Belgian choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker awarded ‘Nobel’ arts prize ‘Praemium Imperiale’

Contemporary dance choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker is among the winners of the prestigious Praemium Imperiale international arts award, reports RTBF.

Established in 1988 by the Japan Art Association, it is considered the "Nobel Prize for the Arts" and presented by the Emperor of Japan.

The Belgian choreographer and dancer is the winner in the "Performing Arts and Cinema" category of the annual award.  She is the second Belgian artist to win the prize following COBRA painter Pierre Alechinsky’s recognition in 2018.

Born in Mechelen in 1960, De Keersmaeker founded her internationally-renowned dance company Rosas in Brussels in 1988. It is currently performing her latest choreography Brel at the Avignon Festival.

The awards ceremony will take place in Tokyo on 22 October in the presence of His Imperial Highness Prince Hitachi, honorary patron of the Japan Art Association.

Here are the winners of the five categories:

• Painting: Peter Doig (United Kingdom)
• Sculpture: Marina Abramović (Serbia)
• Architecture: Eduardo Souto de Moura (Portugal)
• Music: András Schiff (UK/born in Hungary)
• Theatre/Film: Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker (Belgium)

Photo: ©Rosas