Vote For Your Favourite Dancer

Thanks to the So You Think You Can Dance, dance is so hot right now. Not since the '80s and the days of Flashdance and Fame has the medium seen such a resurgence of popularity in movies and TV shows - and we're also seeing it in your YouTube videos.



So whether your style is krumping, hip-hop, West Coast swing or ballet, you'll enjoy checking out the finalists of the MyMutation global dance competition. The Sydney Opera House launched the competition in July, in association with YouTube and Sony, and their channel has received over 97,000 visits from more than 100 countries and territories.



Aspiring dancers from all over the globe entered the competition, highlighting the universal appeal of dance. In the first round, 75 entries were received from as far afield as India, Brazil, Germany, Italy , Mexico, Hawaii, UK, Canada, Russia, Malta, USA, Estonia, South Africa, New Zealand, Portugal and of course, Australia.



We're pleased to announce the winners of this first round: Chaz Cummings (Aus), Courtney Hale (NZ), Ellie Swiatkiwsky (Aus), Emma Watkins (Aus), Erica Fletcher (Aus), Kay Armstrong (UK), Kristyn Bilson (Aus), Leigh Beard UK), Morgan Holt (Aus), Sally Hillier (Aus), Sarah McCreanor (Aus), Nobel Lakave ( Aus) and Simone Chivas (Aus). Go to www.youtube.com/sydneyoperahouse to check out their winning round one entry and video blog.



An eclectic showcase of talent is on display, with styles including belly dancing, Irish jigs and hip-hop, and videos featuring children, animals, and tributes to Michael Jackson.



The 14 finalists now have a week to choreograph another solo and submit it back to Sydney Opera House by 24 August, when the public are invited to vote for their favourite dancer. Five dancers will then be selected to compete in the final round, where the winning dancer will not only experience the thrill of performing their own work live at Sydney Opera House, but also receive $2,000 in cash and a prize pack from Sony including a Handycam camcorder, Cyber-shot camera and a VAIO notebook. Everyone who votes can enter a prize draw to win a Handycam camcorder from Sony, so it's not just the dancers who are in the running to win cool prizes.



MyMutation is part of Spring Dance – the inaugural dance celebration at Sydney Opera House, running from 27 Aug – 27 September. Check it out at youtube.com/sydneyoperahouse.