About

The Jacqueline Morland Awards are RAD’s flagship event held annually in Brisbane.

Open to RAD students across QLD and northern NSW, the Awards are an opportunity to take to the stage, showcase your ballet skills and perform in front of a live audience and panel of highly respected adjudicators.

All students who participate in the Awards, take part in an open class semi-final, that is performed in front of a live audience and the adjudicators.  After the open class, the adjudicators select and announce the finalists. Finalists return the following day to perform their chosen RAD exam dance or variation, as a solo, in front of a live audience and the adjudicators. In addition to these performances, the finals also include group performances by students who have been training with special guest choreographers. At the end of the finals the prize recipients for the Jacqueline Morland Awards are announced.

Please read the Eligibility and Terms and Coditions of Entry at the bottom of this page, before registering.

Student Registrations are Now Closed.  Registrations Closed at 8AM, Monday 4 March.

Audience Tickets can be purchased by clicking the 'Book Now' button on the right hand side of the page.

Adjudicators 

Mitchell Rayner

Mitchell trained at the Australian Ballet School, and danced with the Company for 8 years. He attained the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Professional Dancers’ Postgraduate Teaching Certificate and is a registered RAD teacher. Mitchell has taught for Sydney Dance Company, The Australian Ballet, The Royal Academy of Dance, Ballet Without Borders, Brent Street, Pymble Ladies’ College and Tanya Pearson Academy.

Juliet Burnett

Juliet is one of Australia’s most recognised dancers after her years at The Australian Ballet (2002-2015) performing in the classical work roles, as well as showing her versatility in the contemporary repertoire. In 2016 she moved to Europe to take up a role as dancer with Opera Ballet Vlaanderen in Belgium, returning to Australia in 2022. Juliet has also been trained in Javanese classical dance, and other traditional Javanese dances. 

Dates

• Semi-Finals - Saturday 16 March 2024
• Finals - Sunday 17 March 2024

TIMES - SATURDAY 16 MARCH 2024

• Grade 4 – Arrive 7:30am, finish 9:45am 
• Grade 5 –Arrive 9am, finish 11:15am
• Intermediate Foundation – Arrive 10:15am, finish 12:45pm
• Intermediate – Arrive 12:15pm, finish 2:45pm
• Advanced Foundation – Arrive 2pm, finish 4:30pm 
• Advanced 1 and Advanced 2 – Arrive 3:45pm, finish 6:30pm
   

TIMES - SUNDAY 17 MARCH 2024

Finalists in each level are announced at the end of each open class on Saturday 16 March, as per the times above.

• Grade 4, 5 and Intermediate Foundation finalists are to return to the venue at 9am, and the finals will finish at approx. 1pm.
• Intermediate, Advanced Foundation, and Advanced 1 and 2 finalists, are to return to the venue at 1pm, and will finish at approx. 5:30pm.  
   

AUDIENCE

Family, friends, teachers and others, are invited to attend the Awards to watch and support the candidates and finalists.  Audiences can attend the semi-final sessions and the finals.

SEMI-FINAL AUDIENCE TIMES - SATURDAY 16 MARCH 2024

• Audience for Grade 4 – Doors open approx. 8:15am, finish 9:45am 
• Audience for Grade 5 – Doors open approx. 9:45am, finish 11:15am
• Audience for Intermediate Foundation – Doors open approx. 11:15am, finish 12:45pm
• Audience for Intermediate – Doors open approx.1:15pm, finish 2:45pm
• Audience for Advanced Foundation – Doors open approx. 2:45pm, finish 4:30pm 
• Audience for Advanced 1 and Advanced 2 – Doors open approx. 4:30pm, finish 6:30pm
• Please note, times are subject to change and there are no intervals.

FINALS AUDIENCE TIMES - SUNDAY 17 MARCH 2024

• Audience for Grade 4, 5 and Intermediate Foundation finalists - Doors open approx. 10:40am, finish 1pm.
• Audience for Intermediate, Advanced Foundation, and Advanced 1 and 2 finalists - Doors open approx. 2:40pm, finish 5:30pm.
• Please note, times are subject to change and there are no intervals.

