2023 QUEENSLAND STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Huge congratulations to our Championship Squad on a fabulous 2023 State Championships and World Championship Qualifier!
Our dancers brought home nine (9) State Titles, 10 Runner-Up Titles, nine (9) 3rd Places and 33 Top 5 placings overall across Solos and Team events.
And we had 16 dancers qualify to represent Queensland and Australia at the "2024 World Championships" being held in Glasgow.
Special congrats to our State Solo Champions Hannah Owens (Sub-Minor Girls 7yrs) and Joshua Hendriks (Minor Boys 9yrs) and to our winning teams:
Open Age 4-Hand Girls Ceili (Matilda, Willow, Emily, Alice)
Open Age 4-Hand Mixed Ceili (Sam, Ella, Charlie, Matilda)
Open Age 8-Hand Mixed Ceili (Sam, Matilda, Charlie, Ella, Alice, Abbie, Aaliyah, Willow)
Open Age Progressive Ceili (Taylah, Olivia, Abbie, Aaliyah, Sophie, Willow, Alice, Emily)
Open Age 4-Hand Own Choreography (Sam, Willow, Emily, Aaliyah)
U15 Girls Reel in Couples (Eabha & Sorcha)
U10 Mixed 4-Hand Ceili (Oscar, Hannah, Joshua, Isabelle)
We are also honoured to win two of the coveted Teachers Awards -
Dame Judi Dench Trophy (Ceili)
Michael Flatley Award (Choreography)
Proud of the camaraderie and sportsmanship our dancers showed towards each other and their rivals from other dance schools.
Go Wallies!
Our dancers brought home nine (9) State Titles, 10 Runner-Up Titles, nine (9) 3rd Places and 33 Top 5 placings overall across Solos and Team events.
And we had 16 dancers qualify to represent Queensland and Australia at the "2024 World Championships" being held in Glasgow.
Special congrats to our State Solo Champions Hannah Owens (Sub-Minor Girls 7yrs) and Joshua Hendriks (Minor Boys 9yrs) and to our winning teams:
Open Age 4-Hand Girls Ceili (Matilda, Willow, Emily, Alice)
Open Age 4-Hand Mixed Ceili (Sam, Ella, Charlie, Matilda)
Open Age 8-Hand Mixed Ceili (Sam, Matilda, Charlie, Ella, Alice, Abbie, Aaliyah, Willow)
Open Age Progressive Ceili (Taylah, Olivia, Abbie, Aaliyah, Sophie, Willow, Alice, Emily)
Open Age 4-Hand Own Choreography (Sam, Willow, Emily, Aaliyah)
U15 Girls Reel in Couples (Eabha & Sorcha)
U10 Mixed 4-Hand Ceili (Oscar, Hannah, Joshua, Isabelle)
We are also honoured to win two of the coveted Teachers Awards -
Dame Judi Dench Trophy (Ceili)
Michael Flatley Award (Choreography)
Proud of the camaraderie and sportsmanship our dancers showed towards each other and their rivals from other dance schools.
Go Wallies!
2023 DANCER AWARD WINNERS
Congratulations to our 2023 Award Winners. All hard-working, dedicated and enthusiastic dancers who are much-deserved winners!
They are:
Intermediate/Open Solo Dancer of the Year - Matilda Goldie; Runner-Up - Sorcha Coll
Beginner/Primary Solo Dancer of the Year - Poppy Moore; Runner-Up - Elisa Philp Fidelman
Most Conscientious Dancer - Winner - Emily Murphy; Runner-Up - Brooke Reynish
Most Improved Dancer - Winner - Sophie Russell; Runner-Up - Marijana Barbir
Most Promising Dancer - Winner - Nell Gunnis; Runner-Up - Emily White
Most Dedicated Dancer - Winner - Ava Kelly; Runner-Up - Ella Edwards
Newcomer of The Year - Eloise Hewitt
Senior Team Dancer of the Year - Winners - Alice Keys; Runner-Up - Abbie Gallagher
Junior Team Dancer of the Year - Winner - Hannah Owens; Runner-Up - Sofia Gunnis
Resilience Bear - Winner - Tamara Walters
Dancer's Award (voted by their peers) - Winner - Aaliyah Taylor; Runner-Up - Abigail Eames
Encouragement Award Winners:
6Yrs - Lucy Lowein-Habermann
7 & 8Yrs - Amelie O'Leary & Elva Christensen
9Yrs - Madison Manlongat
10Yrs - Poppy Podolak
11Yrs & O - Eabha Doherty
They are:
Intermediate/Open Solo Dancer of the Year - Matilda Goldie; Runner-Up - Sorcha Coll
Beginner/Primary Solo Dancer of the Year - Poppy Moore; Runner-Up - Elisa Philp Fidelman
Most Conscientious Dancer - Winner - Emily Murphy; Runner-Up - Brooke Reynish
Most Improved Dancer - Winner - Sophie Russell; Runner-Up - Marijana Barbir
Most Promising Dancer - Winner - Nell Gunnis; Runner-Up - Emily White
Most Dedicated Dancer - Winner - Ava Kelly; Runner-Up - Ella Edwards
Newcomer of The Year - Eloise Hewitt
Senior Team Dancer of the Year - Winners - Alice Keys; Runner-Up - Abbie Gallagher
Junior Team Dancer of the Year - Winner - Hannah Owens; Runner-Up - Sofia Gunnis
Resilience Bear - Winner - Tamara Walters
Dancer's Award (voted by their peers) - Winner - Aaliyah Taylor; Runner-Up - Abigail Eames
Encouragement Award Winners:
6Yrs - Lucy Lowein-Habermann
7 & 8Yrs - Amelie O'Leary & Elva Christensen
9Yrs - Madison Manlongat
10Yrs - Poppy Podolak
11Yrs & O - Eabha Doherty
30TH ANNIVERSARY
2022 marked a special milestone for our school.
The WATKINS ACADEMY celebrated its 30th Anniversary!
There were so many moments to celebrate - amazing championship and competition results; 100% success rate in CLRG exams; exciting performance opportunities; dancers cast (even in lead roles) in top international Irish dance shows here in Australia and overseas; fostered dancers who have gone on to become quaified teachers and adjudicators - the list goes on.
More importantly, our school has introduced many, many young children, teenagers and adults to the wonderful world of Irish dance and has helped cultivate lifelong friendships whilst promoting the spectacular art form and its Irish culture.
Our 30th Anniversary celebrattion culiminated in a special end of year performance at the Queensland Multicultural Centre.
The WATKINS ACADEMY celebrated its 30th Anniversary!
There were so many moments to celebrate - amazing championship and competition results; 100% success rate in CLRG exams; exciting performance opportunities; dancers cast (even in lead roles) in top international Irish dance shows here in Australia and overseas; fostered dancers who have gone on to become quaified teachers and adjudicators - the list goes on.
More importantly, our school has introduced many, many young children, teenagers and adults to the wonderful world of Irish dance and has helped cultivate lifelong friendships whilst promoting the spectacular art form and its Irish culture.
Our 30th Anniversary celebrattion culiminated in a special end of year performance at the Queensland Multicultural Centre.
