16. - 17 May 2026, Metzingen
đď¸ Registration open! Limited spots available! Once the maximum number of participants is reached, the registration portal will close and a waiting list will be activated.
Dance & Singing Competition for Young Talents
Give Your Talents the Big Stage!
A few words
About Spirit of Talents
The international dance and singing competition offers young talents a professional stage. Whether itâs classical ballet, modern dance, or powerful vocals â here you can compete in various categories and win attractive prizes.
Our carefully selected jury consists of experts from different fields of the dance and music scenes. They evaluate performances with expertise and passion, offering you the opportunity to win valuable prizes.
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Where
Metzingen, Baden-WĂźrttemberg, Germany
When
16-17 May 2026
Ready to compete? Here are the key details for taking part in the Spirit of Talents competition!
Disciplines
đ Classical Ballet (with and without pointe, pointe from 12 years)
đ Jazz, Contemporary, Showdance, Folklore & more
đ Open
đ¤ Singing & Dance | Singing
Age Groups & Categories
đĽ Participants from 6 years to adults
đ Special categories for solos, duos, small & large groups
Time Limits & Skill Levels
âł Performances range from 2 min (solo) to 4 min (groups)
đ Levels: Beginners & AdvancedÂ
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đ Registration opens in October â limited entry slots!
As soon as all spots are filled, the registration portal will be closed. After that, only the waiting list will be available.
đ Find all details & full guidelines here:
Take a look at the
Schedule & Timeline
The schedule for Spirit of Talents 2026 is currently being finalized. As soon as the registration phase is complete, you will find all the important information about the competition times, categories and performances here.
Stay tuned – we’ll keep you up to date!
About
Our judges
The judges for Spirit of Talents 2026 will consist of experienced professionals from the dance and music industry. Artists from various fields â including dance, choreography, and vocals â will evaluate performances with expertise and passion.
The names and profiles of the judges will be announced soon. Here, you will soon learn more about their diverse backgrounds and their expertise in the dance and music industry. Stay tuned!
Ballet educator & former soloist at the Vienna State Opera.
Silvia Tzankova was born in Bulgaria and received her first dance education at the National Opera in Sofia. Her impressive career took her from the prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg all the way to the Vienna State Opera. As a soloist, she performed in classical productions as well as contemporary choreographies. For over two decades, she has shared her expertise as a ballet educator and rehearsal director â including at the Ballet Academy of the Vienna State Opera and the John Cranko School in Stuttgart.
- Education at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg
- Soloist at the National Opera Sofia & Vienna State Opera
- Performances in works by Balanchine, Neumeier, Nureyev, Zanella and many more
- Rehearsal and choreographic assistance for numerous ballet and opera productions
- Teaching experience at the Vienna State Opera Ballet School & John Cranko School
- Jury experience at competitions in Germany, Austria, Greece and Cyprus
Principal dancer, photographer
Olaf Kollmannsperger began his dance career in Spain and was supported early on at the Royal Professional Conservatory of Dance in Madrid. Instead of a career in football, he opted for dance â and with great success: he was engaged by the Royal Swedish Ballet, the Zurich Ballet (where he was appointed Principal Dancer in his first year) and for almost ten years as Principal Soloist at the Berlin State Ballet.
His favourite roles: Romeo, Prince Siegfried, Mercutio, DĂŠsirĂŠ and Woyzeck â all characters that demand the utmost precision in terms of both dance and emotion. Today, Olaf dances with the Berlin Ballet Company with a focus on contemporary dance. At the same time, he expresses his creative side as a freelance photographer and videographer.
