The judges joining John will be:

• Kenneth Kvarnström, a choreographer based in Sweden and Finland.  He recently resumed his choreographic career after four years serving as Artistic Director of Dansens Hus, Stockholm, Sweden's leading dance venue.
• Lemn Sissay, 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, 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, a curator and gallery director, who 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, an events producer and consultant.  She 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.

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.