ELIGIBILITY AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

• Participants must be studying the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Syllabus, be residing in Queensland and Northern New South Wales areas north of and including Coffs Harbour, and must be enrolled with RAD Registered teachers in these areas at time of entry and at time of the Awards.
• Participants must be of non-professional status, meaning they are not engaged by a professional company or production on a regular basis as a paid dancer.
• Students must have completed and passed a Royal Academy of Dance eligible examination in 2023 to be eligible to enter the awards. The eligible exam levels are as follows (excluding Class Awards and Discovering Repertoire): Grade 4, Grade 5, Intermediate Foundation, Intermediate, Advanced Foundation, Advanced 1 or Advanced 2.  If they did not complete and pass one of these exams in 2023, then they are not eligible to enter.
• Please note, Class Awards and/or Discovering Repertoire in these levels, are not eligible to enter.
• Students must enter the Awards in the same level as the highest eligible exam they have passed in 2023.  Eg- if they passed more than one of the eligible exams, they must enter the level of highest eligible exam completed in 2023. 
• Students cannot enter the Awards in the same level twice, regardless of whether they have passed that eligible exam in 2023. Eg - if they entered the Awards in 2023 in Intermediate level, then they cannot enter the Intermediate level again in 2024. The only exception to this is for those entering the 'Advanced 1 and 2' level, who can enter one year based on completing the Advanced 1 exam, and can enter again another year, based on completing the Advanced 2 exam.
• Past Winners of either Advanced 1 or Advanced 2 level are not eligible to enter. 
• It is the responsibility of the teacher/parent and student to enter the correct level. A breach in this regulation could result in disqualification. If you are unsure if you are eligible to enter, please email nparker@rad.org.au to check BEFORE registering. 
• All students are required to wear classical examination attire and hair accessories only and follow the dress code relevant to their level. Black leotards only on Saturday, and plain coloured leotards only on Sunday.  See full dress code details below and on the brochure.
• Advanced 1 and Advanced 2 entrants will receive a video of the Contemporary Solo piece prior to Saturday 16 March, which they must learn in their own time and at a location of their own choice and perform the Contemporary Solo piece at the Semi-Finals on Saturday 16 March and at the Finals on Sunday 17 March, if they are a finalist.
• Details are subject to change and RAD reserves the right to make changes and alterations where necessary, without notice. 
• The adjudicator’s decisions are final.
• Participants agree that photographic images taken during the event may be used for promotional and/or reporting purposes, unless they inform RAD otherwise.
• RAD should be notified in writing of any medical conditions when registering for the Awards. Candidates participate at their own risk.
• The Code of Conduct for Teachers and Parents on the RAD website must be adhered to or a competitor will be disqualified from the Awards.
• RAD Australia follows all current government, public health and COVID-19 requirements - please refer to the Government website in your state for current guidelines and advice.
• Entries are via Trybooking only and close on Monday 26 February 2024 at 8AM. 
• Entry fee is non-refundable including due to change of mind or clashes with other commitments, entries are not transferable, and late entries cannot be accepted. 
• A 50% refund is only available if a written request is made and accompanied by a medical certificate prior to 5:00pm on Friday 15 March, stating that the participant can no longer participate.

DRESS CODE

All participants - Semi Final Open Class - Saturday 16 March

• Female identifying students - are to wear black leotards only suitable for classical ballet (no logos, no lace, no diamantes, no mesh, no adornments, no skirts).
• Male identifying students - are to wear black/navy tights and white sleeveless or sleeved leotard
• Headpieces cannot be worn – no sparkles, no flowers, no adornments are to be worn in hair.  A single black ribbon only can be worn in hair. 
• Ballet flats (or demi-pointes if candidate prefers). 
• Pointe Shoes also for Advanced Foundation, Advanced 1 and Advanced 2 students. 
• Make Up - Students are allowed to wear natural toned make-up suitable for the stage – please no bold colours. 
• Jewellery, including watches, cannot be worn.

Finalists - Sunday 17 March

• Finalists are to wear a plain coloured leotard that is suitable for classical ballet. Capped sleeves are permitted, however most finalists wear sleeveless leotards.
• If performing Variation 1 - a plain half tutu matching the colour of the leotard may be worn (this is optional)
• If performing a Grade Dance or Variation 2 – a plain skirt matching the colour of the leotard may be worn (this is optional)
• Male identifying finalists are to wear black, grey or navy tights, and white, black or navy sleeveless or sleeved leotard
• No logos, no lace, no diamantes, no sparkles, no mesh, no elastic belts, no adornments are permitted on tutus, skirts or leotards. No costumes.
• Headpieces cannot be worn - A single ribbon only, matching the colour of the leotard can be worn. No sparkles, no flowers, no adornments are to be worn in hair.
• Ballet Shoes – either ballet flats, demi pointes or pointe shoes, as per their chosen dance or variation.
• Make Up - Students are allowed to wear natural toned make-up suitable for the stage – please no bold colours. 
• Jewellery, including watches, cannot be worn.

Contact Event Organiser