Madoka Sugai talks about her Prix de Lausanne win

Madoka Sugai, the 17-year-old winner of this year’s Prix de Lausanne, talked to Japan’s The Mainichi Daily News.

Ballet is an indispensible part of my life. When I felt like I wanted to go out like other people my age, I made myself think, ‘There’s something else I have to do now’.

The dancers at the Lausanne competition always seemed completely liberated and so full of life. I used to look up to them and always dreamed of becoming one myself someday.”

When her name was announced as this year’s winner at the competition’s award ceremony, Sugai’s mind went blank. She told reporters at a press conference in Japan that it was her best performance so far.

I’ve never felt this liberated before.”

Miyako Yoshida, one of this year’s jurors, is Sugai’s role model and the dancer she looks up to most.

Photo: Gregory Batardon/Prix de Lausanne

Gramilano Editor

Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Italian ballerina Carla Fracci.

Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.

He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.