Prix Benois de la Danse

Prix Benois de la Danse
Name	Prix Benois de la Danse
Awarded for	Excellence in ballet and contemporary dance performance, choreography, and design
Presenter	International Dance Association (Fondation Internationale de Danse)
Country	Russia
Year	1991

Contents

Prix Benois de la Danse is an international ballet award established in Moscow to honor outstanding achievements in ballet performance, choreography, and design. Founded by leading figures from the Bolshoi Ballet, Moscow State Academy of Choreography, and the international dance community, the prize quickly garnered recognition from companies such as the Royal Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. Recipients include dancers, choreographers, and designers from institutions like the Mariinsky Theatre, La Scala, and the National Ballet of Canada, reflecting global exchange among artists from Russia, France, United Kingdom, United States, Japan, and Cuba.

History

The award was initiated in 1991 by a group including representatives from the Bolshoi Ballet, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Yuri Grigorovich, and administrators linked to the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Moscow City Government. Early ceremonies featured jurors from the Royal Opera House, Teatro alla Scala, and the Kirov Ballet (now Mariinsky Ballet), and nominations came from directors such as Kevin McKenzie, Anthony Dowell, and Sergei Vikharev. Over the years the prize has intersected with seasons at the Paris Opera, tours by the Kirov Ballet, premieres at the Kennedy Center, and collaborations involving choreographers like William Forsythe, Jirí Kylián, Alvin Ailey, and George Balanchine affiliates. The award evolved alongside festivals including the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Sadler's Wells Summer Series, and the Spoleto Festival USA, linking institutions such as the Royal Danish Ballet, Bolshoi Theatre School, and the Victorian College of the Arts.

Categories typically recognize Best Male Dancer and Best Female Dancer, Best Choreographer, Best Composer for dance, Best Designer, and Lifetime Achievement, aligning with careers at companies like the Staatsballett Berlin, Het Nationale Ballet, Bayerisches Staatsballett, Finnish National Ballet, and Australian Ballet. Criteria emphasize artistic excellence demonstrated in productions by ensembles such as the New York City Ballet, The Royal Ballet Northern Ballet, English National Ballet, and repertory including works by Rudolf Nureyev, Martha Graham, Pina Bausch, and contemporary pieces staged by Christopher Wheeldon, Alexei Ratmansky, Ohad Naharin, and John Neumeier. Nominations often reference performances in ballets like Swan Lake, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, and modern works premiered at venues including Teatro Colón, Mariinsky Theatre, and Bolshoi Theatre.

The jury comprises directors and artists from companies such as the Bolshoi Theatre, Mariinsky Theatre, Royal Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, La Scala Theatre Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and institutions like the Vaganova Academy, Paris Conservatory, and Juilliard School. Presidents and members have included figures affiliated with Yury Grigorovich, Benois de la Danse founders, maestros linked to Valery Gergiev, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, and artistic leaders like Tamara Rojo, Sergei Filin, Marcia Haydée, and Igor Zelensky. Organizational partners and patrons have involved cultural ministries from France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and support from foundations akin to the Heritage Foundation style philanthropic entities and private sponsors connected to arts organizations such as Theatre Royal Drury Lane donors and museum partners like the Hermitage Museum.

The annual ceremony is held in venues across Moscow and occasionally in cultural capitals aligned with partners from Vienna, Paris, New York City, and Tokyo. Past gala performances have featured soloists and corps de ballet from the Mariinsky Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and guest artists like Natalia Makarova, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Carlos Acosta, Sylvie Guillem, Irek Mukhamedov, and Alexei Yermolayev. Winners receive statuettes designed by artists with ties to ateliers in Saint Petersburg and awards comparable in prestige to the Benois statuette tradition, as well as engagements and repertoire invitations from houses like Opéra de Lyon, Het Nationale Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and touring circuits such as Dance Umbrella.

Laureates have included principal dancers and choreographers associated with companies like American Ballet Theatre stars, Royal Ballet principals, Mariinsky Theatre soloists, and innovators from Batsheva Dance Company, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Cuba National Ballet, and English National Ballet. Memorable performances cited by juries referenced stagings of Giselle by interpreters trained at the Vaganova Academy and premieres choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky, Wayne McGregor, William Forsythe, Joaquín De Luz collaborators, and reconstructed productions inspired by Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov, Michel Fokine, and George Balanchine archives. Recipients often went on to work with directors such as Ana Laguna, Kim Brandstrup, Carlos Acosta, Tamara Rojo, and music collaborators connected to Valery Gergiev, Gustavo Dudamel, and Simon Rattle.

The prize has influenced programming at institutions including the Bolshoi Theatre, Mariinsky Theatre, Royal Opera House, Teatro alla Scala, New York City Center, and festivals like Jacob's Pillow and La Biennale di Venezia. Critics from outlets referenced cultural coverage comparable to reviews in The New York Times, The Guardian, Le Monde, and Kommersant have debated the award’s role in career trajectories for dancers from the Vaganova Academy, Royal Ballet School, and School of American Ballet. The award continues to shape commissions, international exchanges, and guest appearances involving companies such as San Francisco Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Royal Danish Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Paris Opéra Ballet.

Category:Dance awards