Ballet West and Lyon Opera Ballet to Receive Joyce Theater's Rudolf Nureyev Prize for New Dance

The Joyce Theater Foundation announces the selection of Ballet West and Lyon Opera Ballet as recipients of The Rudolf Nureyev Prize for New Dance, a $25,000 award established to support the commissioning of new works for large ballet companies, many of whom rarely perform in New York. The prize allows companies accustomed to performing large scale work to create new pieces for a smaller venue. In turn, the award provides audiences with the opportunity to experience these companies in The Joyce Theater's intimate setting. Previous recipients are Houston Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Ballet West, the 2014 recipient, has used the Rudolf Nureyev Prize to commission a new work by Helen Pickett, who performed with Frankfurt Ballet, has set pieces on such companies as Boston Ballet, Washington Ballet, and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, and is now resident choreographer of Atlanta Ballet. Entitled Games, the work will make its world premiere at The Joyce Theater during the company's March 2015 season.

Lyon Opera Ballet, the 2015 recipient, has used the Rudolf Nureyev Prize to create Sunshine, a work by Israeli-born French-based choreographer Emanuel Gat, who has previously set pieces on internationally acclaimed companies like Paris Opera Ballet, Sydney Dance Company, and the Royal Swedish Ballet. The work will make its New York premiere at The Joyce Theater during the company's April 2015 season.

The Rudolf Nureyev Dance Foundation - In tribute to Rudolf Nureyev, whose love of the new in dance sprang from a profound faith in ballet's traditional past, the Rudolf Nureyev Dance Foundation seeks to preserve and protect the history and tradition of dance while simultaneously encouraging its progress and development. Specifically, the Foundation aims to perpetuate Rudolf Nureyev's name, and to advance his vision and contribution to dance through its study, performance, and appreciation. Financially, through grants to benefit dance, the Foundation aims to carry on the legacy that Rudolf Nureyev has left behind-his extraordinary dedication to the art of dance.

The Joyce Theater Foundation, a nonprofit organization, has proudly served the dance community and its audiences for over three decades. Under the direction of founders Cora Cahan and Eliot Feld, Ballet Tech Foundation acquired and The Joyce Theater Foundation renovated the Elgin Theater in Chelsea. Opening as The Joyce Theater in 1982, the theater is named in honor of Joyce Mertz, beloved daughter of LuEsther T. Mertz. It was LuEsther's clear, undaunted vision and abundant generosity that made it imaginable and ultimately possible to establish the theater. One of the only theaters built by dancers for dance, The Joyce Theater has provided an intimate and elegant New York home for more than 360 domestic and international companies. The Joyce has also commissioned more than 150 new dances since 1992. The organization has long maintained a dance education program for schools, families, and adults, as well as residency and advisory programs for dancers and choreographers. Since 2009, The Joyce has been responsible for Dance Art New York (DANY) Studios, nine affordable studios, located at 38th Street and Eighth Avenue, that are appropriate for creation, rehearsals, auditions, and workshops. The Joyce's annual season includes approximately 48 weeks of dance with over 330 performances for audiences in excess of 135,000.

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