Four artists who presented work at the Melbourne semi-finals will now vie for the top prize in Sydney.

The four finalists of the 2016 Keir Choreographic Award have been announced following a week of semi-final performances at Melbourne’s Dancehouse. Launched in 2014, the biennial award champions the work of contemporary choreographers working within innovative, experimental and cross-art practices, across Australia and internationally. The winner of the award will receive $30,000 cash prize. A $10,000 audience choice award will also be presented after the award’s finals on May 7.

Ghenoa Gela Fragments of Malungoka – Women of the Sea 

Last week, eight dance artists shortlisted for the semi-finals presented work over five days, showcasing a broad range of aesthetics and approaches. Only four choreographers could progress to the next stage in the competition, selected by an expert panel: Brussel-based performance-maker and theorist Bojana Cvejić, Documenta 14 curator and independent art critic Pierre Bal-Blanc, US-based choreographer Sarah Michelson, Keir Foundation founder Phillip Keir, and the winner of the inaugural awards, Atlanta Eke.

Sarah Aitken Sarah Aitken (Tools for Personal Expansion)

Commenting on the semi-finals process, Phillip Keir said, “It is fantastic to see 8 new innovative works take to the stage. The inventiveness of all the works stands without question and points to the health of contemporary dance in Australia.”

Martin Hansen If It’s All In My Veins

The four finalists who progress to the next round are Melbourne-based performer, choreographer and teacher Sarah Aiken, independent Sydney-based performing artist and proud Torres Strait Islander Ghenoa Gela, Berlin-based Australian dance artists Martin Hansen and Melbourne-based choreographer and dancer Rebecca Jensen. Each will present their shortlisted work at Sydney’s Carriageworks later this week.

The Keir Choreographic Award Finals take place at Carriageworks, Sydney, May 5 – 7.

Read Maxim Boon’s roundup of the semi-final stage of the Keir Choreographic Award.