Ihsan Rustem and Rachelle Scott
Foto: Aline Paley / Prix de Lausanne
British/Swiss choreographer Ihsan Rustem was born in London (1982), where he trained at the Rambert School. He is Artistic Director of the Swiss dance company Cie. La Ronde, co-founded in 2020 with Cathy Marston and commissioned by the Steps Festival and Theater Winterthur, and the Resident Choreographer for the NW Dance Project in Portland, Oregon USA. With over 50 creations to date, his works have been commissioned and staged around the world for companies such as Nederlands Dans Theater 2, Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal, Sao Paulo City Ballet, Tanz Luzerner Theater, Konzert Theater St Gallen, Ballet Moscow, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago 2, Istanbul State Ballet, and Taipei National University of the Arts, amongst others. Nederlands Dans Theater named Ihsan as one of their Up & Coming Choreographers for the 2018/19 season. His work was awarded the Sadler’s Wells Global Dance Contest and Dance Magazine's 2017 Readers' Choice Award. Rustem is the former Director of the Ballettschule Luzern and in 2021 he joined the jury of the Prix de Lausanne. He is also a guest teacher at the ZHdK (Tanz Akademie Zürich, BA & MA). Between 2000-2014 Ihsan Rustem was a dancer with the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz Munich, Introdans (NL), Bern Ballet, Tanz Luzerner Theater and Adventures in Motion Pictures originating roles in creations by Wayne McGregor, Hofesh Shechter, Matthew Bourne, Stijn Celis, Patrick Delcroix, Cayetano Soto and working with choreographers Mats Ek, Jiri Kylián, Hans van Manen and William Forsythe, amongst others. Further info: www.ihsanrustem.com
Foto: Christian Knörr
Rachelle Anaïs Scott, a French/American choreographer from New York City, is currently based in Basel, Switzerland. Her choreographic work has been performed as an emerging artist by dance companies supporting aspiring choreographers, including Cedar Lake, Nürnberg Ballet, and Theater Basel. She has received awards from Dare 2 Dance Film Festival and the Mannheim Arts and Film Festival, among others. Rachelle collaborated with a Paris Opera artist for Room to Room, was featured in Blois Danse Festival 2022, and in September 2022, she created a visual art and dance collaboration with Kunstmuseum Basel and the Picasso/El Greco exhibition, premiering in Basel, Switzerland. Rachelle was selected for Orsolina28's Call for Creation residency in June 2023, and her most recent duet, "US," created for a research grant by the Canton of Basel-Stadt Department of Culture, was also presented in the Choreographic Competition Hannover37 in June 2023. Her newest creation will be premiered in the NUTIDA Nuovə danzatrici/ori Festival in June 2024. Rachelle Scott graduated from The Juilliard School with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and is a recipient of the Princess Grace Award from the United States and the Bavarian Arts Prize from Germany. rachelleanaisscott.com
Project
Rachelle Anaïs Scott, through her non-profit performing arts association, C.A.R.E (Cultural Arts & Research Exchange), is preparing to produce and choreograph “In the Unseen,” a multidisciplinary fusion of dance, live music, and visual art. This project, premiering in 2025, will be a new choreographic work by Rachelle, featuring a collaboration with Chilean conductor Rodolfo Fischer, visual artist Permi Jhooti from the UK/India, and Chilean composer Tomas Brantmayer, together with five Swiss-based dancers. Inspired by the Kawésqar people, an indigenous tribe in Chile, and their historical connection to Zurich’s Human Zoos, the performance explores profound cultural narratives.
Rachelle is at a crucial stage in her career, transitioning from dancer to producer/choreographer, which sparked her initial interest in applying for this mentorship. With the invaluable guidance of Ihsan Rustem, she will be meticulously crafting a detailed plan for this production in Switzerland. Ihsan’s mentorship will encompass creating a comprehensive concept dossier, collaborating effectively with venues, securing funding through foundations and sponsors, budgeting efficiently, and navigating the complex freelance artist landscape in Switzerland. Furthermore, Ihsan will provide an artistic eye and ongoing support throughout the creative process. This mentorship aims to act as a bridge, transferring essential knowledge and skills in the field of dance and choreography, enabling Rachelle to confidently navigate this significant transition in her career and bring her visionary project to life. Seeking Ihsan's mentorship, with his wealth of personal and professional experience, offers an unparalleled opportunity to create a clear path during this transformative period and adapt to the evolving dynamics of the dance world.