Prix de Lausanne
Prix de Lausanne is a non-profit international ballet competition founded in 1973 in Lausanne, Switzerland. It identifies young pre-professional dancers through global preselections and places 14 annual prize winners into scholarships and apprenticeships at major partner schools and companies worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersLausanne, Switzerland
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Prix de Lausanne does
Prix de Lausanne is a private, non-profit international ballet competition founded in 1973 and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. Its core function is talent identification and career placement for pre-professional ballet dancers aged roughly 15-18, operating as an annual flagship competition week at Beaulieu Theatre supplemented by a global preselection infrastructure: a Summer Intensive/European Preselection, a Latin American Video Preselection, an Asia-Pacific Preselection held in Macau, and a Japan Preselection. Each year 14 prize winners are selected and matched with scholarships or apprenticeships at partner schools and companies including the Royal Ballet School, American Ballet Theatre, English National Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet, Staatsballett Hannover, Junior Ballett Zürich, and Semperoper Ballett Dresden. The organization claims 100% placement for prize winners and points to a heritage alumni network — Carlos Acosta (1990), Steven McRae (2003), Darcey Bussell (1987), Marcelo Gomes (1996), Precious Adams (2014), Jean-Christophe Maillot (1977), Hannah O'Neill (2009) — as evidence of its position in the global ballet talent pipeline.
The underlying technology stack is modest and event-driven: a WordPress-based website hosting registration, news, podcasts, video-on-demand and live streaming; an e-commerce layer for branded merchandise and ticketing; and digital channels for video-based preselections. The 55th edition is scheduled for 31 January – 7 February 2027 at Beaulieu Lausanne. The product portfolio has been deliberately broadened over time beyond the flagship competition to include the Summer Intensive, Bourse vaudoise de danse (a regional Swiss scholarship), Swiss Workshop, Partner School Choreographic Project, Young Creation Award, a Networking Forum, podcast, and a digital video library — extending engagement across the calendar.
The business model is a hybrid non-profit arts funding construct with three revenue streams: (1) transaction-based ticket and VIP pack sales for competition week performances, Rising Stars events, and gala evenings at Beaulieu Theatre, with free entry for ages 6-18; (2) donations and sponsorships routed through Circle of Friends, American Friends, Young Friends membership programs, individual donations, and corporate partnership tiers; (3) hardware-style merchandising of branded apparel and accessories via the website. Go-to-market is event-driven and community-led, relying on global preselections for candidate acquisition, multi-channel content marketing (website blog, social via liinks.co, email newsletter, YouTube, press coverage) for top-of-funnel awareness, and a tiered donor/patron program for funding. No revenue, headcount, or financial figures are disclosed in available sources.
Prix de Lausanne firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Prix de Lausanne
- Legal name
- Prix de Lausanne
- Website
- https://prixdelausanne.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Prix de Lausanne is a non-profit international ballet competition founded in 1973 in Lausanne, Switzerland. It identifies young pre-professional dancers through global preselections and places 14 annual prize winners into scholarships and apprenticeships at major partner schools and companies worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Prix de Lausanne industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ballet Competition / Performing Arts Events
- NAICS
- Dance Companies (71112), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dance Competitions & Showcases (Non-Esports) (MPAGADAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI), Event & Tournament Sponsorship (Title/Presenting Sponsors, Official Suppliers) (MPAKALAB)
Keywords
Where Prix de Lausanne is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lausanne
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Prix de Lausanne business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Public tickets sold for competition week performances, Rising Stars events, and VIP packs at Beaulieu Theatre Lausanne.
- Donations and Sponsorships: Funding from Circle of Friends, American Friends, Young Friends membership programs, and individual donations. Corporate sponsorship from partners.
