El Certamen Coreográfico de Madrid

The Certamen Coreogrfico de Madrid is an annual platform for new work in contemporary dance and contemporary ballet. It is open to all Spanish choreographers and to international choreographers who live and work in Spain. Founded in 1987 by Margaret Jova and Laura Kumin, and directed by Laura Kumin since 2000, the Certamen was created as a response to the growing number of emerging choreographers working in contemporary dance in Spain. Since then it has been instrumental in providing key support to contemporary dance artists and has helped to promote over 220 choreographers and 900 dancers. Some of the companies and choreographers who have received support at a crucial point in their professional development from the Certamen include Nats Nus, Provisional Danza, 10 10 Danza, Iaki Azpillaga, Aracaladanza, Damin Muoz Danza, Erre que Erre, Teresa Nieto, Olga Mesa, Enrique Cabrera, Jos Reches, Bebeto Cidra, Patricia Ruz, Thomas Noone, Roberto Olivn, Mar Gmez, Paloma Daz, Fernando Hurtado, Fernando Lima, and Thome Araujo. More than two generations of dance artists who have participated and been supported by the Certamen are now working throughout Spain and abroad. Many of them have outstanding recognition in the field, among them 10 y 10 Danza, Teresa Nieto, Chevi Muraday, and Carmen Werner, recipients of a National Dance Prize from the Spanish Ministry of Culture for their creative work. The Certamen offers: a meeting point for the participants, who come to Madrid from all over Spain and abroad, make new contacts that often result in creative collaborations, present their work in a professional theatre before an audience of general public, key people in the performing arts, presenters, journalists, etc. Individual participants also have a chance to meet with the jury. This informal meeting provides a framework for constructive feedback and is an extremely important aspect of the Certamen process. prizes, including cash, programming for works by winning choreographers as well as guest company invitations for the following year, funds for touring, and several international and national residencies for developing new work international promotion: each year the Certamen jury is comprised of a rich mix of national and international artists, programmers, festival directors, journalists, etc. Our aim is to help promising choreographers be seen by people who can be instrumental in helping them to develop their careers. Sometimes scholarships or new residencies are offered in this way. Certamen prize winners have had their work presented in the U.S., France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, the U.K. the Czech Republic... formative activities: The Certamen organizes a Choreographers and Composers Workshop. All choreographers selected to present their work in the Certamen are invited to attend this workshop free of charge, and per diems are offered to those who must travel to Madrid from other cities. The Workshop not only offers a chance to work with excellent artists and teachers, but also gives choreographers the opportunity to collaborate on the creative process together before the Certamen itself begins. The director of the Certamen Coreogrfico de Madrid is the Spanish partner and one of the founding members of Aerowaves, an initiative to promote young choreographers throughout Europe. Although the Certamen is primarily a Spanish event, and in this way addresses artists at a crucial point in their development, we are interested in and open to all kinds of collaboration with institutions, individuals and events in Spain and abroad that might help to promote emerging choreographers.