CONGRATULATIONS to Australian dancers Jenson Blight and Ruby Day, who have both won top prizes at the finals of the 2024 Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland.
Twenty finalists, out of 86 contestants, were chosen to present their solos yesterday to a panel of judges headed by Dame Darcey Bussell. Jenson was one of nine main prize winners. Each of these nine winners receives the opportunity of a placement at one of the prestigious partner schools and companies of the Prix de Lausanne.
Ruby received the Best Young Talent Award, awarded by the Rudolph Nureyev Foundation.
Both dancers are 17 years old and students at the Queensland Ballet Academy, where they were coached for the Prix by Christian Tatchev (Director of QBA), Louise Deleur and Grant Aris. Leanne Benjamin, the new Artistic Director of the Queensland Ballet, also added some final touches to the students’ preparations.
Jenson and Ruby have already been showing their burgeoning talent while at the Academy. Jenson received the highest classical ballet award for the Upper School in 2022 and represented the QBA in the Prix’s Choreographic Project. Ruby received the highest classical ballet result in the Upper School last year while also achieving the highest overall result across all core subjects. She received the Glen Holland Scholarship as well.
Prior to attending the QBA, Jenson was a pupil at Premier Dance Academy and Ruby was a pupil at Theatre and Dance school, both in Brisbane. They joined the QBA through its part time Associate Program, and were offered places in the Pre-Professional Program this year.
The full list of Prix de Lausanne winners is below:
1. BOURSE JEUNE ESPOIR
201 – João Pedro DOS SANTOS SILVA – Brazil
2 – CARIS FOUNDATION
415 – Martinho LIMA SANTOS – Portugal
3 – BOURSE JEUNE ÉTOILE
317 – Paloma LIVELLARA VIDART – Argentina
4 – OAK FOUNDATION
106 – Crystal HUANG – United States
5 – FONDATION COROMANDEL
315 – Airi KOBAYASHI – Japan
6 – BOURSE ASTARTE
411 – Jenson BLIGHT – Australia
7 – AUD JEBSEN SCHOLARSHIP
417 – Juliann FEDELE-MALARD – France
8 – FONDATION MAURICE BÉJART
302 – Natalie STEELE – United States
9 – FONDATION DAMM-ETIENNE
207 – Taichi TOSHIDA – Japan
Other awards:
RUDOLPH NUREYEV FOUNDATION
Best Young Talent Award: 313 – Ruby DAY – Australia
BEAULIEU SA
Beaulieu Award: 317 – Paloma LIVELLARA VIDART – Argentina
MINERVA KUNSTSTIFTUNG
Contemporary Dance Award: 415 – Martinho LIMA SANTOS – Portugal
MINERVA KUNSTSTIFTUNG
Contemporary Dance Award: 106 – Crystal HUANG – United States
ANONYMOUS DONOR
Best Swiss Candidate Award: 407 – Giuseppe SCHILLACI – Italy
SUPPORTED BY LA FONDATION EN FAVEUR DE L’ART CHORÉGRAPHIQUE AND ARTE CONCERT
Web Audience Favourite Award: 201 – João Pedro DOS SANTOS SILVA – Brazil
Audience Favourite Award: 317 – Paloma LIVELLARA VIDART – Argentina
BOBST SA
Finalists Award: the Finalists who have not been awarded with any scholarship will each receive CHF 1,000.-
No doubt that exciting careers lie ahead for these young dancers.
- KAREN VAN ULZEN