Jennifer Stahl's blog

For the past four decades, the Prix de Lausanne has introduced the world to the next generation of ballet stars. Alessandra Ferri, Leanne Benjamin, and Julie Kent all first broke through in the prestigious competition. This year, the Prix is launching a new master class series to offer students across the globe a chance to learn from a former winners.

Now that Nacho Duato is at the Mikhailovsky, his former junior troupe, Spain's Compañia Nacional de Danza 2, is singing a swan song for his choreography: the young contemporary ballet dancers are currently dancing in one final tour of Duato's works. This weekend, they're performing at The Skirball Center in New York City.

Japanese and American dancers in New York are coming together to put on a benefit concert to raise money for the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.

This weekend I was lucky enough to catch a performance of Protégés III: The International Ballet Academy Festival. This was the third time The Kennedy Center invited students from distant corners of the world to show off their elite training in our nation's capital.

This afternoon I got the chance to attend the presentation of the 2011 Martin E. Segal Awards. This year's recipients included School of American Ballet Student Meaghan Dutton O'Hara as well as filmmaker Laura Poitras. Each received $7,500 to advance their careers.

It's a bird, it's a plane—nope, it's Daniel Ulbricht.

Think you've got what it takes to be the next Christopher Wheeldon? Ballet Austin hopes so! The Texas company's biennial choreographic competition, New American Talent/Dance, is currently seeking entrants for the 2012 edition.

The contest brings the top three finalists to Austin to create a new 20-minute contemporary work on the Ballet Austin dancers. All three pieces of choreography will premiere in front of a renowned jury and a live voting audience in February 2012. Up to $20,000 is at stake.

Sometimes it seems like we spend our lives on Facebook—we chronicle our days, stalk our crushes, connect with long lost friends. Why not put social media to use to win a scholarship?

Northwest Dance Project is looking for two emerging choreographers to bring to Portland, OR for their third annual "Pretty Creatives" project.

Step into the creative process of some of New York City's most exciting up-and-coming choreographers. This month, Manhattan Movement & Arts Center is launching Playground, an open workshop series for professional dancers to experience a choreographer's method and movement ideas. Sponsored by Home4Dance, the mission is to build a community of artistic exchange. For just a $5 suggested donation, any professional dancer can spend a couple hours in the studio with one of several promising choreographers. The workshops take place every weekday from 1–3 pm starting on February 28.