Dance Awards

The Nederlandse Dansdagen gives an impulse to Dutch dance by supporting emerging talent with guidance and prizes. The innovation prize Nederlandse Dansdagen Maastricht and the prestigious Zwanen each individually and jointly highlight current developments and exceptional dance talent.

THE INNOVATION PRIZE NEDERLANDSE DANSDAGEN MAASTRICHT
Starting this year, the Innovation Prize Nederlandse Dansdagen Maastricht will be awarded for the first time. However, the price is not new. Earlier this year, the Nederlandse Dansdagen decided to merge the two existing festival prizes, the Prize of the Nederlandse Dansdagen Maastricht and the Prize of the Nederlandse Dansdagen Jong Publiek, into one prize. The Innovation Prize still highlights current developments and exceptional talent, but does not make the distinction between a young and an adult audience. This puts all creators who qualify for this prize in an equal position. With additional support from the Municipality of Maastricht, the available amount of money will be increased to €25,000 to give the winner more clout in producing his ideas. The new work or creation process will be presented for the first time during the Dutch Dance Days 2023. The prize is made possible in part by the Municipality of Maastricht.

THE SWANS
The Swans are the dance prizes of the Association of Theater and Concertgebouw Directors (VSCD). These 'Oscars' of Dutch dance have been associated with the Nederlandse Dansdagen since 2003. All nominated companies, choreographers and dancers have delivered exceptional artistic quality in the past season. The prize is a beautiful bronze sculpture made by choreographer and visual artist Toer van Schayk. The VSCD Dance Awards for the 2019/2020 & 2020/2021 season were awarded during the last edition of the Dance Days.

Swans are presented in two categories: the Swan for most impressive dance performance and the Swan for most impressive dance production.
In addition, the VSCD also awards the Golden Swan. This prize is presented to a dancer or choreographer working in the Netherlands who has made a major contribution to Dutch dance with his or her career. The Golden Swan has no nominations and is not awarded annually.

THE YOUNG SWANS

This year the Young Swans will be awarded for the first time. The Nederlandse Dansdagen and the Sounding Board Group Youth Dance are entering into a new collaboration with the VSCD. Together they will award the Young Swan in two categories: for the most impressive youth dance production and for the most impressive youth dance performance. This new dance prize was established at the initiative of the entire youth dance field, as recognition for the quality and innovative capacity of youth dance.