2025 QUEENSLAND STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Huge congratulations to our Championship Squad on an incredible 2025 Qld State Championships and World Championship Qualifier!
Our dancers brought home 17 State Titles, three (3) Runner-Up Titles, 10 3rd Places and 40 Top 5 placings across both Solos and Team events.
And we had 22 dancers qualify to represent Queensland and Australia at the "2026 World Championships" being held in Illinois in the USA.
Special congrats to our State Solo Champions Charles Sandstrom (Senior Men); Matilda Goldie (Ladies 20-21yrs); Aaliyah Taylor (Junior Ladies 18Yrs); Anthony Moran (Intermediate Boys 14Yrs); Sienna Manning (Junior Girls 12Yrs) and Joshua Hendriks (Junior Boys 11yrs and 9-12Yrs Traditional Set Dance) and to our winning teams:
Open Age 4-Hand Jig
Open Age 8-Hand Mixed Ceili
Open Age Progressive Ceili
U18 Mixed 4-Hand Ceili
U15 6-Hand Ceili
U15 Mixed Reel in Couples
U12 Girls 4-Hand Ceili
U12 Mixed 4-Hand Ceili
U12 Mixed 8-Hand Ceili
U12 Mixed 3-Hand
We were also honoured to win one of the coveted Teachers Awards for Choreography -
Michael Flatley Trophy
We are also so 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 17 State Titles, three (3) Runner-Up Titles, 10 3rd Places and 40 Top 5 placings across both Solos and Team events.
And we had 22 dancers qualify to represent Queensland and Australia at the "2026 World Championships" being held in Illinois in the USA.
Special congrats to our State Solo Champions Charles Sandstrom (Senior Men); Matilda Goldie (Ladies 20-21yrs); Aaliyah Taylor (Junior Ladies 18Yrs); Anthony Moran (Intermediate Boys 14Yrs); Sienna Manning (Junior Girls 12Yrs) and Joshua Hendriks (Junior Boys 11yrs and 9-12Yrs Traditional Set Dance) and to our winning teams:
Open Age 4-Hand Jig
Open Age 8-Hand Mixed Ceili
Open Age Progressive Ceili
U18 Mixed 4-Hand Ceili
U15 6-Hand Ceili
U15 Mixed Reel in Couples
U12 Girls 4-Hand Ceili
U12 Mixed 4-Hand Ceili
U12 Mixed 8-Hand Ceili
U12 Mixed 3-Hand
We were also honoured to win one of the coveted Teachers Awards for Choreography -
Michael Flatley Trophy
We are also so proud of the camaraderie and sportsmanship our dancers showed towards each other and their rivals from other dance schools.
Go Wallies!
2025 DANCER AWARD WINNERS
Congratulations to our 2025 Award Winners. All hard-working, dedicated and enthusiastic dancers who are much-deserved winners!
They are:
Intermediate/Open Solo Dancer of the Year - Joshua Hendriks; Runner-Up - Summer Reynish
Beginner/Primary Solo Dancer of the Year - Benjamin Drew; Runner-Up - Maya Forbes
Most Conscientious Dancer - Winner - Aaliyah Taylor; Runner-Up - Amber Kesztler
Most Improved Dancer - Winner - Sadie Cassidy; Runner-Up - Lilia Morris
Most Promising Dancer - Winner - Eloise Hewitt; Runner-Up - Sorcha Coll
Most Dedicated Dancer - Winner - Anika Tait; Runner-Up - Sofia Gunnis
Newcomer of The Year - Eilish Murphy
Senior Team Dancer of the Year - Winners - Anthony Moran; Runner-Up - Willow Goldie
Junior Team Dancer of the Year - Winner - Lacey Tait; Runner-Up - Eloise Phillips
Resilience Bear - Winner - Sophie Russell
Dancer's Award (voted by their peers) - Winner - Ella Edwards; Runners-Up - Sophie Russell & Nell Gunnis
Encouragement Award Winners:
6Yrs - Maeve Murphy
7 & 8Yrs - Freya Parkinson
9 & 10Yrs - Ilse Schoeman
11 & 12Yrs - Charlotte Parkinson
13Yrs & O - Clare Erbacher
They are:
Intermediate/Open Solo Dancer of the Year - Joshua Hendriks; Runner-Up - Summer Reynish
Beginner/Primary Solo Dancer of the Year - Benjamin Drew; Runner-Up - Maya Forbes
Most Conscientious Dancer - Winner - Aaliyah Taylor; Runner-Up - Amber Kesztler
Most Improved Dancer - Winner - Sadie Cassidy; Runner-Up - Lilia Morris
Most Promising Dancer - Winner - Eloise Hewitt; Runner-Up - Sorcha Coll
Most Dedicated Dancer - Winner - Anika Tait; Runner-Up - Sofia Gunnis
Newcomer of The Year - Eilish Murphy
Senior Team Dancer of the Year - Winners - Anthony Moran; Runner-Up - Willow Goldie
Junior Team Dancer of the Year - Winner - Lacey Tait; Runner-Up - Eloise Phillips
Resilience Bear - Winner - Sophie Russell
Dancer's Award (voted by their peers) - Winner - Ella Edwards; Runners-Up - Sophie Russell & Nell Gunnis
Encouragement Award Winners:
6Yrs - Maeve Murphy
7 & 8Yrs - Freya Parkinson
9 & 10Yrs - Ilse Schoeman
11 & 12Yrs - Charlotte Parkinson
13Yrs & O - Clare Erbacher
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.
