Lydia Cagney Morris

Lydia Cagney Morris has been involved in dance for over fifty years starting her initial dance training in Tasmania studying the R.A.D ballet syllabus. After moving to Country Victoria Lydia then studied the Cecchetti method of classical ballet and the Imperial Society Teachers of Dance (I.S.T.D) syllabus in tap, national character, and contemporary dance. 

Lydia has a Bachelor of Arts in Performance Studies and has completed her Cecchetti ballet teaching qualifications obtaining her Associate, Associate Diploma, Licentiate and Licentiate Diploma examinations. In addition to this she has, both a Diploma in Dance Teacher Management and a Diploma in Early Childhood Education. Lydia’s experience with dance in early education is extensive and she is a popular and well-loved teacher of preschool dance. She was also awarded a scholarship in 2022 and is currently completing further post graduate studies in early education. 

Lydia is an Examiner for the AMEB-Australian Music Education Board and a qualified Artistic Gymnastic Beginner qualified Coach. She has choreographed and performed in amateur theatre productions, taught dance overseas in the USA and Ireland where she also represented Melbourne in the International Rose of Tralee Festival. She has worked in the fitness industry and Community Health in the area of exercise rehabilitation. Also presenting on the topic at various fitness conferences around Australia including VICSWIM, Network Australia, NZ, and Sports Coach Australia. 

A popular studio owner and freelance ballet teacher Lydia’s students have gone on to successful dance careers and full-time training at highly reputable institutions around Australia. Others have been awarded excellence awards, scholarships and one a semi-finalist at the inaugural Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland. 

As an Adjudicator Lydia is known for being encouraging and constructive. She enjoys watching competitors perform growing in confidence and valuable stage experience. She also values the time and effort put in by Eisteddfod Societies, Organisers, Committees, and competition volunteers. 

As an Adjudicator Lydia has judged dance now for over 24 years all around Australia and New Zealand and in recent years also judged Speech and Drama at various eisteddfods. 

Lydia’s judging experience includes: 

Bendigo Competitions, Mordialloc, Goodwill Dance Festival, Highpoint, Sale, Hamilton, Geelong, Southern Dance, Casey Comps, Ararat, Burnie TAS, Melton/Bacchus March, West Gippsland. Port Macquarie NSW, Cairns QLD, Ringwood A.A.T.B.D, Lismore, Yarram, Alice Springs, Lockyer Valley QLD, Latrobe Valley, FYD, Albury NSW, West Coast Dance WA, Dance Quest WA, Toowoomba, Wangaratta, Wagga Wagga NSW, Moe, Redlands QLD, Riverside ACT, Southern Tasmania TAS, Energy Dance Comp, Lake Macquarie NSW,CSTD QLD, Dance Competitions SA, Taree NSW, Ipswich QLD, Lockyer Valley QLD, Gladstone QLD, Christchurch, Taupo, Marlborough Blenheim, Rotorua NZ