International Competition for Choreographers

About the Competition

Ballet Society Hannover e.V. has been organising this unique European contest for choreographers for the past 25 years. Over this long period the event has achieved a prominent position in the national and international dance scene. Testament to the importance of this event in the international dance scene is not only the renowned jury, but also the fact that every year approximately 160 choreographers from 45 nations apply. Our co-operation with the Goethe Institute significantly increases the worldwide appeal.

It is the goal of this international contest to provide a platform for young choreography talents to flourish. There are many dance competitions around but only very few worldwide platforms where new choreography talent is given an opportunity to be noticed. The competition enables young choreographers to present themselves to a renowned expert jury and to experience the advantages of professional stage technology, and provides them with the opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues and the audience.

In order to take part in the competition, all participants, choreographers, and dancers have to have completed professional training. Choreographers must not be older than 35 years. The length of the performance is limited to between 5 and 15 minutes. A solo ballet cannot be interpreted by the choreographer him/herself. Subject and music are free of choice. These few stipulations enable the contest to be open to all styles of presentation. Judging concentrates only on the creative use of space and time, the interpretation of an idea and the way this is adopted by the performers.

Artistic Director of the competition is Ed Wubbe, director of the Scapino Ballet, Rotterdam.
Since 2004 the competition has been staged in cooperation with the Staatstheater Hannover during the four day Easter-Dance-Days. This Year the International Competition for Choreographers will take place at Theater am Aegi in Hannover. 

Apart from the first three prize winners there is also an audience award and a critics' award. The winner of the Scapino Production Award is also given the opportunity to produce a choreography for the Scapino Ballet, Rotteram.

The prize money is allocated as follows:

1st place €6,000
2nd place €3,000
3rd place €2,000
Critics' Award €1,500
Audience Award €1,000
Scapino-Production Award

National and international Cooperation

In order to boost the chances of the award winning choreographers further, Ballet Society Hannover e.V. enters into partnerships with ensembles and institutions of the national and international dance scene. Appearances with these cooperation partners will allow the participating choreographers to increase their name recognition significantly.
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