Elisabeth Tonev receives Konstanze-Vernon-Prize 2024
Soloist Elisabeth Tonev has been awarded the prestigious Konstanze-Vernon-Prize 2024. This prize, an initiative of the Heinz-Bosl-Stiftung and worth €10,000, is granted every two years to promising dancers at the start of an international career.
The jury, comprising Christian Spuck (Staatsballett Berlin), Ted Brandsen (Dutch National Ballet), Mário Radačovský (Ballet NdB), Laurent Hilaire (Bayerisches Staatsballett München) and Ivan Liška (Bayerisches Junior Ballett München and Chairman of the Heinz-Bosl-Stiftung), was highly impressed by Tonev’s exceptional talent and artistic versatility, which she has demonstrated across a broad and diverse repertoire.
In addition to Tonev, five other promising dancers were nominated for the Konstanze-Vernon-Prize 2024. These talents, representing leading European companies, included Leroy Mokgatle (Staatsballett Berlin), Se Hyun An and Emilia Vuorio (both Ballet NdB), and António Casalinho and Carollina Bastos (both Bayerisches Staatsballett).
About the Konstanze-Vernon-Prize
The Konstanze-Vernon-Prize was established by Konstanze Vernon, an icon in the international ballet world and the founder of the Heinz-Bosl-Stiftung. One of Germany’s most significant dance prizes is awarded to outstanding dancers at the beginning of their international careers. The prize money comes from Vernon’s personal legacy, ensuring her name remains synonymous with the promotion of excellence in dance.
About Elisabeth Tonev
Berlin-born Elisabeth Tonev began her professional dance training at the Staatliche Ballettschule in her hometown. At a young age, she performed in major classical productions with the Staatsballett Berlin. During her final year of studies, she met Rachel Beaujean, Associate Artistic Director of Dutch National Ballet, at a ballet intensive in Paris. This meeting led to an invitation to audition for the Junior Company, where she started her professional career in the 2019–2020 season. Only a year later, she was accepted as an élève with Dutch National Ballet, and she has since made remarkable progress in her career, earning promotions to coryphée in 2021, grand sujet in 2022, and soloist in 2023.
