BICD Prix warms up

The dance world has quite an array of big ballet competitions – huge international events with glittering prizes, often the launch-pad for the winners' careers. They are fantastic opportunities for budding balletic talent, as Louise Deleur observed when she was coaching at the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland one year. However, as she also observed, there were few equivalent competitions for contemporary dance. "I loved the vibe [at the Prix] but it struck me that there's really nothing like this for contemporary dancers to find a pathway into companies or their careers." 

Thus was born the Brisbane International Contemporary Dance Prix in 2018. Deleur created an event that she is quick to point out is based on workshops, coaching, education, inspiring and connecting dancers as well as having a competitive component. "I'm really keen to unearth a talent who is maybe not physically perfect for ballet but has movement and quality that makes them just as interesting as an artist," Deleur says. Six years later she can proudly say that she has established a unique event which has been embraced by the Australian and international community. 

The BICDP is annual and takes place over six days in September. It is tailored to be a wholistic learning experience rather than just aimed at winning prizes. Judging the ability of a contemporary dancer is a more ambiguous process than judging for classical, as "technique" itself is a more slippery concept. The website specifies that the judges are looking for criteria such as "natural physical movement with a good sense of co-ordination and flow"; "artistry"; "courage", "tenacity and attitude to succeed in a professional dance world"; "musicality"; "creativity"; "dynamics", "physicality"; and "technical facility".  

The contestants are observed in ballet, contemporary, repertoire and improvisation classes. They are also coached in one of a choice of four contemporary solos by the choreographer themselves or their representative. The improvisation is an important component of the process and goes towards the creation of the contestant's own work for a performance at end of week. "Improvisation is a really great tool," Deleur says, "especially in the creative process for contemporary dance. In creating new contemporary work these days, choreographers can place a lot more emphasise on the skill and input of the dancer, maybe more so than in the classical process of times gone by. These days it can be a lot more about working with the dancer in the creative process and exploring their ability to contribute" 

She adds: "It also enables people to see how they move naturally. It's an opportunity for dancers to show their personal attributes."  

All dancers perform their two solos to an audience at the end of the week and then 20 finalists are chosen to perform again for the chance to receive scholarship funds to support their career development.

In addition, all dancers have the opportunity to be picked for secondments or apprenticeships with schools or companies that have partnered with the BCID Prix. At present these include the WA Academy of Performing Arts, the Palucca Hochschule for Tanz in Dresden in Germany ("who are thrilled with Australian dancers", says Deleur), Rambert Dance School in London, New Zealand School of Dance, Sydney Dance Company, Australasian Dance Collective, New Zealand Dance Company and Grand Theatre of Geneve. Deleur is working on expanding the number of partner companies in Europe as well as Asia.  

Alumni include three dancers who have taken up contracts with SDC, and partner school graduates who have now taken up contracts with Dresden, Semperoper Ballett, Ballett Theatre Magdeburg and Saarbrucken.  Billy Thomas, a hip hop dancer from Newcastle, who had done little ballet before entering BICDP, is a story that reflects BCIDP's goal. In 2019 he won the junior scholarship, received a place at Palucca, and is now taking up a contract in the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company in Israel. "He was exactly what we are looking for: people with initiative, with drive, even if they might not be the most technically proficient. Billy had a raw talent about him." 

Deleur also cherishes the opportunity the BICDP provides to teachers to get together in one spot and socialise and learn from each other.  

This year's judging panel and creatives include Jose Biondi (Palucca), Katie Rudd (NZ Dance Company), Juliette Barton (Sydney Dance Company) and Jason Mabana (Rambert School). 

The 2023 competition runs from September 25-30. Entries have now closed but tickets will be open soon to those wanting to watch teaching sessions or performances. For more info, just go here.

– KAREN VAN ULZEN 

 More here.