Media Release

From the New Zealand School of Dance

31 October, 2005

New Zealand School of Dance placed alongside best in the world

At its recent meeting, the Artistic Committee of the prestigious Prix de Lausanne embraced the New Zealand School of Dance as a ‘partner school’. The Prix de Lausanne is an international competition with the primary objective of awarding training opportunities to talented 15-17 year-old ballet students who show the potential to become professional artists of the highest calibre.

Achieving the status of a partner school places the New Zealand School of Dance within a group of the top 25 dance conservatoires in the world. Around 120 candidates from 30 or so countries compete each year, in the hope of being selected for the final, reserved for the best 15 among them. The prize-winners are provided with an expense-free opportunity to spend a year improving their skills at one of the partner schools and, as a result of this decision by the Artistic Committee of the Prix de Lausanne, may now choose to study in Wellington at the New Zealand School of Dance.

The selection process involved two comprehensive evaluations of both the training and pastoral care provided for those studying at the New Zealand School of Dance. The evaluations were undertaken by Kathryn Wade of Britain’s Royal Ballet School and Arlette van Boven of Nederlands Dans Theater.

Alongside the School’s earlier recognition as a scholarship provider to the Youth America Grand Prix, this accolade affirms the international reputation of the New Zealand School of Dance.

Prime Minister and Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage, Helen Clark congratulated the New Zealand School of Dance on its new Prix de Lausanne partner school status and said, “It is good to see international recognition of the high quality training the New Zealand School of Dance provides, my congratulations go to the staff and supporters of the School, whose innovation, creativity, and dedication to quality, has earned it this prestigious position.”

ENDS