NDT dancers win awards

19 November 2024

Several awards have been given to NDT dancers in recent weeks. Of course, we are very proud of this!

NDT 1 dancer Demi Bawon wins Piket Art Prize

The winners of the Piket Art Prizes 2024 were announced on Monday 18 November at Theater aan het Spui in The Hague. NDT 1 dancer Demi Bawon was awarded the Prize in the Dance category. The Piket Art Prizes are awarded every year to promising young professional artists in the fields of painting, dance and theatre.

Besides Demi, Ellen Yiu (Painting) and Patsy Kroonenberg (Drama) were also among the winners. They receive a cash prize of 6,000 euros and a unique work of art, the Hammer, designed and created by artist Joep van Lieshout. The Piket Jury Prize goes to Jane Huldman (former project manager Stroom Den Haag).

“The winners are all praised by the jury led by chairman Majel Blonden (director of Paard) for their versatility and talent, but the other nominees – a total of three per category – are also extraordinary in their disciplines. That is why, starting this year, they will also receive 3,000 euros with which they can boost their careers in the arts,” says Marie Jeanne de Rooij, director Piket Art Prizes.

Demi enchants the audience

According to expert judges Erik Kaiel (dance collective Arch8) and Mitchell-lee van Rooij (Korzo), Demi Bawon, dancer with top company NDT 1, knows how to capture the audience’s attention like no other. “Demi enchants the audience with her calm charisma, leaving them with no choice but to keep watching her spellbound.”

 

About the Piket Art Prizes

The Piket Art Prizes have been awarded since 2014 to young artists with a connection to The Hague, either because they have flourished there or because their work makes a stimulating contribution to The Hague’s cultural climate. Namesake Frederik Hendrik Piket (1927-2011), lawyer and member of the Upper House for the CHU (later CDA), was a great lover of art and culture. After his death, a foundation was created to annually encourage promising, professional artists up to the age of 30 with the Piket Art Prizes.

Demi in 'About Now' by Noé Soulier. Photo: Rahi Rezvani

Aanmoedingsprijzen Dansersfonds

Last week, Dansersfonds ‘79, founded by Alexandra Radius and Han Ebbelaar, announced the winners of the longest-standing Dutch dance awards. This year, two Incentive Awards for Young Dutch Dancers were awarded to two (former) NDT dancers: Demi Bawon (NDT 1) and Nova Valkenhoff (NDT 2 dancer from 2021-2024).

This year’s Merit Prize was awarded to dancer Tim Persent, originally from South Africa, who has been one of the figureheads of Dutch contemporary dance for decades. A so-called Special Prize was also awarded this year, namely to Timothy van Poucke, the first Dutch dancer since 1995 to achieve the rank of male soloist with the Dutch National Ballet.

Nova Valkenhoff receives the prize. Photo: Antoinette Mooy
Demi Bawon with her Aanmoedingsprijs. Photo: Antoinette Mooy
Awards ceremony during anniversary celebrations Dansersfonds
The Dansersfonds Prizes are the longest-standing Dutch dance awards and were established in 1979 at the initiative of the founders of the Dansersfonds: Alexandra Radius and Han Ebbelaar. This year’s awards ceremony took place on Monday 11 November, during the Ballet Gala, at DeLaMar, Amsterdam. The fund celebrated its 45th anniversary on that occasion.
Nova and Demi (far right) during the Ballet Gala together with Princess Beatrix, Han Ebbelaar and Alexandra Radius and other award winners. Photo: Antoinette Mooy