2015 Prize winners

2015 Prix de Lausanne

43^rd annual international competition for young dancers February 2^nd to 7^th, 2015, at Beaulieu Theatre, in Lausanne.

The Curtain has Fallen on the 43^rd Edition of Prix de Lausanne

Lausanne, February 7th, 2015. The Prix de Lausanne has yet again attracted young, promising dancers from all parts of the world. This 43^rd edition began with a total of 67 candidates, 20 of which were selected to compete in the finals on Saturday, February 7th. Amongst these finalists, 6 were awarded a scholarship allowing them to further their dance studies with one of the 63 prestigious Prix de Lausanne partner schools or companies.

For non-awarded candidates, the Prix de Lausanne has organized a “Networking Forum”, an audition giving them the opportunity to be chosen by representatives of partner schools and companies of the Prix. The Networking Forum, in addition to all the experience they have gained, makes the competition worthwhile for all participants.

Over the course of the week, jury members observed the candidates performing their chosen classical and contemporary variations. The jury was made up of 9 internationally-renowned dance professionals, chaired by Ms Cynthia Harvey, former Principal of American Ballet Theatre, New York and the London Royal Ballet.

The 6 Prix de Lausanne 2015 prize winners are:

204 – Lee Harrison- Australia

302 – Park Jisoo – South Korea

409 – Ito Mitsuru – Japan

401 – Pinheiro Miguel – Portugal

301 – Kanehara Rina – Japan

402 – MacKay Julian – USA

Contemporary dance prize

MINERVA KUNSTSTIFTUNG 401 – Pinheiro Miguel – Portugal

Audience favourite

FONDATION EN FAVEUR DE L’ART CHOREGRAPHIQUE 306 – Spichtig Lou – Switzerland

Best Swiss Candidates

306 – Spichtig Lou – Switzerland

During the finals, the audience enjoyed a performance by two former prize winners, Karen Azatyan, Soloist of the Hamburg Ballet-John Neumeier, and Arsen Mehrabyan, Principal of the Royal Swedish Ballet, along with Vahe Martirosyan, First Soloist of the Royal Swedish Ballet. In addition, we had the pleasure to present a world-premiere dance performance by six dancers from the Queensland Ballet Jette Parker Young Artist Program in Australia.

For the third consecutive year, the Prix offered daily conferences, the “Daily Dance Dialogues.” The conference featured ballet stars, Lauren Cuthbertson, Cynthia Harvey, Ethan Stiefel, Lisa-Maree Cullum and Chi Cao. The Daily Dance Dialogues were an occasion for the public to engage in a discussion with dance professionals.

This year, for the first time ever, the Prix de Lausanne presented a live stream of daily backstage events, allowing dance fans the world over to experience the Prix de Lausanne from the inside. The Selections on Friday February 6th and the Finals on Saturday 7th were streamed live on Arte Concert, the online platform of the famous bilingual channel.

Notes to Editors:

The Prix de Lausanne is an international ballet competition that aims to provide a springboard for talented dancers. The Prix offers scholarships and apprenticeships with the world’s finest schools and companies. From the very beginning, a commitment to the health, education and well-being of young dancers has been fundamental to the Prix’s underlying philosophy.

Through its scholarships and apprenticeships, offered in partnership with the most eminent professional ballet schools and ballet companies around the world, the Prix de Lausanne provides a unique and invaluable stepping stone for young talent. Over the 43 years of its history, 397 dancers have benefited from the opportunities of the Prix on their way to a successful career in dance.

The competition takes place annually, during the last week of January or the first of February, at the Theatre de Beaulieu, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Each year, six to eight prize winners are offered one year scholarships from a choice of 32 Partner Schools or apprenticeships at a choice of 32 Partner Companies. Candidates who are not selected to take part in the finals participate in a Networking Forum, during which they meet many directors of Partner Schools and Companies. Since it has been established in 2005, 186 dancers have taken up places at schools and companies thanks to the Networking Forum.