News

25th Burgos & New York International Choreography Competition

05.08.2026

The 25th Burgos & New York International Choreography Competition recently concluded with its Grand Final at the Teatro Principal de Burgos, bringing together outstanding choreographic talent from around the world.

The prestigious competition concluded on 24th July with a gala evening at the Teatro Principal in Burgos, celebrating some of the most exciting emerging voices in contemporary choreography. Albanian choreographer Mateo Mirdita was awarded the Jury’s First Prize for his production DADAlove.

Exploring themes of love, seduction and courtship through a Dadaist perspective, DADAlove captivated both the jury and audiences alike. Alongside the Jury’s First Prize (€9,000), the work also received the Audience Award (€1,000), recognising its powerful impact throughout the competition.

The Jury’s Second Prize (€6,000) was presented to Italian choreographer Francesco Paolino for Muga, a duet inspired by the Japanese concept of “non-self”, examining the liberation that comes from letting go of attachment, expectation and desire. The production also received the Staatstheater Augsburg Award.

Spanish choreographer Luis Tena claimed the Third Prize (€3,000) for Sweet Lure, a work inspired by the Curie point and the invisible forces that draw bodies together. Heung Wo Lee, from South Korea, received the Fourth Prize (€3,000) for Speechless, a poignant exploration of grief and vulnerability, while Italian choreographer Giovanni Napoli was awarded the Fifth Prize (€2,000) for Whispers of an Ending, an intimate reflection on the emotions that remain after a relationship comes to an end.

Several additional honours were presented by the competition’s partner organisations. The SóLODOS en Danza Prize, which includes direct entry to the Costa Rican festival, was awarded to Marilisa Gallichio and Alessia Sinato for Pack-Back. The Sara Saiz Prize (€2,000) went to Puentes de Luz, created by Marta Requejo and Jesús Rodríguez, while the La Gomera Choreographic Center Award was presented to Ildar Tagirov, following his Jury’s First Prize success at the competition in 2024.

Throughout the competition, all performances took place on a Harlequin Reversible Pro™ performance floor at the Teatro Principal in Burgos, providing competitors with a professional performance surface that delivers consistent traction, comfort and reliability for contemporary dance.

Jury Awards

First Prize (€9,000): Mateo Mirdita (Albania) – DADAlove. Also received the Audience Award
Second Prize (€6,000): Francesco Paolino (Italy) – Muga. Also received the Staatstheater Augsburg Award
Third Prize (€4,000): Luis Tena (Spain) – Sweet Lure
Fourth Prize (€3,000): Heung Wo Lee (South Korea) – Speechless
Fifth Prize (€2,000): Giovanni Napoli (Italy) – Whispers of an Ending