The aim of the Prix de Lausanne is to identify potential in young dancers, rather than to evaluate their training and achievements to date. Each year, the Artistic Commission of the Prix de Lausanne undertakes a brainstorming session with the jury to investigate more effective ways to do this. These sessions have led to an extensive remodelling of the competition week in Lausanne, with changes focussed on two main areas:

Candidates will be grouped into two age categories: ages 15 to 16 and ages 17 to 18. This is to take into account the differences between the youngest and the oldest candidates, which is particularly marked at this stage of their development. Both classical and contemporary classes will be given separately to each group and the choice of classical variations will also differ, with soloist variations suggested for younger candidates and étoile variations reserved for older competitors.

The jury will be given more time to observe candidates in a learning environment rather than in variations rehearsed in advance of the competition. This will help the jury to assess the candidates’ ability to deal with new material and to grasp new repertoire, essential qualities within the professional dance world.

To allow the jury to make an in-depth appraisal of candidates prior to the final, the majority of the competition will now serve as a single selection phase. The semi-final which served in past years as an intermediate stage will no longer take place. Finalists (around twenty in all) will be chosen from the entire line-up of 70 or so candidates present in Lausanne.

In addition, finalists will now present one classical and one contemporary ballet variation instead of the three presented in previous years. This change is part of our efforts to improve the balance between studio and on-stage evaluations.

This refined formula combines a number of changes made over the years and will shorten the total duration of the competition by one day. We believe that the new schedule uses the available time in the most efficient and most effective way, allowing the jury to acquire, over the course of the competition, an all-round view of each candidate’s potential.

The public will be able to watch all activities taking place on stage from the balcony of the theatre. We hope that many of you will make use of this opportunity and we will give you more information in December.

Adveq Management SA
Anonymous donors
Banque Cantonale Vaudoise
Banque Julius Bär
Beau-Rivage Palace
Bobst SA
Canton de Vaud
Fondation Artephila
Fondation Leenaards
Fondation Nestlé pour l'Art
Fondation Pittet
Loterie Romande
Oak Foundation
Ville de Lausanne