Korean dancer carries off main prize

Yuhui Choe impressed the judges with her contemporary variation Keystone

A Korean dancer, Yuhui Choe, has carried off the first prize at the Prix de Lausanne international competition.

Seventeen-year-old Choe, not content with winning a scholarship, also walked away with the contemporary interpretation prize on Sunday. Seven other dancers also received one-year study grants worth SFr14,000 ($8,150), which will allow them to attend a major school of their choice or serve an apprenticeship with an international company.

The jury, chaired by Swiss choreographer Martino Müller, also gave out six encouragement awards worth SFr1,000. Zurich’s Carrie-Ann Vail received the prize for best Swiss performer, while the Ukraine’s Milena Sidorova won the television viewers’ award.

The 30th Prix de Lausanne competition for young dancers drew candidates from 22 countries. More than 100 dancers competed in both classical and contemporary disciplines before a panel of judges, who selected the 15 finalists of whom four were boys.

The dancers had to perform two set variations, both classical and contemporary, as well as a free variation.

The Prix de Lausanne, which was created in 1972, is one the few annual international dance competitions. Over 2,700 candidates have taken part over the years.

Organisers said the competition “aims to give genuine impetus to the career of prize-winners”. Twenty Swiss have been among the laureates.

swissinfo with agencies