships
Junior Classical Championship – Laikyn McGrath
Intermediate Classical Championship – Macy Stalker
Senior Classical Championship – Sophie Reid
Junior Modern Championship – Jenna Lewis
Intermediate Modern Championship – Allirah Pfister
Senior Modern Championship – Maggie Dargan
Junior Tap Championship – Axel Shirt
Senior Tap Championship – Zuriyah Shirt
Senior Contemporary/Lyrical Championship – Savannah Laurito
WGDF Scholarship in memory of Barb Phillippi: Savannah Laurito
Age Aggregate Awards
6 years & under – Ida Sarros
7 years & under 9 Novice – Rose Vagg
7 years & under 9 Open – Evie Sarros
9 years & under 11 Novice – Scarlett Coignet
9 years & under 11 Open – Elise Stalker
11 years & under 13 Novice – Aaliyah Simmonds
11 years & under 13 Open – Laikyn McGrath
13 years & under 15 Novice – Anoushka Rastogi
13 years & under 15 Open – Ava Scott
15 years & under 17 Novice – Gemma Edwards, Dinugi Yatagama
15 years & under 17 Open – Lucie Doody
17 years & over – Madison Perez
Adjudicators' Awards
6 years & under – Karah Ratnayaka
7 years & under 9 Novice – Lola Jacobs
7 years & under 9 Open – Penelope Baker
9 years & under 11 Novice – Ella May
9 years & under 11 Open – Everly Ades
11 years & under 13 Novice – Poppy Ginsberg
11 years & under 13 Open – Jenna Lewis, Bailey Bobrowski
13 years & under 15 Novice – Matilda Parish
13 years & under 15 Open – Ayasha Ursa Nugroho
15 years & under 17 Novice – Ruby Carter
15 years & under 17 Open – Alisha Kilpatrick
17 years & over – Katyn Russell
Adjudicators Award for Choreography:
Choreographer – Karen Freeman and Carla Stirzaker
Dancer – Open Age Neo-Classical Troupe "Hallelujah"
School – KC'S School of Dance
The Carol Holman Memorial Award – Elise Stalker – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance
Teachers Solo/Duo/Trio Aggregate – Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance
Teachers Troupe Aggregate – KC's School of Dance
Life Memberships – Jenny Hinsley
Dancer of the Day 'Love of Dance' Awards
September 19– Indiana Mitchell and Olivia Mountford; September 20 – Heath McGregor; September 21 – Lily DiGrandi; September 22 – Xue Rui Wong; September 23 – Stephanie Panayi; September 24 – Nyah Zun; September 25 – Abbie Karnatz; September 26 – Mason Athanasiadis; September 27 – Olivia Hudson