​At the Australian Dance Festival, we're all about celebrating Australia's best in dance. That's why we created Australia's NEXT Choreographer. It's more than just a competition; it's a platform to empower the next generation of Australian dance storytellers.

 

We recognize the crucial role choreographers play in shaping the future of dance. They are the artists who translate emotions into movement, who craft narratives through body language, and who push the boundaries of what dance can be.

 

This competition is your opportunity to showcase your unique voice, your creative vision, and your ability to inspire dancers to move in ways they never thought possible.

What’s Up for Grabs?
A whopping $10,000 in prize money, split into:

• $5,000 Grand Prize for the winning choreographer (1 Prize)

• $1,000 Prize for all remaining contenders (6 Prizes)

• Prizes will be awarded on Sunday 22nd September on the last night of the Australian Dance Festival.

 

How It Works:

In the past, our amazing Artistic Director, Marko Panzic, would handpick 6 contenders to show off their choreographic skills. But this year, things are getting spicy.  We will run a PRELIMINARY COMPETITION on Saturday 26th July at the Hurstville Entertainment Centre to give more choreographers a shot at the spotlight!  6 Finalists were chosen from the Preliminaries.
 

​The Finals:
The 6 finalists will showcase their choreography on the iconic Australian Dance Festival stage on Saturday 20th September at Sydney Olympic Park's Quaycentre.  The Winner will be announced on Sunday 21st September on the final night of the Australian Dance Festival.  Tickets are $55.