The 21-year-old dancer from Queensland has been dancing with Australian Ballet since 2012. She receives a $20,000 prize.

Last night at the Sydney Opera House, during the curtain call of the Australian Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty, Benedicte Bemet was named the 2015 winner of the Telstra Ballet Dancer of the Year Award. The annual prize recognises a dancer from the company who has shown outstanding development and skill during the season.

The 21 year-old dancer from Queensland, who joined the Australian Ballet School aged 14 and entered the senior company in 2012, was clearly overwhelmed with the news, clasping her hands to her face in shock as she stood on the stage of the Joan Sutherland Theatre. She receives a cash prize of $20,000 and joins the elite roster of Telstra Ballet Dancer of the Year winners who will decide which dancers should be nominated for next year’s award.

The six nominees on stage at yesterday evening’s announcement

Australian Ballet artistic director David McAllister spoke of Bemet’s superb performances over the past season. “Since joining The Australian Ballet in 2012, Benedicte has...