Young Creation Award
The Prix de Lausanne wishes to confirm its unique status as a forerunner in the dance world with this competition for young, talented choreographers from our partner schools. Launched in 2021, this unique competition in Europe promotes contemporary creation and emerging young choreographers, offering them a platform for their professional development.
Anne-Laure Lechat
Registration
Registration for the Young Creation Award 2026 will open in October 2025.
Goals
Launched in 2021, this unique annual competition in Europe aims to promote contemporary choreography and support emerging young choreographers by providing them with a platform for professional development. Five young choreographers are invited to showcase their creation in front of the Prix de Lausanne jury during a public performance. Two winners are selected and will return as official coaches, alongside renowned choreographers, for the next edition of the Prix de Lausanne.
The main goals of the Young Creation Award are:
- Discovering young new talent in aspiring choreographers;
- Offering a unique experience to young choreographers in a privileged context thanks to the Prix de Lausanne’s expertise;
- Rewarding artistry in a positive and constructive competitive atmosphere;
- Encouraging the imagination and creativity of young dancers to become aware of the art and technique of choreography.
Winners
The two winners of the the Young Creation Award 2025 are:
- Henry Lichtmacher (United States), from the Houston Ballet Academy, with the variation 20 Miles From Shore
Dancer: Alex Westerman
Music: The Ballerina, Lars Meyer
- Alexander Mockrish (Sweden), from the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with the variation Extinction
Dancer: Caroline Quiner
Music: Etude Nr 1 for String Quartet, Peter Sandberg
The two winning variations will become part of the 2026 Prix de Lausanne’s contemporary variations repertory. To perfect their training, the winners will return as coaches for the dancers during the next Summer Intensive in July and the 2026 Prix de Lausanne, working alongside renowned choreographers.
© Anne-Laure Lechat
© Anne-Laure Lechat
The two winners of the 2024 edition of the Young Creation Award are:
- Quinn BATES (USA) from the School of the Hamburg Ballett John Neumeier with the variation Groovin’
Dancer: Miguel Artur ALVES OLIVEIRA - Kseniya KOSAVA (Belarus) from the Palucca University of Dance Dresden with the variation Under glass
Dancer: Sakura NATORIGAWA
Their two winning choreographies (as voted by the Jury) will be added to the Prix de Lausanne 2025 contemporary repertoire. The two young choreographers will have the chance to come and coach the 2025 candidates who will have chosen their variations during the competition week.
The two winners of the 2023 edition of the Young Creation Award are:
- Elena Dombrowski (France) from the Pôle National Supérieur de Danse Rosella Hightower with her original variation ‘Tout va bien?’. Dancer: Tom BELLEC
- Aleisha Walker (USA) from the ABT Studio Company with her original variation ‘Do you care?’. Dancer: Madison BROWN
The two winning choreographies (as voted by the Jury) will be added to the Prix de Lausanne 2024 contemporary repertoire. The two young choreographers will have the chance to come and coach the 2024 candidates who will have chosen their variations during the competition week.
The two winners of the 2022 edition of the Young Creation Award are:
- Milla Loock with her variation “Cognition“, danced by Anita Ferreira (School of the Hamburg Ballet John Neumeier). Music: ‘Dismantle’ by Peter Sandberg.
- Luca Branca with his variation “Les Ombres du temps“, danced by Yo Nakajima (Princess Grace Academy). Music: ‘Ad Infinitum’ by Vincent Isler.
The two winning choreographies (as voted by the Jury) have become part of the Prix de Lausanne contemporary repertoire 2023. Milla Loock and Luca Branca will therefore come to the Prix de Lausanne 2023 and coach the candidates who have chosen their variations.
The two winners of the first edition of the Young Creation Award are:
- Maya SMALLWOOD (USA) from Canada’s National Ballet School with her original variation ‘Unravel‘. Music: ‘Euphoria’ by Vincent Isler. Dancer: Ewan Hartman.
- Samuel WINKLER (Australia) from the School of Hamburg Ballet John-Neumeier with his original variation ‘Suppress‘. Music: ‘Aurora’ by Vincent Isler. Dancer: Gabriel Barbosa.
The two winning choreographies (as voted by the Jury) have become part of the Prix de Lausanne contemporary repertoire 2022.
Sponsors 2025
