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ABT x Prix de Lausanne

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Madison Brown in Aleisha Walker’s Do You Care? Photo: Sascha Radetsky.
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February 13, 2023

ABT x Prix de Lausanne

2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the Prix de Lausanne. An international ballet competition for young dancers, the Prix de Lausanne provides participants the opportunity to develop their skills and showcase their potential to leading ballet companies around the world.

Dancers perform and compete in front of the Prix de Lausanne Jury of renown dance personalities for scholarship opportunities, apprenticeships, medals, and cash prizes.

American Ballet Theatre has been a close partner of the Prix de Lausanne, sending a number of dancers, faculty, and staff to the competition over the years. The ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School is a Partner School of the Prix de Lausanne, while ABT Studio Company is a Partner Company.

Madison Brown and Aleisha Walker at the 2023 Prix de Lausanne. Photo: Sascha Radetsky.
Madison Brown and Aleisha Walker at the 2023 Prix de Lausanne. Photo: Sascha Radetsky.

2023 Competition 

ABT sent three members of the ABT family to Lausanne this year: Aleisha Walker, Madison Brown, and Lilia Greyeyes.

As friends, colleagues, and a stellar choreographic-dancer duo, ABT apprentice Aleisha Walker and ABT Studio Company member Madison Brown competed in the Young Creation Award competition for which Aleisha’s Do You Care? was one of five worldwide finalists out of over 80 entrants. Madison performed Aleisha’s solo in front of the Prix de Lausanne Jury and a live-streamed audience on Wednesday, February 1. Later that evening, Aleisha was honored with one of two coveted Young Creation Awards.

Lillia Greyeyes at the 2023 Prix de Lausanne. Photo: Stella Abrera.
Lillia Greyeyes at the 2023 Prix de Lausanne. Photo: Stella Abrera.

Aleisha’s solo Do You Care? set to “Nocturnal Waltz” by Johannes Bornlöf will now become part of the competition’s contemporary repertoire.

Representing the ABT JKO School in the Partner School Choreographic Project at the 2023 Prix de Lausanne, Lilia Greyeyes was part of a new work by Goyo Montero and performed with other representative students from Prix de Lausanne Partner Schools around the world. Lilia was recently promoted from the ABT JKO School to ABT Studio Company – congratulations!

 

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Sung Woo Han at the 2011 Prix de Lausanne. Photo: Gregory Batardon.
Sung Woo Han at the 2011 Prix de Lausanne. Photo: Gregory Batardon.

A Long (Impressive) History

Current ABT Dancers

To be honored at the Prix de Lausanne is an impressive achievement, and we are proud to have so many dancers from this respected bunch at ABT.

Current corps de ballet members Fangqi Li and Yoon Jung Seo were honored in 2017 and 2019, respectively.

Gillian Murphy at the 1995 Prix de Lausanne. Photo: Francette Levieux.
Gillian Murphy at the 1995 Prix de Lausanne. Photo: Francette Levieux.

In 2014, Garegin Pogossian participated in the Prix de Lausanne and was awarded a scholarship to join ABT Studio Company. He has since graduated to the main Company is currently a member of the corps de ballet.

Current ABT dancers who received scholarships from the Prix de Lausanne include Soloist Zhong-Jing Fang (2000), Principal Dancer Hee Seo (2003), and Soloist Sung Woo Han (2011).

Principal Dancer Gillian Murphy was awarded the Prix de Lausanne “Hope” award in 1995 and served on the 2018 Prix de Lausanne Jury. 

Nancy Raffa at the 1980 Prix de Lausanne.
Nancy Raffa at the 1980 Prix de Lausanne. Photo: Marcel Imsand.

 

Former ABT Dancers

Although no longer dancing with ABT, our former dancers contribute to the rich history and partnership between American Ballet Theatre and the Prix de Lausanne – a list of past ABT dancer/Prix de Lausanne winners includes:

Former corps de ballet dancers Sarawanee Tanatanit, Zhang Zhiyao, and Nancy Raffa. Sarawanee won an apprenticeship at the 2001 Prix de Lausanne. Ten years later, in 2011, Zhang won a scholarship.

In 1980, Nancy was the youngest and first American female to win a gold medal at the Prix de Lausanne. She served on the 2012 Prix de Lausanne Jury and is now a Director of Repertoire at ABT.

Soloist Yuriko Kajiya won a scholarship at the 2000 Prix de Lausanne. She is now a principal dancer with Houston Ballet.

Former Principal Dancers Marcelo Gomes, Ethan Stiefel, Julie Kent, and Alessandra Ferri have also received awards. Marcelo won the Prix de Lausanne “Hope” award in 1996 and later served on the 2016 Prix de Lausanne Jury. Ethan won a cash prize in 1989, while Julie won a scholarship and later served on the 2023 Prix de Lausanne Jury. Alessandra additionally won a scholarship in 1980 and served on the 2014 Jury.

Fabrice Herrault, Finalist Max Barker, and Cynthia Harvey at the 2020 Prix de Lausanne. Photo: Elizabeth Aymong.
Fabrice Herrault, Finalist Max Barker, and Cynthia Harvey at the 2020 Prix de Lausanne. Photo: Elizabeth Aymong.

In addition to ABT dancers who won awards at the Prix de Lausanne early on in their careers, there are some former ABT dancers who have participated in the competition as established and valued pillars of the ballet community.

Julio Bocca, former Principal Dancer at ABT, has served on the Prix de Lausanne Jury on many occasions, including in 2014, 2018, and as President of the Jury in 2016.

Last, but never least, Cynthia Harvey was the President of the 2015 Prix de Lausanne Jury, as well as served as a Classical Variations Coach in 2016. Cynthia was a Principal Dancer with ABT,  served as Artistic Director of the ABT JKO School from 2016-2022, and continues to teach at ABT as a member of the faculty.