Dance Competition
9 June – 14 June 2026
Hamilton Performing Arts Centre
Dance Categories:
- Classical
- Theatrical
- Ballet
- Contemporary
- Jazz
- Lyrical
- Neo Classical
- Tap
- Hip Hop
- Demi Character
- Song and Dance
- Solos, Duos and Trios
- Troupes
Special Awards:
The following special awards are available for the 2026 Hamilton Eisteddfod Dance Competition. Conditions apply.
Australian Ballet Summer School Scholarship: 12 Years and Under
Granting the recipient a place at the 2027 Australian Ballet Summer School.
Sponsored by Angela Magill and The Hamilton Eisteddfod
Stagelit Studios Encouragement Award: Junior
One award of $150, for a junior dance student.
Donated by Stagelit Studios
Lions Club Encouragement Award
Two awards of $250 each.
Donated by Lions Club of Hamilton
Australian Ballet Summer School Scholarship: 13 Years and Over
Granting the recipient a place at the 2027 Australian Ballet Summer School.
Sponsored by Gwen & Edna Jones Foundation and The Hamilton Eisteddfod
Stagelit Studios Encouragement Award: Senior
One award of $150, for a senior dance student.
Donated by Stagelit Studios
Aggregate Awards
Pamela Coates Perpetual Trophy: 6 Years and Under 8
Hamilton Eisteddfod Perpetual Trophy: 8 Years and Under 10
Hamilton Eisteddfod Perpetual Trophy: 10 Years and Under 12
Magill Family Perpetual Trophy: 12 Years and Under 14
Dawn Armour Perpetual Trophy: 14 Years and Under 16
Hamilton Eisteddfod Perpetual Trophy: Open 16 Years and Over
Championship Awards
12 Years and Under Junior Jazz Championship
12 Years and Under Junior Classical Scholarship
Open Jazz Championship
Open Tap Championship
Hamilton Eisteddfod Classical Ballet Scholarship: 13 Years and Over
2026 Dance Adjudicator:
Kerrie Smith
With over 25 years of experience teaching ballet across both the private and public sectors, Kerrie Smith is a highly respected dance educator and mentor who has shaped generations of Australian dancers. Currently teaching at NAISDA Dance College, the nation’s foremost training institution for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dancers, Kerrie draws on her extensive training in classical ballet, contemporary, and jazz to inspire and challenge her students.
An examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), Kerrie has travelled extensively throughout Australia and internationally, delivering examinations and masterclasses. She has taught for the RAD in a wide range of capacities, including leading competition classes for The Halliday Awards and The Advanced 1 Bursary semi-finals and finals.
Kerrie’s choreography has featured in two opera productions, Carmen and The Magic Flute and her work, along with her students’ work, has consistently achieved outstanding recognition, including numerous first places at the prestigious Sydney Eisteddfod. Many of her former students have gone on to enjoy successful national and international dance careers.
Passionate about fostering both artistry and discipline, Kerrie’s driving force as an educator is nurturing a love and appreciation for dance with a strong focus on intrinsic motivation. She has also contributed her expertise to the wider community, appearing on ABC Radio to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the dance industry and student training.
