The 2025 pre-jury consists of:
- Alexander van Turnhout – Performer and choreographer
- Polina Skarga – Experimental battle dancer
- Mohammed Yusuf Boss – Dancer, choreographer and theatremaker
- Astrid Boons – Performer and choreographer
- Mischa van Leeuwen – Founder RIDCC, former dancer at Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, choreographer
Alexander van Turnhout
Alexander Vantournhout (born in Brussels, 1989) is choreographer of Not Standing, a Belgium-based circus and dance company.
He studied single wheel and juggling at ESAC (Ecole Supérieure des Arts du Cirque) and contemporary dance at P.A.R.T.S. (Performing Arts Research and Training Studios) in Brussels.
His physical language is influenced by a varied education and diverse working experiences. However, it is characterized by two constants: his exploration of the creative and kinetic potential in physical limitations, and the interaction or boundary between performer and object.
Since 2014 he has created more than 10 shows, ranging from solo’s to group pieces, which have been touring intensely in Europe and beyond. His shows have been awarded several times and in 2024 he received the Ultima, Belgium’s highest recognition for performing arts. He is artist in residence at arts centre VIERNULVIER in Ghent (BE) and associate artist of le CENTQUATRE in Paris (FR).
Polina Skarga
Polina Skarga, 23, born in Ukraine but now living in Amsterdam, is a versatile dancer and choreographer. She received her master’s degree in choreography from Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University and has a broad background in various dance styles, including contemporary, experimental, dancehall and folk dance, in addition to classical and street disciplines. Polina has impressive achievements, including winning the Open Your Mind (OYM) festival in the ‘2 on 2 experimental’ category in 2022. She also has solid experience in solo performances and won the title ‘Improvisation Solo’ at the Ukrainian championship The Challenge. Her striking performances, such as Self-Portrait in 17.55 Minutes and Exploring Own Boundaries, illustrate her ability to combine emotion and story with her dance movements. In addition, Polina has collaborated with several creative groups and dance crews, including CULT and PIZDEC, where she has contributed to the cultural development of Ukraine.
Mohammed Yusuf Boss
Mohamed Yusuf Boss is a talented dancer, choreographer, and theater maker, born in 1986 in Hargeisa, Somalia, and now based in Groningen. He draws inspiration from hip-hop culture and the “each one teach one” principle, which forms the core of his artistic vision. Under the name X_YUSUF_BOSS, he collaborates with creative producer Mark Fischer to create a platform that provides space for diverse stories, where everyone has a place to share their story.
In 2019, Mohamed was recognized with the Groninger Talent Award, a prestigious prize awarded by the province of Groningen and the Prins Bernhard Culture Fund. His influence in the cultural sector grew further when his 2022 performance LíX won the BNG Bank Culture Prize, an important award for young talent.
He has created several successful performances, including SHAN(2016), AFAR (2019), KÓW (2020), and LíX (2022). In addition, he created the performance LABAN in 2022 in collaboration with the renowned dance company Club Guy and Roni.
His latest work, TOBAN, which emerged after an exchange with South Africa, will premiere on November 9, 2024.
Astrid Boons
Astrid Boons (1988, Belgium), is a choreographer and performer. Astrid graduated from The Royal Ballet School of Antwerp (BE). She holds a BA Dance from Codarts (NL) and a BA of Arts (Honours) in Humanities (Art History and Philosophy) from the Open University (UK). As a dancer Astrid worked with Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, NDT 1, GöteborgsOperansDanskompani, NDT 2 , Dansgroep Amsterdam and Dansgroep Krisztina De Châtel.
Getting known in the European dance scene for her emotionally demanding pieces and her strongly embodied states, Boons’ creations offer a space to deeply experience the body as the site of boundaries and expansion between us and the world. She creates work with a distinctive female perspective foregrounding the subjective connectivity as a form of resistance, together with the continuous search for personal agency.
Alongside her work as a choreographer, Astrid is developing her movement practice which is derived from her choreographic research. She has taught in international companies and schools
Astrid is an associate artist with Korzo Theatre in The Netherlands between 2021-2025. In 2023 she premiered Khôra, for which the research residencies were held at Tanzplatform Rhein Main, Opera Ballet Flanders, The Norwegian Ballet and La Briqueterie. Khôra is currently touring internationally. In 2020 she made Crash for Dance Theatre Heidelberg. Other works include Do you believe me yet? (2022), Arise (2021), Fields (2019), Decay (2018), Vestige (2017) and Rhizoma (2016).
Former pre-jury members
- Simon Bus
- Micaela Taylor
- Angela Herenda
- Shailesh Bahoran
- Andrey ‘Drosha’ Grekhov
- Maria Chiara Mezzadri
- Matthew Pawlicki-Sinclair
- Tim Persent
- Dario Tortorelli
- Alida Dors
- Daan Vervoort
- Maya Roest
- Floor Eimers