Press release - Prix de Lausanne 2012 : 40 years of excellence and passion

The 40th edition of the Prix de Lausanne, international competition for young dancers, has once again seen awards presented to an outstanding group of dancers. Following a rigorous first selection, 79 competitors were invited from 226 initial applicants to participate in Lausanne. After four intensive days of competition, held under the observation of a Jury composed entirely of prize winners and chaired by Mr. Jean-Christophe Maillot (Prize winner 1977), 21 candidates were selected for the Final, on Saturday, 4th February. Eight of these dancers were awarded prizes, made possible through the generous support of the Prix de Lausanne’s sponsors.

These scholarships provide the prize winners with a year of free tuition at one of the Prix de Lausanne’s partner schools, which are amongst the world’s most respected ballet schools. The apprenticeships are designed for prize winners who are at least 17 years of age and they allow the prize winner to spend an entire year working as an Apprentice within one of the Prix’s partner companies.

The eight prize winners of the 2012 Prix de Lausanne are :
(306) Ms Sugai Madoka, Japon
Sasaki Ballet Academy, Yamato Fondation Leenaards
(108) Ms Bettes Hannah, USA
Next Generation Ballet Patel Conservatory, Tampa Beau-Rivage Palace
(406) Mr Barbosa Edson, Brésil
Grupo Cultural de Dança-Ilha, Rio de Janeiro Adveq
(422) Mr Tudorin Nikolaus, Australie
Tanz Akademie Zürich Julius Bär
(424) Mr Grünecker Michael, Allemagne
Tanz Akademie Zürich Oak Foundation
(120) Ms Vinograd Sonia, Espagne
Institut del Teatre de Barcelona, Conservatori
Professional de Dansa Fondation Coromandel
(407) Mr Wang Le, Chine
Beijing Dance Academy Fondation Pro Scientia et Arte
(401) Mr Wang Mingxuan, Chine
Shanghai Dance School N&C Women Prize

Contemporary dance prize winner
(306) Ms Sugai Madoka, Japon
Sasaki Ballet Academy, Yamato Fondation Nestlé pour l'Art

Prize for best swiss candidate
(424) Mr Grünecker Michael, Allemagne
Tanz Akademie Zürich Fondation Leenaards

Audience favorite
(108) Ms Bettes Hannah, USA
Next Generation Ballet Patel Conservatory, Tampa Fondation en faveur de l'Art chorégraphique

For the interlude performance of the 40th edition of the Prix de Lausanne, the audience was treated to a performance by 6 students of the Royal Ballet School, which included Mayara Magri, prize winner in 2011, and 4 students from the Royal Danish Ballet School. Both Schools are partner schools of the Prix de Lausanne.

2011 saw the hugely successful first edition of the Master Class Series and the Prix de Lausanne is pleased to announce a new Series for 2012. This will comprise 5 classes during the month of May 2012 in the following locations: Basel, Switzerland; Hong Kong, China; Cannes, France; San Francisco, USA and Melbourne, Australia. These master classes provide aspiring young dancers with the chance to take part in a class taught by a leading Principal dancer who is a Prix de Lausanne prize winner.

To further develop its leadership role within the international dance community, the Prix de Lausanne will welcome Amanda Bennett as its new Artistic Director on the 1st of March, 2012. Currently Director of the Ballet School of the Basel Theatre, she will continue in this role and will be dividing her time between Basel and Lausanne.

In addition, as part of the celebrations of the 40th Anniversary, the Prix de Lausanne is very pleased to announce a new association with the Cinémathèque Suisse, involving, from February 13th, the presentation of a series of dance films and, until March 1st, an exhibition in the CHUV (Lausanne University Hospital) of posters and photos, retracing the 40 years of the Prix de Lausanne.