A number of our Prep and College dancers recently received awards from their respective dance studios. Carmen’s School of Dance hosted a Performance Awards Tea on 16 & 17 April, where she acknowledged the 2020 achievements of her dancers. Oakhill pupils Celyn Godfrey, Madison Starkey and Milani Magadla all received awards for their fantastic achievements (which included their National Competition Awards, Eisteddfod Results, TDA Modern Exam Results and their Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Exam results for 2020. On 22 April, dancers with the Sidwell Roman School of Ballet participated in the American Academy of Ballet Performance Award, where Gabriella and Christina Jonsson, Jessica Turpin, Leah Katergarakis and Sophie Swire-Thompson achieved an array of silver, gold and distinctions.
Details of the American Academy of Ballet Performance Awards:
- Gabriella Jonsson
Level 1: Silver with two distinctions - Christina Jonsson
Level 2: Gold - Jessica Turpin
Level 4: Gold - Leah Katergarakis
Level 6: Gold with distinction - Sophie Swire-Thompson
Level 8: Gold with distinction
Details of results at the Performance Awards:
- Hoyle Trophy for Outstanding Effort – awarded to Milani Magadla who achieved the following in 2020:
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- 2 x Gold Awards for her Grade 2 and Grade 3 Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Exams
- 1 x Silver Award for her TDA 1 Modern Dance Exam
- 12 x Gold Awards, 5 x Silver Awards and 1 x Special Award in various eisteddfods that took place in Cape Town and George
- 1 x gold award (90%) and 1 x silver award (86%) in the National MOVE! Dance Competition, placing Milani 2nd overall Nationally in the silver demi-character section
- Victoria Catell Trophy for Outstanding Achievement – awarded to Madison Starkey, who achieved the following in 2020:
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- 1 x Gold Award in her Grade 3 Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Exam
- 9 x Gold Awards, 4 x Silver Awards and 1 x Special Award in various eisteddfods held in Cape Town & George
- 2 x Gold Awards (90.7% & 92%) & 1 x Silver Award (85%) in the National MOVE! Dance Competition, placing Madison 1st overall Nationally in her demi-character section, 2nd overall Nationally in the Gold National Ballet Section and 1st overall in the Silver Classical Ballet Section.
- A “Wild About You 12 & Under” Gold Medal Award for her performance of Sailor’s Hornpipe at the MOVE! National Dance Competition
- De Sousa Trophy for Best Junior Dancer – awarded to Celyn Godfrey, who achieved the following in 2020:
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- 2 x Gold Awards in her Grade 2 and Grade 3 Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Exams
- 2 x Gold Awards in her TDA Intro and TDA 1 Modern Dance Exams
- 18 x Gold Awards, 2 x Silver Awards and 2 x Special Awards in various eisteddfods that she participated in, in Cape Town and George
- 2 x Gold Awards (94% & 94%) & 1 x Silver Award (88.5%) in the National MOVE! Dance Competition, placing Celyn 1st overall Nationally in the Silver Demi-Character Section, 1st overall Nationally in the Gold National Ballet Section & 3rd overall Nationally in the Classical Ballet Section
These trophies were in recognition of the hard work and dedication the girls showed during the unprecedented lockdown, and how they had to adapt to the change in how exams and competitions were conducted. It was also in recognition of how Carmen’s students persevered with online classes and adjusted to dances having to be submitting online for adjudication. Carmen acknowledged that these students pushed themselves to succeed and to achieve their best in incredibly difficult and trying times.
