Harlequin
Each year on 7th May, Henrik Lyding's birthday, we present the Harlequin statuette to artists who have made an exceptional contribution to Danish performing arts.
Recipients are selected by an independent committee with an In-Depth knowledge of the field.
Harlequin Award Recipients 2025
The Harlequin is awarded in three categories, honouring artists across the full breadth of the performing arts: the Performing Arts Prize, the Honorary Prize and the Talent Prize.
harlequin statuette
The Harlequin statuette is the symbol at the heart of everything the Henrik Lydings Memorial Foundation does.
For several years, Henrik Lyding served as lead dramaturg at the Pantomime Theatre in Tivoli, home to the living legacy of La Commedia dell'Arte. This Italian theatre tradition of the 16th century, built around archetypal characters, masks and stylised physical expression, continues to live at the Pantomime Theatre through classical ballet and mime. He was a passionate connoisseur of this tradition.
In the Harlequin figure, one can find many of the qualities that defined Henrik Lyding himself: the idiosyncratic and colourful, the elegant and the musical, and beneath it all, a quiet gravitas that lies just below the surface.
We are proud to have brought the work of sculptor Einar Utzon-Frank into the foundation's identity, and we hope the Harlequin statuette will set a lasting direction for how we honour artists in the years to come, with respect for tradition and an eye for the new.
Three Categories
The three categories reflect the full breadth and depth of Danish performing arts: from emerging artists to those whose lifelong contribution has shaped the field.
Performing Arts Prize
Awarded in recognition of a specific and outstanding achievement: a performance, a role, or a singular moment that has demonstrated exceptional artistic courage and mastery.
Talent Prize
Awarded to an emerging artist who has demonstrated clear potential and a distinct artistic direction — one still early in their professional journey, but already impossible to ignore.
Honorary Prize
Awarded in recognition of a sustained and significant contribution to the performing arts; celebrating not only the body of work, but the lasting mark an artist has left on the field over time.
Recipients are selected by an independent committee with an In-Depth knowledge of the field.
Dinna BJØRN
Choreographer
Anne Middelboe Christensen
Theatre and Dance Critic at Dagbladet Information
Michael SØby
Theatre, Musical and Film Critic at CPH Culture
Jan Hertz
Theatre Director
Selection Criteria
The following criteria guide the jury's selection of prize recipients each year:
Artistic Quality and Voice
- Artistic quality, technical skill and a distinct personal voice are the foremost considerations.
- The jury looks for strength in interpretation, timing and musicality, and assesses the artist's contribution to either carrying forward an important tradition or developing new forms of expression.
Experience and Potential
- The jury considers the artist's background, training and professional achievements.
- Alongside this, the jury looks for long-term potential and a clear artistic direction in their work.
Contribution to the Field
- The jury considers how the award can best support the artist's continued development and strengthen their role in the performing arts.
- Particular emphasis is places on the recipient's active contribution to the performing arts community, whether as an inspiration, a sharer of knowledge or an artistic role model.
Selection process
01.
Nomination
- Jury members nominate candidates based on the established selection criteria.
- Nominations seek to represent the full range of performing arts disciplines, in keeping with the breadth of vision that characterised Henrik Lyding.
- Artists of significant potential and emerging importance are actively considered alongside more established names.
02.
ASSESSMENT
- Each candidate is assessed on artistic quality, technical ability, creative direction and contribution to the performing arts.
- The jury considers how the award can most meaningfully support the continued development and work of each artist.
03.
award
- Award recipients are selected by consensus, following a thorough and confidential assessment conducted in the spirit of the award.
- Recipients are informed ahead of the official announcement on 7th May and invited to attend the awards with their artistic director, director or choreographer.
- Where a recipient is unable to attend, a representative is appointed on their behalf.