Why Top Ballet School Students Rarely Enter the Prix de Lausanne
Creatrip Team
6 months ago
The Prix de Lausanne is designed to give scholarships and study opportunities to talented 15–18-year-olds who lack access to elite ballet schools, so current students of top schools rarely enter. Founded by philanthropists Philippe and Elvire Braunschweig to help dancers disadvantaged by geography or finances, the competition offers winners placements and training at renowned institutions. Many prominent dancers have emerged via Lausanne, but the contest’s purpose differs from other major competitions (e.g., Jackson, Moscow) that serve semi‑pro or professional career advancement. As a result, finalists at Lausanne are often from countries without major national ballet companies and schools, such as Korea, Japan, China, Brazil and Australia. Winning Lausanne opens doors (offers from elite schools and companies), but does not guarantee stardom: professional companies require stamina for full-length productions, acting, ensemble work, and certain physiques, so laureates typically still start in the corps de ballet and must develop further to become soloists or stars.
