Dancer and choreographer Zoë Greten, alum of our School for Young Talent, has won the Leo Spreksel Award 2025. The award was presented on Sunday 18 May during the CaDance Festival at Korzo.
The Leo Spreksel Award is an encouragement award for young choreographers who stand out through artistic vision and originality. The jury, led by former artistic director Leo Spreksel, sees Zoë as one of the most promising new voices in the dance world.
“Zoë was raised on dance — it’s in her blood. Her evolution from dancer to choreographer has been visible for years, even online via YouTube. She may be young, but she’s determined and has a bold creative voice. Zoë blends the energy and movement of hip-hop with ballet technique in a way that feels completely natural. She has a deep awareness of her own body. Her duet Unveiling Echoes convinced me she’s a true talent for the future. With this award, I hope to give her career an extra push. Ballet could really benefit from the kind of movement freedom she explores,” said Leo Spreksel on his choice for Zoë Greten.
“This award reassures me that I’m on the right track,” Zoë responded. “It’s an honour to receive recognition from someone like Leo Spreksel for my journey as a maker and the steps I’ve taken so far. The Leo Spreksel Award gives me the space and confidence to deepen my artistic voice, keep experimenting, and follow my own path – beyond styles and boundaries, but always true to my intuition.”
Korzo introduced the Leo Spreksel Award in 2018 to honour Leo Spreksel’s dedication to Dutch dance and his commitment to developing young talent. Every two years, the award is personally presented by Spreksel to a promising emerging choreographer. It includes a residency at Korzo, accompanied by mentorship from Spreksel himself.