- Merchandising: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel and accessories through the website.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | General Admission Tickets |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Prix de Lausanne product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Prix de Lausanne is a non-profit organization that runs an annual international ballet competition for young dancers aged 15-18, awarding scholarships and apprenticeships with partner schools and companies worldwide. The organization supplements the main competition with global preselections (Summer Intensive in Europe, Latin American Video edition, Asia-Pacific in Macau, Japan), educational programs, awards, and a ticketed performance festival held at Beaulieu Theatre in Lausanne, Switzerland. Revenue is generated through ticket sales, donations, membership programs and branded merchandise.
Product overview
Prix de Lausanne is an annual international ballet competition for young dancers aged 15-18, founded in 1973 and held in Lausanne, Switzerland. The organization operates a multi-layered portfolio consisting of the core International Ballet Competition (the flagship annual event), supplemented by preselection programs (Summer Intensive, Latin American Preselection), scholarship initiatives (Bourse vaudoise de danse), educational programs (Partner School Choreographic Project, Swiss Workshop), awards (Young Creation Award), and digital services (live streaming, podcast, video content, merchandising, and Networking Forum). The portfolio is designed to discover exceptional young dance talent and provide pathways to professional careers through scholarships, apprenticeships, and industry connections with partner schools and companies worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- International Ballet Competition The flagship annual international ballet competition event in which young dancers aged 15-18 compete for scholarships and apprenticeships with partner schools and companies worldwide. Held each year at Beaulieu Theatre in Lausanne.
- Summer Intensive – International Preselection A week-long intensive training program and European preselection event held each July at Beaulieu Theatre, Lausanne, where candidates perform for the opportunity to advance to the main Prix de Lausanne competition.
- Latin American Preselection A video-based preselection edition for dancers from Latin American countries that qualifies participants for the main Prix de Lausanne competition.
- Bourse vaudoise de danse A scholarship award for young Swiss dancers, sponsored by Retraites Populaires, supporting dance education in the Vaud region of Switzerland.
- Partner School Choreographic Project A collaborative project between Prix de Lausanne and partner schools enabling choreographic creation and student participation in choreographic works.
- Swiss Workshop A workshop event for Swiss-based dancers providing training and networking opportunities within Switzerland.
- Young Creation Award An award recognizing young choreographers and dancers for creative contributions to contemporary dance.
- Rising Stars A ticketed performance event featuring emerging dance talent, complementing the main competition week at Beaulieu Theatre Lausanne.
- Merchandising Online store offering branded Prix de Lausanne merchandise including apparel and memorabilia, generating product sales revenue.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% placement rate for prize winners with partner schools and companies
Companies that use Prix de Lausanne
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Prix de Lausanne technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Prix de Lausanne partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Le Comptoir de BeaulieuminorRestaurant partnership during Summer Intensive (6-11 July 2026). Provides 20% discount for participants and accompanying persons. Offers lunch and dinner menus including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Saturday open house event on 11 July.
- Junior Ballett ZürichcoreNew partner school joining the Prix de Lausanne network. Provides apprenticeship and training opportunities for prize winners. Part of Opernhaus Zürich.
- Philadelphia Ballet & School of Philadelphia BalletcoreNew partner joining the Prix de Lausanne network. American ballet company offering employment and training pathways for prize winners.
- San Francisco BalletcoreOne of the oldest ballet companies in America joining as new partner. Provides opportunities for prize winners to join their company or school.
- Staatsballett HannovercoreGerman state ballet company becoming new partner. Part of Staatsoper Hannover, offering career opportunities for competition winners.
- English National BalletcoreLong-standing partner school/company. Notable prize winner Precious Adams (2014) joined as First Soloist. Part of the core network of employment partners.
- Royal Ballet SchoolcorePrestigious UK partner. Alumni include Steven McRae (2003), Darcey Bussell (1987). Provides scholarships for prize winners.
- American Ballet TheatrecoreMajor US partner company. Alumni include Marcelo Gomes (1996), Alban Lendorf. Accepts prize winners for employment.
- Semperoper Ballett DresdencoreGerman partner where Marcelo Gomes serves as Ballet Master and Artistic Director. Provides employment for prize winners.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Prix de Lausanne competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Varna International Ballet Competition: Varna IBC is one of the oldest and most prestigious international ballet competitions, held biennially in Bulgaria. It competes with Prix de Lausanne for elite young dancers, international visibility, and senior jury prestige.
