Pre-jury 2026

Emmi Väisänen

Rauf Yasit Rubberlegz

Rauf “RubberLegz” Yasit is a dancer, choreographer, film director and visual artist of Kurdish heritage, born and raised in Celle, Germany, and now based in Los Angeles.

He has collaborated with many artists and organisations, including: William Forsythe, Opéra National de Paris, USC, CalArts, LACMA, Nike RT, Burberry, Arashi, Puma, Sadler’s Wells, Flying Steps, CNDC Angers, Red Bull, Muscle Milk, Moderat, Sony, Sonos, Feat, WAD MAG, Tumi, HP, Pandora, Pfadfinderei, Art Factory International and Bodytraffic.

RubberLegz’ style defies categorisation. He has invented his own language through unique movements that he has developed himself over the years.

Rauf “RubberLegz” Yasit is a cross-disciplinary artist. He also gained a degree in 3D Animation & Visualisation in Switzerland, and has worked as a visual artist for many design and communications agencies.

Emma Porter

Emma Portner is an enigmatic director, choreographer, dancer, and actor, acclaimed for her emotionally charged movement language and versatility across genres. The New York Times described her work as “beguiling,” calling her “a singular talent who seems able to channel the fragility and power of the human condition in equal measure,” while Dance Magazine has praised her as “a rare visionary, blurring boundaries between contemporary dance, film, and fashion.” Born in 1994, Portner trained at Canada’s National Ballet Summer School and The Ailey School in New York. By age 20, she became the youngest woman in history to choreograph a musical on London’s West End. Her early short films went viral, amassing millions of views and establishing her as a new force in dance cinema. She has since collaborated with Doechii, Maggie Rogers, Blood Orange, Justin Bieber and Sylvan Esso, and choreographed major commissions for the National Ballet of Canada, Norwegian National Ballet, GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, the Guggenheim Museum, Fondation Beyeler, Lafayette Anticipations, and Jacob’s Pillow. An Olivier Award nominee, Portner continues to push the intersection of classical rigour and experimental form across stage, film, music, and installation – expanding what contemporary choreography can be and where it can be seen. 

Lorena Nogal

Lorena Nogal trained as a dancer and choreographer in Barcelona, where she has built an outstanding international career. Since 2008, she has been a key member of LA VERONAL, collaborating with renowned companies such as Nederlands Dans Theater, GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, Scapino Ballet, Ballet Zürich, and the Ballet Nacional de España. In 2024, she received Spain’s National Dance Award for Best Female Performer. She is also co-founder of HOTEL Col·lectiu Escènic, and as a choreographer, she has developed her own creations, which are currently on tour. In addition, Lorena teaches courses on body dissociation and the KOVA method, a movement language developed in collaboration with LA VERONAL.