The 2014 Dutch "SWAN" Awards, the "Oscars" of Dutch dance were announced October 5 in Maastricht, Holland where the yearly event takes place. The year's winners are:

Best production

The "Swan" for the best Dance production went to choreographer Ton Simons, well known in NY where he had his own company between 1982 and 1996 and was awarded three times, in 1991 (NY Foundation of the Arts) and in 1992 and 1993 (National Endowment for the Arts), next to several Dutch prizes.

The "Swan" was awarded for his choreography "Romance", which was created for Het Nationale Ballet, set on Mozart's 20th piano concerto and made in collaboration with internationally known photographer Rineke Dijkstra.

According to the jury "a triptych of a fabulous pas-de-deux, flanked by intriguing video, revealed what a monument of dance could be. What dance has to be!… a majestic portrait of just 12 minutes. Who captured Mozart this way, belongs to one of the great Dutch masters."

Simons made the piece for the young dancers Erica Horwood and Matthew Pawlicki-Sinclair, in which his signature of 'pure line' and musicality were cheered. Dijkstra's video captured the preparation of the dancers, seconds before they start dancing on stage and after their performance, the unwinding of their concentration.

Gold

The "Golden Swan" award was given to Larissa Lezhnina of Het Nationale Ballet, who was in 1994 the first Russian soloist coming to this company, where she delivered a important contribution. Her present was an indirect invitation to others to join the company.

Most impressive performance

Dancer Igor Podsiadly was given the "Swan" for the most impressive dance presentation in "Naked Lunch" of Dance Company Club Guy & Roni. The jury praised his versatility.

Pictured L to R: Ted Brandsen (director Het Nationale Ballet), Erica Horwood, Matthew Pawlicki-Sinclair, Ton Simons Photo © & courtesy of Jochem Jurgens