Prix de Lausanne 2021 – Video Edition – starting 31 January

The Prix de Lausanne will offer more than 7 hours of daily live streaming for this special video edition, which will be available on Arte Concert and prixdelausanne.org.

A worldwide public will be able to follow the candidates all week long, seeing interviews with the jury as well as videos from the archives from past editions of the competition. The Finals' Interlude, taking place on Saturday 6 February, will feature excerpts from the Paris Opera Ballet School's Tricentennial Gala.

In order to make up for the candidates' absence in Lausanne this year, the Prix de Lausanne has set up a 100% digital competition. The live streaming content, built around the candidates' videos, will allow the jury to observe and mark the 78 dancers all week long. For the first time, people around the world will be able to follow each candidate individually.

As usual, the competition week will be divided between ballet class exercises (from Monday to Thursday) and classical and contemporary variations prepared by the candidates (on Friday and Saturday for the Finals).

Thanks to the live streaming option, the Prix de Lausanne will be able to offer career opportunities to young dancers from all over the world again this year and therefore fulfil its mission despite the current situation.

Nicolas Le Riche, a member of the 2021 jury, said,

More than ever, young dancers need the support of professionals. This year is marked by an unprecedented upheaval in our sector. Being able to discover young international talent, as well as to contribute to the development of dancers are excellent reasons to take part in the Prix de Lausanne this year. Without forgetting the team and the unique and supportive atmosphere of the Prix de Lausanne.

Fellow jury member Samuel Wuersten added,

Organizing the 2021 and 49th edition of the Prix de Lausanne has been particularly challenging. Fortunately, a responsible solution was found as it is more important than ever to create a sense of continuity and to bridge this difficult period in support of the development of young dancers in every way imaginable.

Interlude with the Paris Opera Ballet School

During the competition Finals, the audience will be able to enjoy 2013 excerpts from the Paris Opera Ballet School Tricentennial Gala. These will feature “D'ores et déjà” (Béatrice Massin, Nicolas Paul) and “Péchés de jeunesse” (Jean-Guillaume Bart).

This Gala will be followed by the final round of the Young Creation Award, the new programme in collaboration with the partner institutions of the Prix de Lausanne, and the Lifetime Achievement Award presentation to choreographer Wayne McGregor.

Top photo: Marco Masciari, winner 2020, photo by Gregory Batardon

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.