Pre-jury 2027

Aaron Fernandez

Aaron Fernandes is the founder of Aaron Fernandes Entertainment (AFE), an international arts management company based in Mumbai, established in 2020. Working across Artist Representation, Production & Tour Management, and Consultancy, AFE has a particular focus on dance and has managed productions and tours across six continents. Since 2023, Aaron has produced projects for the French Embassy in India and works closely with NCPA and NMACC, with experience ranging from solo performances to large-scale productions involving over 250 artists.

Alongside AFE, Aaron has been Project Manager for CINARS since 2022 and is a three-time ISPA Global Fellow (2022–2024). He currently serves on the ISPA Fellowship Committee and consults with NCPA on bringing the AAPAC International Conference to India in 2027. Known for his international network and problem-solving skills, Aaron is passionate about building connections and creating opportunities for the performing arts worldwide.

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. 

Mohamed Yusuf Boss

Mohamed Yusuf Boss is a talented dancer, choreographer, and theater maker, born in 1986 in Hargeisa, Somalia, and now based in Groningen. He draws inspiration from hip-hop culture and the “each one teach one” principle, which forms the core of his artistic vision. Under the name X_YUSUF_BOSS, he collaborates with creative producer Mark Fischer to create a platform that provides space for diverse stories, where everyone has a place to share their story.

In 2019, Mohamed was recognized with the Groninger Talent Award, a prestigious prize awarded by the province of Groningen and the Prins Bernhard Culture Fund. His influence in the cultural sector grew further when his 2022 performance LíX won the*BNG Bank Culture Prize, an important award for young talent. He has created several successful performances. with his works he build bridges between art disciplines as well as between communities and individuals.