Three Australians are among five finalists to have been chosen for the Prix de Lausanne’s Young Creation Award.
Two are students at the Queensland Ballet Academy: Joshua Ostermann and Louis van Etten. The other is a student at the School of the Hamburg Ballet in Germany – Samuel Winkler (formerly at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School). All are 19 years old.
The aim of the program, sponsored by Swiss choreographer Heinz Spoerli, is to encourage young aspiring choreographers. Fifty-five aspirants submitted a variation each by video. The five finalists will be presented during the Prix de Lausanne 2021 and marked by the competition jury. At the end of the finals on Saturday, February 6, 2021, the Jury will announce two winning choreographies. Those variations will become part of the Prix de Lausanne contemporary repertoire.
Because of the pandemic, the prestigious competition, held annually in Switzerland, has been held on video and through digital platforms. Only the nine jurors will be on site.