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| German Dance Prize (Deutscher Tanzpreis) | |
|---|---|
| Name | German Dance Prize (Deutscher Tanzpreis) |
| Awarded for | Outstanding achievement in dance and choreography |
| Presenter | Dachverband Tanz Deutschland |
| Country | Germany |
| First awarded | 1983 |
German Dance Prize (Deutscher Tanzpreis) is a national award recognizing excellence in dance and choreography within Germany and across the European Union cultural sphere. Established in 1983, the prize has honored performers, choreographers, institutions and educators connected to major companies such as the Staatsballett Berlin, Ballett der Deutschen Oper am Rhein, Saarländisches Staatstheater, and figures associated with festivals like the Tanz im August and the ImPulsTanz festival. The prize is administered by the national association now known as the Dachverband Tanz Deutschland and its ceremonies have been hosted in venues including the Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and the Kölner Philharmonie.
The prize was created in 1983 through collaboration among organizations such as the Deutscher Bühnenverein, the Landesverband Tanz, and municipal cultural offices in cities like Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Cologne. Early recipients included artists linked to institutions such as the Stuttgarter Ballett, the Hamburgische Staatsoper, and the Bayerisches Staatsballett, while award ceremonies often featured performances by companies like the Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden and ensembles from the Theater Basel. Over time, the prize expanded its networks to encompass contemporary platforms such as the Tanzplattform Deutschland, collaborations with the Goethe-Institut, and partnerships involving foundations like the Kunststiftung NRW and the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz.
The award recognizes lifetime achievement, artistic innovation, pedagogical contribution, and institutional leadership connected to entities including the Folkwang Hochschule, the Palucca Hochschule für Tanz Dresden, and the Codarts Rotterdam exchange. Criteria emphasize sustained artistic excellence in works presented at venues such as the Sophiensaele, the Hebbel am Ufer, and festivals like the Festival d'Avignon and Venice Biennale. Recipients have included dancers who performed with the Royal Ballet, the Paris Opera Ballet, and the New York City Ballet, as well as choreographers whose commissions were staged by the Ballett Zürich and the Het Nationale Ballet.
Categories have ranged from a main lifetime achievement prize to honors for emerging artists, companies, and educators, with laureates drawn from networks connected to the Komische Oper Berlin, the Staatstheater Nürnberg, and the Münchner Kammerspiele. Notable winners have had careers intersecting with figures such as Pina Bausch, Twyla Tharp, William Forsythe, Sasha Waltz, John Neumeier, Krzysztof Pastor, Ailey-affiliated artists, and directors from institutions like the Volksbühne and the Berliner Ensemble. Companies and institutions recognized include the Ballett des Opernhaus Zürich, the Theater an der Wien, and conservatories linked to the Royal Conservatory of The Hague.
The selection process involves nomination and evaluation by panels comprising representatives from organizations such as the Dachverband Tanz Deutschland, the Deutscher Kulturrat, festival directors from Tanz im August, critics from publications like Die Zeit and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and artists associated with companies including the Wuppertal Tanztheater and the Münchner Biennale. Juries have included choreographers, artistic directors, educators from the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, and curators who work with venues like the Kampnagel and the Gasteig. International advisors from institutions such as the Institut Français and the British Council have occasionally participated.
Ceremonies are staged in major cultural venues including the Konzerthaus Berlin, the Stadttheater Augsburg, and the Opernhaus Zürich, and typically include performances by ensembles linked to the Light Opera of Vienna, contemporary collectives, and student groups from the Codarts and the Palace of Arts. Media coverage appears in outlets such as the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Die Zeit, and cultural broadcasters like Deutsche Welle and ZDF, while industry responses come from unions and associations like the Ver.di cultural sector and the Deutscher Kulturrat.
The prize has influenced repertoire commissioning, funding decisions by bodies such as the Kulturstiftung des Bundes and regional ministries in Nordrhein-Westfalen and Bavaria, and career trajectories for artists who later joined companies like the Het Nationale Ballet and the New York City Ballet. Its legacy includes strengthened ties between conservatories such as the Folkwang Universität der Künste and professional houses like the Staatsballett Berlin, increased visibility at festivals including ImPulsTanz and Tanz im August, and contributions to scholarship through collaborations with institutions such as the Saxon State and University Library Dresden and archives like the Deutsches Tanzarchiv Köln.
Category:Dance awards Category:German awards