The Australian Ballet's Mason Lovegrove Receives the Walter Bourke Award

The Australian Ballet's talented corps de ballet Mason Lovegrove is the recipient of the Walter Bourke Award.

The announcement was made on stage following the opening of Verve at the State Theatre last night by Artistic Director David McAllister and received by the audience to thunderous applause.

"During his life Walter Bourke was an avid supporter and mentor of gifted people. This prize remembers his passion and zest for talent by giving a dancer of The Australian Ballet a career changing opportunity to step out on the world stage and experience ballet globally. I think he would be thrilled with he selection of Mason Lovegrove as the latest recipient of this award which bears his name. Since joining The Australian Ballet Mason has showed himself to be a dancer of great talent, creativity and artistry. I am sure he will be a wonderful recipient of this great award," said David McAllister.

The $25,000 travel award prize was established in 2005, the Prize is not awarded annually, but on merit and is specifically used to fund a dancer's professional development on the world stage.

Mason plans to use the opportunities enabled by this award to spend time with Houston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Royal Swedish Ballet, Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and Staatsballett.

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