The judges joining John will be:

• Kenneth Kvarnström, choreographer
• John Pawson, architect and designer
• Lemn Sissay, poet
• Kathleen Soriano, curator and gallery director
• Jenny Waldman, events producer and consultant

During semi-finals performances between 10 and 13 September the new works of the 20 choreographers commissioned in April to compete for The Prize will be performed for the judges. On Saturday 13 September they will select five finalists, who will go on to compete for £25,000 prize.  The winner of The Place Prize, Europe's largest choreography competition, will be announced on Saturday 27 September. Uniquely the audience will also be able to vote on which choreographers reach the finals and on the winner of the competition. The judges have deliberately been chosen from a wide range of artistic fields in order to assess the pieces' broad appeal.

The Place Prize for Dance is the dance world's cross between the Turner Prize and the X Factor, with the former's celebration of artistic excellence and the latter's knack for uncovering new talent with the help of a live audience. It is produced by The Place, the UK's premier centre for contemporary dance.

With diverse experience, backgrounds and themes for their works, this year's participants hope to follow in the successful footsteps of former finalists including Hofesh Shechter, Rafael Bonachela and Nina Rajarani. The biennial competition is now in its third edition, and by the end of this year's event The Place Prize will have invested £750,000 in developing choreographic talent, including a total commissioning, performing and prize fund of £165,000 for this year's participants.

JUDGES

Kenneth Kvarnström is a choreographer based in Sweden and Finland, and recently resumed his choreographic career after four years serving as Artistic Director of Dansens Hus, Stockholm, Sweden's leading dance venue.

Lemn Sissay is Poet in Residence at Southbank Centre. A public art work created in collaboration with Michael Visocchi, entitled The Gilt of Cain, will be unveiled in the City of London in September, and his latest collection of poems, Listener, will be published by Canongate in October 2008.

John Pawson is an architect and designer whose recent works include the Sackler Crossing at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RIBA National Award winner 2008), the Cistercian Monastery of Our Lady of Novy Dvur in the Czech Republic and set designs for The Royal Ballet's Chroma, choreographed by Wayne McGregor.

Kathleen Soriano, curator and gallery director, is currently Director of Compton Verney art gallery in Warwickshire, having previously been Head of Exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery. In January 2009, she takes up the position of Director of Exhibitions at the Royal Academy of Arts.

Jenny Waldman, events producer and consultant, is responsible for the acclaimed programme of public events at Somerset House, which ranges from films to rock concerts to ice-skating. She was previously Director of Arts Centre Programmes at Southbank Centre.

KEY DATES:

Tuesday 2, Thursday 4, Saturday 6, Monday 8 September

• Preview Performances

Wednesday 10 - Saturday 13 September

• Semi-Final Performances

Saturday 13 September

• Announcement of five finalists

Wednesday 17 - Saturday 27 September (not Sunday 21 September)

• Finals Performances

Saturday 27 September at 10.30pm

• Announcement of The Place Prize Winner 2008

For further information on The Place Prize please contact Farah Lyner on 020 7121 1025 / or Tim Wood on 020 7121 1021 /

Notes to Editors

• The Place is the UK's premier centre for contemporary dance: an unrivalled centre for dance training, creation and performance.  The Place is located at 17 Duke's Road, London WC1H 9PY
• The Place Prize is internationally recognized as a major new landmark event on the UK dance calendar.  With £130,000 invested in the creation and performance of new works and £35,000 more in prize money, it is the largest and most significant choreography competition in Europe.
• The Place Prize is funded through ticket revenue, support from Arts Council England and sponsorship by Bloomberg.
• Tickets for the preview performances, semi-final performances and finals performances at The Place's Robin Howard Dance Theatre will be on sale from July 2008, box office: 020 7121 1100.
• Lanson is the champagne sponsor for The Place Prize

Published: 26 August 2008