Entries for The Place Prize have now closed.

Any UK-based choreographer is eligible to enter The Place Prize with an idea for an original work of 12-20 minutes in length. 16 works will be commssioned for the competition.

Entrants need to:

  • Complete and submit the entry form including uploading your video and still
  • Receive confirmation of your entry

The deadline for receipt of entries for The Place Prize 2010 was 6pm Friday 26 February 2010.

Guidelines

Three minute video
The aim of the video is to allow you to show the commissioners the stimulus for your choreographic idea. The video must include movement material. This can be complemented by speaking to camera or illustrated through images or music - or a combination. If you wish you may record a title on the tape but do not include credits as the tapes will be viewed anonymously.

The commissioners will be looking at content rather than the presentation of the material - don't be seduced by the media, it is merely a mechanism to convey your choreographic idea. The Place Prize is a competition for the creation of choreography, not dance for the screen; however video and new technology may be integrated as elements in the work.

We require that your video entries are:

  • No longer than 3 minutes
  • 40MB maximum in size 
  • At a frame rate of 25fps (this is the normal speed at which a camera will record)
  • Named with your full name e.g. JoeBloggs.mov 
  • .wmv (PC/Windows)or .mov (Apple)files. Both of these can be produced with the free editing software on the respective systems: Movie Maker on Windows, and iMovie on Apple. We have supplied a step by step manual as to how to create these file formats. If you have other editing software feel free to use that. It is only the end product we are interested in.

The maximum length is three minutes - additional footage will not be viewed. Your material must be recorded at the beginning of the tape with ten seconds of black at the start.

The still
You will also need to provide a ‘high quality’ screen grab from your original video (e.g. as a .jpeg or .tif; ‘deinterlace’ if possible). This will have a minimum resolution of something like 720x576 or 1024x576 from a PAL video. Again, we have provided step by step instructions alongside the video instructions as to how to achieve this.
The still is for use in promotional activities of the Place Prize. In previous years this has been selected by The Place but this year you get to choose the moment you wish to have frozen in time. It does not, in any way, affect your application which moment you choose. The Commissioners will not see your still.

The Entry form
The entry form is very simple so that you can put your time and energy into producing the video.

An email will be sent to you confirming receipt. Please print out the confirmation page after you have submitted your entry.

Selection process
Each entry will be viewed by a minimum of seven commissioners of which four will be Aerowaves partners.

Forty shortlisted entrants will be invited to give a ten minute presentation in their chosen format to three of the commissioners and the project manager explaining how they would develop their choreographic idea if selected. The presentation will be followed by a fifteen minute discussion. These sessions will be scheduled between Monday 12 April – Friday 16 April inclusive. More information about what needs to be supplied in this shortlisting interview will be supplied on entering the competition.

Sixteen of the shortlisted entrants will be offered a commission of £5,000. Additional monies may be awarded to ideas that have higher production costs. This could include larger casts or a need for specific technical provision. These awards will be given at the discretion of the commissioners and will be awarded at the initial point of offering. The full amount of each commission will not exceed £7,000. There is a total of up to £20,000 that can be awarded as additional monies.
Commissioned choreographers will be required to attend The Place Prize briefing on Wednesday 28 April 2010 at The Place.

Further Questions
If you need further information to help make your entry, please ensure you have looked to see if your query is covered in our frequently asked questions.

If you cannot find an answer to your question, email enquiries@theplaceprize.com or call on +44 (0)20 7121 1049. Leave your email address or phone number, and someone will get back to you.

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