Rome Dance Prize (National Dance Academy)

The Rome Dance Prize in Rome

The Rome Dance Prize is one of Italy's most significant competitions dedicated to young choreographic talent. Promoted by the National Dance Academy in Rome, it takes place every year at the start of summer at the institution's historic headquarters on the Aventine Hill, just a stone's throw from the Baths of Caracalla. It is a landmark event in the city of Rome and the Lazio region for anyone following contemporary dance and movement research.

An international competition for young creators

The prize is aimed at emerging choreographers and authors who find here a professional showcase and a springboard to the European scene. The competition is divided into two main areas: Choreography, with solo and group categories, and Dance Film, which includes the Dance Movie and SmARTphone Dance sections, dedicated to storytelling through the cinematic lens. The competition is complemented by the Rome Capital Prize, which celebrates dance film works inspired by the city's landscapes.

Prizes, residencies, and opportunities

What sets the Rome Dance Prize apart is the tangible nature of the opportunities offered to winners: not just financial awards, but above all prestigious artistic residencies at leading international institutions. Partners for these residencies include companies and organizations such as:

• ICK Amsterdam, the creative hub founded by Emio Greco and Pieter C. Scholten;
• the Agora Coaching Project by the MM Contemporary Dance Company, directed by Michele Merola;
• the Equilibrio Dinamico company directed by Roberta Ferrara;
• European institutions linked to the State Ballet, which pave the way for international experience.

These are joined by training workshops, professional collaborations, the National Dance Academy Foundation Prize, and the special award from the Pierino Ambrosoli Foundation, with cash prizes reaching up to 3,500 euros to support choreographic creation on prestigious stages.

European-level juries

Finalist works are evaluated by international juries bringing together theatre and company directors, choreographers, and critics. The Choreography section is entrusted to figures of the caliber of Christian Spuck, Beate Vollack, Roberto Scafati, Ugo Ranieri, and Marinella Guatterini, while the Dance Film section involves audiovisual experts linked to European dance film festivals.

The National Dance Academy

Founded in 1948, the National Dance Academy is the only Italian state institution for higher education dedicated to dance. With its Ruskaja Theatre, named after its founder Jia Ruskaja, it offers the Prize a unique setting where the tradition of the great Roman school meets the experimentation of new generations. Attending the finals means entering the beating heart of Italian dance and observing the talents who will grace tomorrow's stages.