Jill Ogai named winner of the 2019 Telstra Ballet Dancer Awards

After a whirlwind of activity involving three different roles in The Nutcracker, Jill Ogai was rewarded with a thrilling $20k accolade.

Marcus Morelli, 25, and Jill Ogai, 26, have both won the prestigious annual Telstra Ballet Dancer Awards 2019. Picture: Jane Dempster

For dancer Jill Ogai, Saturday night was a whirlwind of activity that saw her playing three different roles within the Australian Ballet’s opening performance of The Nutcracker at the Sydney Opera House.

Then at the end of a physically and mentally demanding work that runs for two hours, Ogai was rewarded with the thrill of her career by being named as a winner of the annual Telstra Ballet Dancer Awards.

“I tried to keep the announcement that was happening afterwards aside — the most important thing, as always, was to put on a really good show with the whole company,” said Ogai.

“Finding out about the award at the end of the night was the ­absolute cherry on top.”

Ogai was recognised for her exceptional ballet talent and outstanding achievements this year, having joined the Australian Ballet in 2012 and last year being promoted to the role of soloist. Significantly, the accolade includes a $20,000 cash prize.

“As a dancer, you just do not see that kind of money very often,” said Ogai with a laugh.

As for how she’ll invest her winnings? “I’m going to Europe at the end of the year, and I’m a very visual learner: I learn by watching other artists and companies perform,” she said.

“I think I’ll spend some of the money trying to see as much as I can, because that’s how I get more and more inspired — which fuels my art, as well.”

While Ogai walked away with the major prize on Saturday night, colleague Marcus Morelli was named winner of the $5000 people’s choice award, which this year received more than 50,000 votes from members of the public.

“It’s really humbling to know that that many people voted for us all,” said Morelli.

“It’s a record number of votes, and it indicates that we’re putting ballet more and more on the map as each year goes by.”

Like Ogai, Morelli — a senior artist with the Australian Ballet — performed three roles during the opening night of The ­Nutcracker. Yet there was a sense of history repeating for him, having won the same award in 2015.

“Four years ago doesn’t sound like a long time, but to me, it feels like it was a lifetime ago,” he said.

“Just a dancer, as an artist and as a man, I’ve grown a lot over those four years. After that growth, it’s nice knowing that people still really enjoy watching me perform and tell stories on stage.”

The Nutcracker concludes its run at the Sydney Opera House on December 18.