Year 9 student Ellie Liao earns prestigious dance award
Posted on October 14, 2026
Year 9 Macleans College student Ellie Liao (Kupe House) has achieved a significant milestone in her dance journey, receiving the Elvira Macrae Award at the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Inspire 14+ event in Wellington. The award recognises Ellie among some of New Zealand’s most talented young dancers.
Held biennially, the Inspire 14+ event provides opportunities and scholarships for emerging dancers aged 14 years and over. The 2026 event marked 90 years of the competition and brought together dancers from across New Zealand for a demanding day of performance.
Candidates completed a 1.5-hour open class before performing two Studies, a classical variation from the listed 19th century repertoire and the RAD Centenary Variation, choreographed by Sarah Foster-Sproull.
Eleven dancers, including Ellie, were selected to perform their classical variation and the RAD Centenary Variation again in the evening finals.
Guest adjudicator Li Cunxin noted the exceptional standard of dancing. Ellie was ultimately presented with the Elvira Macrae Award in recognition of her performance.
Ellie’s achievement follows a dedicated period of training. In July, she spent two weeks in London attending the Royal Ballet School's Summer Intensive at White Lodge. The programme was dedicated entirely to ballet and provided further opportunities for Ellie to develop her skills and experience.
The award is a proud moment for Ellie, whose dedication and commitment to training have helped her compete alongside older and highly-experienced dancers. The award provides recognition of the considerable effort she has invested in her development as a dancer.
