Supporting local dancers at Prix de Lausanne

The world-renowned international ballet competition, Prix de Lausanne, is underway in western Switzerland – with 74 young dancers from 19 countries.

In keeping with recent trends, many are from Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea and China.

“But we are also keen to discover talented local dancers,” notes Kathryn Bradney, the competition’s artistic and executive director and a former principal dancer from the Béjart Ballet Lausanne company. For example, the competition organizes free ballet classes for local dance students. And there’s also a special prize for local talent.

The “Best Swiss Candidate Prize” goes to the best Swiss finalist or resident who has been training in Switzerland for at least two years. There are no Swiss candidates for this award, but there are three potential winners: two 18-year-old Japanese women living in Zurich: Sumina Sasaki (candidate #313) and Mio Sumiyama (#316), as well as Basel-based 18-year-old Bulgarian Georgi Kapitanski (#422).

The 47^th Prix de Lausanne is taking place at the Beaulieu Theatre in Lausanne through Sunday.