Matei Holeleu from Romania performs in February 2020
Keystone
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced the prestigious Prix de Lausanne international ballet competition to change format: the 2021 edition will take place by video.
Only the nine members of the jury will be present in person, the competition’s foundation said. The 49th Prix de LausanneExternal link will take place from January 31 to February 7.
Each of the 81 selected candidates will be able to showcase their talent and compete for a scholarship for schooling or video learning. As in other years, 20 finalists will be selected at the end of the week. The winners will be announced at the final on February 6.
The Young Creation Award, a new competition in search of young choreographic talent and sponsored by the renowned choreographer Heinz Spoerli, will also be held via video. The Prix de Lausanne jury will watch and judge the submitted finalists’ arrangements before awarding the prize for two best young choreographers on February 3. The choreographies will be performed publicly at the Prix de Lausanne 2022.
The Prix de Lausanne said that the record participation for 2021 – 399 entries from 43 countries – “emphasises more than ever the need to keep the art of dance alive”.
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Demographics
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The two are students at the Zurich Dance Academy, one of two professional, state-funded schools for professional dancers in Switzerland. It focuses on classical ballet and is directed by former principal ballet soloists at the German State Opera in Berlin, Oliver Matz and Steffi Scherzer. Spicthig and Fernandez-Gromova, both 17, qualified for the 43rd Prix…
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Ballet dreams
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Founded in 1973 by the Swiss industrialist Philippe Braunschweig, the Prix de Lausanne has become a prestigious event for young dancers from all over the world. Over the past few years, the competition has seen a big boom in Asian candidates. In 2010 it takes places from January 26-31. (All photos: Thomas Kern, swissinfo)
Making the grand jeté from ballet backwater to boom
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The Prix de Lausanne international ballet competition can make careers. But it takes place in a country without a strong dance tradition. The Zurich Dance Academy is one of two Swiss state-funded schools trying to turn that around.
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In keeping with recent trends, many are from Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea and China. “But we are also keen to discover talented local dancers,” notes Kathryn Bradney, the competition’s artistic and executive director and a former principal dancer from the Béjart Ballet LausanneExternal link company. For example, the competition organizes free ballet…
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