For the first time, a choreographer from the Chinese mainland has been shortlisted for one of the UK’s most prestigious dance awards — the Rose International Dance Prize.

Redefining Movement through Minimalism

Tao Ye, who has been nominated for the prize, showcases precision, repetition and raw physical intensity in his latest double bill, 13&14. Without narration or decorative staging, the work strips dance back to what Tao describes as its most essential form — the body in motion.

“Being nominated for the Rose Prize means a lot to me. We’ve performed at Sadler's Wells Theatre six times since 2011, and it has witnessed the growth of our dance company,” Tao Ye says. “It’s exciting to return to London and present my new work there — I’m really thrilled about it.”

Tao founded TAO Dance Theater in 2008, and his latest work 13&14 explore shifting relationships between bodies through movements and group dynamics. He is widely recognized for a minimalist choreographic language that tests physical endurance and spatial awareness.

“The body is, in essence, a vessel of all living things. When you use your body to express your thoughts, it can resonate with everything,” Tao explains. “In a shared space, through the dialogue between bodies and the exchange of energy, each person can connect with their own inner world.”

A Prize Redefining Choreography

Dance has long been a global art form, but major international awards dedicated specifically to choreography remain relatively rare.

Often described as the dance world’s equivalent of the Booker or Turner Prizes, the biennial award The Rose International Dance Prize aims to fill that gap — recognizing works that push the boundaries of movement and redefine what dance can be.

“I think the whole world is looking at dance and thinking, this is something which expresses what we are today in all the complexity that there is,” says Sir Alistair Spalding, Artistic Director of Sadler’s Wells. “This is the artform that will shine through. So, I want to put that on the platform and say to people, if you haven't experienced dance, come and see it.”

Celebrating Diverse Voices in Dance

This year’s shortlist brings together choreographers from across the world, with works spanning deeply personal narratives and collective histories.

From re-imaginings of movement vocabulary, to explorations of cultural identity, and intimate reflections on love, motherhood and loss — the selected pieces reflect the expanding scope of contemporary choreography.

“Dance has its own language. It can say what words can't say,” says choreographer and director Kate Prince, “This prize is connecting people in the dance community globally and making our work accessible. That's just bringing people together frankly at a time when we need the world to be brought together with positivity.”

The winner of the Rose International Dance Prize will be announced on February 6 2027. For many, the significance of the shortlist already reaches far beyond the award itself. It marks a moment of international recognition for choreographic innovation — and a growing global dialogue about what contemporary dance can be.

Nominees for the Rose Prize 2027

13 & 14 by TAO Dance Theater/Tao Ye (China) 

Lived Fiction by Stopgap Dance Company (UK) 

Umuko by Dorothée Munyaneza/Cie Kadidi (Rwanda/UK/France)

Delay the Sadness by S-E-D/Sharon Eyal (France)