Burgos & New York International Choreography Competition 2025: Winners, Highlights & Prizes

Back for another year, the Burgos & New York International Choreography Competition held its grand final earlier this month at the Teatro Principal de Burgos. 

On 25 July, seven finalists took to the stage to compete for a total of €27,000 in cash prizes at the Burgos & New York International Choreography Competition.

This year’s contest officially kicked off on 21 July, featuring 20 dance pieces with participants from the UK, Italy, Spain, Taiwan, France, Cuba, Chile, the Dominican Republic and the USA.

The program featured street performances, workshops, urban dance battles and a choreography competition. Once again, the event served as both a stage and a platform for emerging choreographers to showcase their work and advance their careers.

All performances took place on a Harlequin Reversible Pro performance vinyl floor, continuing the long-standing partnership with Harlequin.
From the 20 original entries, seven pieces were selected for the final. First prize went to “Push and Pull” by Taiwanese choreographer Lai Hung-Chung, performed by Wu Shin-Jie and Chiu Po-Sheng. The piece earned unanimous praise from the jury, chaired this year by Mario Bermúdez, choreographer and founder of Marcat Dance. It also won the Audience Award, presented by Jose Antonio Eguren from Harlequin Floors Spain.

The second prize was awarded to “Lighea” by Italian choreographer Thomas Martino, performed by Sofia Fagioli and Daniel Rodríguez Domenech. The third prize went to “Olvídame,” a duet by Giovanni Gava Leonarduzzi and Lia Claudia Latini.

Fourth and fifth prizes were awarded to “Steady Hands” by Fonsi López, performed by Kino Luque and Paula Fernández, and “The Passenger” by American choreographer Nikolaos Doede, performed by Chiara Zincone and Álvaro Olmedo.

The SóLODOS en Danza Prize, which grants direct access to the Costa Rica festival, was awarded to Chey Jurado for “Asceta,” a piece presented in the Danza en el Camino category. The Sara Sáiz Prize went to Fonsi López for “Steady Hands”, which also received the La Gomera Choreographic Center Award.

Jury Awards

• First Prize (€9,000): Lai Hung-Chung — Push and Pull
• Second Prize (€6,000): Thomas Martino — Lighea
• Third Prize (€4,000): Giovanni Gava Leonarduzzi & Lia Claudia Latini — Olvídame
• Fourth Prize (€3,000): Fonsi López — Steady Hands
• Fifth Prize (€2,000): Nikolaos Doede — The Passenger

Audience Award

• Audience Award (€1,000): Lai Hung-Chung — Push and Pull

Special Awards

• Sara Sáiz Prize (€2,000): Fonsi López — Steady Hands
• La Gomera Choreographic Center Prize: Fonsi López — Steady Hands
• SóLODOS en Danza Prize: Chey Jurado — Asceta

Image credits: Ana Yñañez