Rising Stars

Sunday, February 4th, 2024!

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The Prix de Lausanne is well-known for providing young talented dancers with unique career opportunities. The latter are made possible by the scholarships and apprenticeships delivered every year to 7 or 8 young dancers, who will have the chance to pursue their education or career in one of their dream institution, thanks to our vast network of Partner Schools and Companies!

Read all the details about these life opportunities and the different distinctions, prizes and awards we provide every year.

Evaluation criteria

Throughout the competition the jury will evaluate a candidate’s potential as a ballet dancer by considering:

  • Artistry
  • Physical suitability
  • Courage and individuality
  • An imaginative and sensitive response to the music
  • A clear grasp in communicating differing movement dynamics
  • Technical facility, control, and coordination.

While advanced skills will be taken into account, jurors’ primary focus will be on the candidate’s potential to succeed as a professional ballet dancer.

Categories of awards

  • The scholarship prizes consist of one year of free tuition at one of the Prix de Lausanne Partner Schools and funds to cover a year’s living expenses of the Prize Winner.
    The recipients may choose their school.
  • The apprenticeship prizes, reserved for candidates aged 17 or more, consist of a one-year apprentice scholarship in one of the Prix de Lausanne Partner Companies, and funds to cover a year’s living expenses of the Prize Winner. The recipients may choose their company.

Sponsors who offer these Prizes:

  • FONDATION CARIS
  • BOURSE JEUNE ESPOIR
  • OAK FOUNDATION
  • FONDATION MAURICE BÉJART
  • BOURSE JEUNE ÉTOILE
  • FONDATION COROMANDEL
  • FONDATION ALBERT AMON
  • BOURSE ASTARTE
  • BEAU-RIVAGE PALACE
  • FONDATION JEAN-FRANÇOIS ET MARIE-LAURE DE CLERMONT-TONNERRE
  • FONDATION ANITA ET WERNER DAMM-ETIENNE

Contemporary Dance Award

This award is offered by Minerva Kunststiftung to the finalist who, through the interpretation of his/her contemporary variation at the Finals, shows exceptional potential in the area of contemporary dance. The award consists in a free contemporary dance summer course, including travel and accomodation.

Best Young Talent Award

This award is offered to a finalist who shows exceptional artistry. It is offered by the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation.

Best Swiss Candidate Award

This award is offered by an anonymous donor to the best Swiss finalist or resident that has been training in Switzerland for at least two years before the competition.

Audience Favourite Award

This award reflects the audience’s favourite candidate during the Finals. This award rewards the finalist having earned the most votes expressed by the audience the day of the Finals.

To vote, send the code PDL followed by the number of your favourite finalist to the number 939 (20 cents per SMS). Example: PDL 143

This service is only offered to people with Swiss mobile phones.

Web Audience Favourite Award

This award is attributed to the most voted candidate by the web spectators who watched the competition through the live streaming.

Vote online directly the day of the Finals.

Finalist Award

The Finalists who have not been awarded any scholarship or apprenticeship will each receive CHF 1,000.- offered by Bobst.