​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 $11,000 in prize money, split into:
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$5,000 Grand Prize for the winning choreographer (1 Prize)
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$1,000 Prize for all remaining contenders (6 Prizes)
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Prizes will be awarded on Sunday 22nd September on the last night of the Australian Dance Festival.
How It Works:
We’re running a Preliminary Competition on Friday 24th July at the Hurstville Entertainment Centre to open the door for more choreographers.
7 finalists will be selected to compete in the finals.
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​The Finals:
The 7 finalists will showcase their choreography on the iconic Australian Dance Festival stage on Saturday 19th September at Sydney Olympic Park's Quaycentre. The Winner will be announced on Sunday 20th September on the final night of the Australian Dance Festival. Tickets are $60​
2025 CONTENDERS







2025 Judges
2024 Contenders








2023 Contenders





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2019 Contenders

Paris Cavanagh

Matthew Gode

Bec Condino

Lauren Elton

Nathan Isaac

Maikolo Fekitoa
2018 Contenders








2017 Contenders
Click on each of the images to watch the choreography they produced for the 2017 Australian Dance Festival













