The Newcastle Dance Awards – Australia is happy to announce our
Principal Judge for 2018. “DAMIAN SMITH”
Enjoy his dance journey;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUm2xWYWp_Q
Damian has performed internationally in more than 200 ballets globally within his 18yrs dancing professionally (since he left the Australian shores at 16yrs of age) as a Principal Dancer with the San Francisco Ballet and has danced more than 20 collaborations where he originated the role. Smith has worked with World Renowned Choreographer’s such as Christopher Wheeldon, Wayne McGregor, Alexi Ratmansky & Natcho Duato, dancing with the best dancers around the world on the most prestigious stages on four major continents.
Smith now continues to share his performance skills through his master classes and his own original dance/art, contributing to Museums and Art Collections around the world. This next phase of his career combines his skill and knowledge of dance, music, the visual arts and film to create unique multi-media works across all disciplines.
His short film installation “Arrellah” created for the San Jose Museum of Art is an exploration of his Wanaruah identity. “I did a lot of research on my family’s line and our culture and it taught me, a lot about who I am.”
We at the Newcastle Dance Awards – Australia are truly blessed to have such a dear friend as Damian Smith to act as our Principal Judge for 2018. It goes to show that dance friends are friends for life, and we are excited to be able to bring you this new Scholarship Awards Program for our young dancers in the Hunter Region and Central Coast Areas.