STUDENT ENTRY

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Proudly presented by the Royal Academy of Dance, the Shirley Treacy Awards are open to RAD students across central and northern Queensland. 

Held in August and September - in Mackay, Townsville, Cairns and Rockhampton - this year candidates will perform on stage for the first time, in front of a live audience of family, friends, teachers and our highly respected adjudicators.

The Shirley Treacy Awards celebrate and reward students in these areas. The Awards provide an opportunity for students to build confidence, showcase their skills, and be part of a special event within the local community.

Contending for the winning title, candidates are in the running for some great prize money and gift vouchers and the opportunity to be fast tracked as a finalist in the 2026 Jacqueline Morland Awards.

The Awards are named after Shirley Treacy OAM, a Townsville born RAD ballet teacher, examiner and RAD life member, who made a significant contribution to the dance industry over the course of her life.  

The Awards

All registered candidates will participate in an open class on stage in front of a live audience of family, friends, teachers and the adjudicator. This will take place in the location that is closest to their current RAD home studio (Mackay, Townsville, Cairns or Rockhampton).

After each level has completed their open class the adjudicator will select and announce the regional finalists. 

Regional Finalists return to the venue that same afternoon to perform their chosen exam dance or variation as a solo on stage in front of a live audience of family, friends, teachers and the adjudicator (excluding character dance).

The Regional Finalist performances are also recorded by the RAD.

After the regional finalists in all levels have performed, the adjudicator will announce the overall Award Finalists from that area.

The recordings from those selected an overall Award finalists will be sent securely to our guest adjudicators at a later date who will select the prize recipients for the Award. These recordings will also be streamed online at the Online Awards presentation on Sunday 14 September, which is open for all to attend, where the Award winners and prize recipients will be announced

Shirley Treacy

Shirley Treacy was born in Townsville and went onto lead a lifetime of dance. She was one of the co-founders of the Queensland Dance School of Excellence (QDSE) in Brisbane, examined with the RAD for over 40 years, and was an RAD Life Member, Registered Teacher,  Fellow of the Royal Academy of Dance, and leading dance educator. This event is named in honour of her significant contribution to the dance industry.

***Please make sure you are eligible to enter before registering.***

Read the Eligibility and Conditions of Entry here.

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AUDIENCE TICKETS:

Audience tickets for the semi-finals open class, regional finals and finals are now on sale. This is a great way to celebrate and acknowledge the dancers during this annual event. 

Tickets on Sale Soon

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DATES & LOCATIONS:

• Mackay - Sunday 10 August
• Townsville - Sunday 31 August
• Cairns - Sunday 7 September
• Rockhampton - Sunday 7 September
• Online Awards Presentation - Sunday 14 September

REGISTRATION CLOSING DATES:

• Mackay - Monday 4 August
• Townsville - Monday 25 August
• Cairns - Monday 1 September
• Rockhampton - Monday 1 September

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Which City Should I Enter?

• Participants must enter the Awards in the location that is closest to the studio where they are currently enrolled to study RAD syllabus.
• If you are unsure please contact nparker@rad.org.au BEFORE Registering

Which Level Should I Enter?

• Participants must enter the same level as the highest eligible exam that they have completed in 2025 prior to the Awards.
• Eligible exams are as follows, excluding discovering repertoire or class awards - Grade 4, Grade 5, Intermediate Foundation, Intermediate, Advanced Foundation, Advanced 1 and Advanced 2.  
• If student completed more than one eligible exam in 2025, they must enter in the level of the highest eligible exam level completed.
• If you are unsure please contact nparker@rad.org.au BEFORE Registering

Sessions