- Youth America Grand Prix: YAGP is the world's largest international student ballet competition, running global preselections and a finals week in the United States. It directly competes with Prix de Lausanne for elite pre-professional dancers aged 9-19, scholarships, and partner school placements.
- Benois de la Danse: Benois de la Danse is an annual international dance award and competition, organized with UNESCO patronage, recognizing excellence in dance performance and choreography. Comparable in mission to Prix de Lausanne as a global dance talent showcase.
- Helsinki International Ballet Competition: Helsinki IBC is an international ballet competition held in Finland under the Finland Festivals organization. It is comparable to Prix de Lausanne as a Europe-based competition targeting the same elite pre-professional dancer cohort.
- Tanzolymp Berlin: Tanzolymp is an international dance festival and competition held in Berlin for young dancers. It operates a similar talent discovery and award format to Prix de Lausanne and competes for the same European candidate pool.
- Moscow International Ballet Competition: Moscow IBC is one of the most prestigious ballet competitions in the world, hosted in Russia. It competes with Prix de Lausanne for elite young dancers, jury recognition, and global brand visibility in the classical ballet community.
- Jackson International Ballet Competition: USA International Ballet Competition is a major international ballet competition held biennially in Jackson, Mississippi. It directly competes with Prix de Lausanne for elite young dancers and global brand visibility.
Broad incumbents
- Royal Ballet School: The Royal Ballet School is one of the world's most prestigious ballet training institutions and a long-standing Prix de Lausanne partner. Comparable as a leading ballet education body that hosts and supports PdL prize winners and alumni such as Darcey Bussell.
- American Ballet Theatre: American Ballet Theatre is one of the largest and most prestigious ballet companies in the US, a long-standing Prix de Lausanne partner that employs PdL alumni. Comparable as a major destination for ballet talent and as a brand incumbent in the global dance ecosystem.
Emerging players
- Prix de Rome (Netherlands): The Dutch National Prix de Rome is a prestigious Netherlands-based arts competition awarding emerging artists in various disciplines including dance and choreography. Comparable in mission structure (talent discovery and award) but with a broader artistic scope than Prix de Lausanne.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Prix de Lausanne social profiles
Digital presencePrix de Lausanne financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Prix de Lausanne leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Prix de Lausanne funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Prix de Lausanne M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Prix de Lausanne
What does Prix de Lausanne do?
The Prix de Lausanne is a non-profit organization that runs an annual international ballet competition for young dancers aged 15-18, awarding scholarships and apprenticeships with partner schools and companies worldwide. The organization supplements the main competition with global preselections (Summer Intensive in Europe, Latin American Video edition, Asia-Pacific in Macau, Japan), educational programs, awards, and a ticketed performance festival held at Beaulieu Theatre in Lausanne, Switzerland. Revenue is generated through ticket sales, donations, membership programs and branded merchandise.
Is Prix de Lausanne a public or private company?
Prix de Lausanne is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Prix de Lausanne founded?
Prix de Lausanne was founded in 1973. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Prix de Lausanne based?
Prix de Lausanne is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Prix de Lausanne make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are donations and Sponsorships and merchandising.
Who are Prix de Lausanne's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Varna International Ballet Competition, Youth America Grand Prix, Benois de la Danse, Helsinki International Ballet Competition, Tanzolymp Berlin, Moscow International Ballet Competition and Jackson International Ballet Competition. Broad incumbents are Royal Ballet School and American Ballet Theatre. Prix de Rome (Netherlands) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Prix de Lausanne have an API?
No public API is recorded for Prix de Lausanne.
What industry is Prix de Lausanne in?
Prix de Lausanne's product category is Ballet Competition / Performing Arts Events. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGADAH, Dance Competitions & Showcases (Non-Esports), with a secondary code of MPAGADAI, Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals. Its NAICS code is 71112 and its SIC code is 7990.