What is The Place Prize?
The UK's foremost choreographic competition. In three editions to date, it has invested nearly £750,000 in new dance. The Place Prize puts contemporary British dance in the limelight, celebrating and illuminating it for audiences both familiar and new.
Who can enter?
Any UK-based professional contemporary dance artist (apart from the three previous winners of The Place Prize). Entrants have included recent graduates, emerging artists, classical dancers who have choreographic ambition and senior, established choreographers. The overall standard is extremely high – but it’s those with the strongest ideas for a new work which stand out.
What do you mean by contemporary dance?
We don't mean contemporary dance as a description of a style. We mean any dance which is a fresh reaction to the way the world is now.
What do you mean by professional?
We mean artists who earn a living at least in part through making dance. But really, in the end, it's not money that matters - it's attitude. The entrant must not be a full or part-time undergraduate or foundation course student in a degree-granting programme or equivalent for the duration of the entry process and competition – between January 2010 and May 2011. Neither the dancers nor other collaborators may be a full or part-time undergraduate or foundation course student in a degree-granting programme or equivalent between 19 July 2010 and 1 May 2011. Postgraduate students are eligible.
Why is entry anonymous?
We are looking for the strength of a choreographic idea, not personality or previous achievement. The entries will be assessed unattributed.
Why is entry by video?
Video is a means for entrants to show the commissioners the stimulus for their choreographic idea. We believe video is a more effective medium than written application.
Who judges the competition?
The entry videos will be assessed unattributed by an international panel of dance experts. A shortlist of 30-40 artists will be invited for an interview with the panel including staff from The Place and an outside dance expert, who together will award the commissions. One of the commissions will be chosen as a finalist by getting the highest average score in an audience vote. The remaining finalists will be selected by a panel of dance experts (not staff of The Place), chaired by Eddie Nixon, Director of Theatre and Artist Development at The Place. During the finals, nightly awards of £1,000 will go to the best work of the evening as voted for by the audience. A new panel of judges, again chaired by Eddie Nixon, will choose the overall winner.
What are the criteria for judging?
This is a competition to find the best choreography, but it does not have specific criteria. The commissioners will assess the quality of the proposed idea - vision, imagination and creativity of approach as demonstrated in the video and at presentations by short listed artists. The subsequent deliberations by the judges following performances are private.
Can I apply again if I was previously unsuccessful?
Yes, previous entrants – whether their entry was commissioned or not – may enter again in any future year, with a new proposal. Previous winners of The Place Prize may not enter.
Can I submit collaborative work?
Each work must have a single named choreographer (or no more than two co-choreographers). Collaborators working with the choreographer are welcome. 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.
Is it necessary to secure funding in order to apply?
No. Commissioned choreographers may wish to apply for additional support from other sources.
Are soloists eligible?
Yes.
Can the 3 minute video include previous choreographic work?
Yes, as long as you make clear that it is a previous work or part of research and development for a new work. You must make clear how the footage has direct relevance, and is illustrative of the new work.
Can I enter a piece that has already been created and, if shortlisted, use the rehearsal space to re-rehearse it?
No, you must apply with an idea to create a new piece of work. You may have undergone a period of research and development in relation to the new work but it must not have been produced or performed in a finished state.
I'm busy over the summer. If commissioned, could I make the work at another time?
Yes, but we cannot provide a studio. You must be ready for technical rehearsals in the week of 16 August 2010.
I'm based outside London, and would like to rehearse locally. Will you help with the costs?
Choreographers based outside London will be reimbursed for the cost of local rehearsal space equivalent to that provided for artists working at The Place. We will also cover the cost of travel from your base and accommodation costs for you and your collaborators to attend technical rehearsals. Should the work be selected for the finals, accommodation will also be provided for the run of performances at The Place.
Am I allowed to show my Place Prize commissioned piece in a different venue prior to the Place Prize previews?
No, but you may show a private informal sharing.
What will happen to those pieces which are not selected for the final?
They will belong to the choreographers who may present them again at The Place and elsewhere, or may develop them into longer works. Some are likely to be shown again under different circumstances at The Place at a later time. Producers from overseas will visit the competition, and may extend performance invitations as a result. All the above is also true of works selected for the finals at the conclusion of those performances.
Can a finalist work be developed between the semi-finals and finals performances?
We understand and welcome how works naturally evolve over time and with repetition, and recognise that this will happen over the course of The Place Prize. It may also be necessary to replace performers. However, the work that is selected in the semi-finals is the one we want to see in the finals, so it should not be unduly altered.
How will you prevent a finalist inviting all their friends to a performance and voting for them?
They would win £1,000, true, but they would have to spend £1,500 on tickets to swing it, so what would be the point? Only ticket holders who watch the entire performance are eligible to vote, so that excludes anyone performing in a finalists piece. The Place Prize staff are not allowed to vote.
Does a winner have to spend the prize on dance?
No. The commission fees must be spent on creating a work for the competition, but the audience voted prizes of £1,000 and the £25,000 for the winner are cash for any purpose.
Is The Place Prize awarded at a ceremony?
The Prize will be awarded at a public ceremony shortly after the last performance of the finals at the The Place in April 2011.
What do I do if I’m unsure whether I’m eligible to enter, or I think that the entry criteria are unfair?
Contact us – we’ll be happy to discuss your specific issues and decide if we can accept your entry. Email enquiries@theplaceprize.com or call 020 7121 1049.
Adam Linder's Foie Gras (2008 Place Prize winner)
42q7mg.jpg "image from Cathy Marston's D)US(T")
Cathy Marston's D)US(T (2006 Place Prize semi-finalist)
Rosemary Butcher's Hidden Voices (2004 Place Prize finalist)
Ben Wright's This Moment is Your Life* (2008 Place Prize semi-finalist)
qtIiTA.jpg "image from Nina Rajarani's QUICK")
Nina Rajarani's QUICK (2006 Place Prize winner)
Tom Roden & Pete Shenton (New Art Club)'s The Short Still Show (2004 Place Prize finalist)