Latin American Preselection – success stories

The Latin American Preselection, whether in person or by video, has become a key springboard for young dancers from Latin America to access the Prix de Lausanne, offering them the opportunity to perform on an international stage and take a significant step in their professional dance journey.

Being preselected for the Prix de Lausanne opens many doors for these young talents: some win scholarships, while others receive offers to join our partner schools and companies through the Networking Forum.

The Prix de Lausanne acknowledges that some candidates cannot afford a trip to Switzerland nor the registration fees to take part in the competition. Since 2008, a special fund has been put aside to help aspiring candidates who ask for our help. We are extremely proud and honored to support these promising young artists, and we are committed to strengthening and expanding this mission, making it more visible, accessible and impactful across Latin America.

In addition to the internationally renowned careers that have become iconic within the Prix de Lausanne community, such as that of Carlos Acosta, here are some more recent success stories from Latin American candidates who have benefited from the support through the preselection process:

• João Pedro Dos Santos Silva (Brazil) participated in the Latin American Preselection (Córdoba, Argentina), where he was preselected for the Prix de Lausanne 2024. He was awarded a scholarship as First Prize Winner and the Web Audience Favourite Award. He joined the École de Danse de l’Opéra National de Paris in the fall of 2024.

• Ana Luísa Negrão (Brazil) was preselected through the Latin American video preselection in 2022. A Prize Winner at the Prix de Lausanne 2023, she was awarded an apprenticeship to join the Junior Company of the Dutch National Ballet. She is now a dancer at the Dutch National Ballet.

• Luciana Sagioro, from Brazil, began her journey with the Latin American Preselection video edition in 2021. Selected for the Prix de Lausanne 2022, she was awarded a scholarship that led her to the École de Danse de l’Opéra National de Paris at the age of 15. She later joined the Paris Opera Ballet, and in late 2024, was promoted to Coryphée.

• João Vitor Santana (Brazil) was preselected for the Prix de Lausanne during the 2019 Preselection (Goiânia, Brazil). A Prize Winner, he joined the National Youth Ballet Hamburg and is now dancing with the Hamburg Ballet.

• Vitor Augusto Vaz (Brazil) was preselected for the Prix de Lausanne during the 2019 Preselection (Goiânia, Brazil). A Prize Winner, he joined the Royal Ballet School in London.

• Carolyne Galvao (Brazil) was first preselected through the Latin American preselection in 2015. She became a Finalist at the Prix de Lausanne 2016 and won a full-year course tuition at the Houston Ballet through our Networking Forum. In 2017, she was again preselected during our preselection in Uruguay. Carolyne then participated in the Prix de Lausanne 2018, earning an apprenticeship with the English National Ballet, where she continues to dance.

Organised by the Prix de Lausanne, the Networking Forum allows non-winning candidates to be seen by directors of schools or companies from around the world and to receive up to several offers from schools and companies partnered with the Prix de Lausanne:

• Isabella Bellotti Fargnolli (Brazil) was preselected during the 2017 Latin American Preselection (Montevideo, Uruguay). She then participated in the Prix de Lausanne 2018 and joined the School of the Hamburg Ballett through the Networking Forum.
• Erivan Rodrigues Garioli (Brazil), preselected in 2016 (La Plata, Argentina), participated in the Prix de Lausanne 2017 and joined the National Ballet of Canada through the Networking Forum.

During the 2024 competition:

• Guillermo Franco Rolutti (Argentina), preselected for the Prix de Lausanne 2024, has received 4 offers, including one from the School of the Hamburg Ballet, where he is currently continuing his training.
• Yasmim Sabag (Brazil), finalist in the 2023 Latin American Preselection and candidate for the Prix de Lausanne 2024, has received 6 offers. She is now studying at the Royal Ballet School, thanks to the Networking Forum.

This year, during the 2025 competition:

• Tamara Arandia Montero (Mexico, En Pro Del Talento Cordobes), preselected for the Prix de Lausanne 2025, has received 6 offers.
• Martina Sanchez Tolaba (Argentina, Basileu França), preselected for the Prix de Lausanne 2025, has received 6 offers.
• Marcus Santos (Brazil, Basileu França), preselected for the Prix de Lausanne 2025, has received 3 offers.