Le Prix de Lausanne International Ballet Competition 50 years

Premiere video and photo exhibition retracing the history and behind-the-scenes of the Prix de Lausanne

The Prix de Lausanne has produced many world-class performers and has contributed greatly to the advancement of ballet art and culture. Reaching peak performance in classical ballet calls for exceptional physical, mental, technical and artistic skills. The Prix de Lausanne firmly advocates the principle that in order to be a good dancer, one must be in good physical and mental health. Since 2000, a health check has been introduced in the registration procedure in collaboration with a specialized consultant physician. Physical, mental and social awareness is fostered for the holistic development of the young dancers.

In Japan, many young talents have participated in the highly demanding competition, and more than 80 dancers have won prizes, including Miyako Yoshida, Tetsuya Kumakawa, Mizuka Ueno, and Shoko Nakamura, who have since gone on to perform brilliantly in Japan and abroad. This exhibition is a rerun of the exhibition held at the Lausanne Museum of History (LMH) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Prix de Lausanne. A special exhibit will be dedicated to the Japanese dancers, recounting the history of the grand concours and the birth of the top performers through photographs, films, and documents. Organized by Bunkamura, which continues to pioneer the future of ballet through its “Orchard Ballet Gala” and other activities, the event will offer take visitors behind the scenes of the Prix de Lausanne, offering a glimpse into how it became one of the world’s best ballet concours.

In addition, on this occasion, a special talk will be held on February 10 at 19:00, featuring Kosuke Yamamoto, Shoko Nakamura, and Kenta Kojiri. The latter two will share their in-person stories of how their circumstances have changed since winning the competition. They have both experienced the Prix de Lausanne. Kosuke Yamamoto, who has been observing the competition from the perspective of a longtime commentator will share his perspectives and comment on the results of this year’s 50th Anniversary concours, which will take place a few days before the event. The talk event will offer a unique experience not only for the fans of the three speakers, but also for fans of the Prix de Lausanne and those who intend to participate in the competition in the future. Kenta Kojiri is one of the Ambassadors for our communication program “Vitality.Swiss”.

Exhibition
Date: February 3 (Mon) – February 15 (Wed)
Time: 10:00-19:00 (Except for February 3, when it closes at 18:00)
Venue: Bunkamura Gallery (2-24-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)
Free entry

Talk event
Date: February 10 (Fri)
Time: 19:00-  (18:00- door open)
Venue: Bunkamura Lobby Lounge (2-24-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)
Fee: 2,800 yen

Registration: Please register through Bunkamura HP from February 20.

Organized by: Bunkamura, Musee de l’Histoire de lausanne (MHL) / Supported by: Embassy of Switzerland in Japan / Vitality.Swiss / Funded by: Presence Switzerland, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Supported by: Chacott｜Special Cooperation: Prix de Lausanne, Swiss Performing Arts Foundation (SAPA)｜Produced by: atelier oï, Uchida Design Institute