Worked with some of the most important choreographers of our time:
- Christian Spuck (artistic director of the Staatsballett Berlin)
- Kenneth MacMillan (British ballet legend, famous for his dramatic version of Romeo and Juliet)
- Mats Ek (Swedish choreographer, famous for his modern reinterpretations of classical works)
- JiĹĂ KyliĂĄn (Czech choreographer, co-founder of modern European dance theatre)
- William Forsythe (US-American choreographer, known for his avant-garde ballet concepts)
- George Balanchine (co-founder of the New York City Ballet and father of neoclassical ballet)
- Nacho Duato (Spanish choreographer with a strong contemporary influence)
- Maurice BĂŠjart, Sharon Eyal, John Neumeier, Alonzo King and many other influential figures on the dance scene.
Dancer, choreographer and teacher for modern & contemporary dance techniques.
With international experience, an impressive artistic CV and a genuine passion for promoting young talent, he enriches our jury with vision, sensitivity and depth.
- Trained at the renowned Iwanson School in Munich
- Dancer for independent companies and the opera ballet of the Bavarian State Opera in Munich & Susann Quinn Dance Company in Salzburg
- Founder of his own company âGroup95â with numerous choreographies
- Teaching assignments at the Iwanson School and the Kaewon School for Art and Design in Seoul
- Guest lecturer at the Orff Institute Salzburg, SEAD Salzburg, Iwanson School Munich & guest professor at the Korean National University of Arts in Seoul
- Co-director of Tanz Impulse MĂźnchen since 2003
- Ten years on the board of Tanztendenz MĂźnchen e.âŻV. & co-founder of the Schwere Reiter stage for contemporary dance in Munich
- Juror at the Seoul International Dance Competition
- Jury member of the BLZT for the awarding of funding from the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts
Singer and teacher
Silke Kaiser is a singer with a pedagogical focus on preparing students and accompanying aspiring professional singers. In addition to her teaching activities, the central focus of her artistic work is on song interpretation â especially in the form of recitals.
She teaches singing, vocal methodology and music education at the Berufsfachschule fĂźr Musik des Bezirks Schwaben and directs the school's solo vocal ensemble. Since 2012, she has also been a lecturer in vocal didactics and methodology at the Stuttgart University of Music and Performing Arts.
Until 2018, Silke Kaiser had her own singing class at the Trossingen University of Music, and until 2014 she was also a lecturer in singing and vocal methodology at the Rottenburg University of Church Music. She is also a regular lecturer at workshops and a juror at âJugend musiziertâ.
- Studied singing at the HMDK Stuttgart
- Master class in song interpretation at the Zurich University of Music with Irwin Gage
- Master classes with Elly Ameling and Hermann Prey, among others
- Freelance singer, including a guest contract at the Sanssouci Palace Theatre in Potsdam (baroque opera)
- Concert appearances at festivals such as the BrĂźhl Castle Festival and the Lake Constance Festival and in concert halls such as the Beethovensaal Stuttgart, Musikhalle Hamburg, Victoria Hall Geneva, Tonhalle Zurich
- Collaboration with renowned orchestras (including NDR, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Basle Symphony Orchestra, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, lâarpa festante, La Banda) and conductors (including Herbert Blomstedt, Armin Jordan, Helmuth Rilling, Christoph and Andreas Spering)
Artistic Director, Director & Performer
Martin Markert brings international stage experience and creative leadership expertise to our jury. The tenor was a hit as âDer Todâ in the musical Elisabeth and currently as âSchattenmannâ in Ludwig² in FĂźssen. He is the artistic director of Gold & Silber Musikverlag, co-director of Ludwig² â Der KĂśnig ist zurĂźck and celebrated success as a director in Shanghai. He also works as a casting director. His voice can be heard in Disney and Marvel productions such as Hawkeye and Wish.
- Trained at the Joop van den Ende Academy (Hamburg) & in Los Angeles
- Leading roles in Joseph, Jesus Christ Superstar, Spamalot, Hair and West Side Story
- Der Tod & Kronprinz Rudolf in Elisabeth (Japan, Shanghai, Italy, Zurich, Berlin, European tour)
- Schattenmann, KĂśnig Ludwig II. & Prince Otto in Ludwig² â Festspielhaus FĂźssen
- Uncle Fester in The Addams Family
- Artistic Director of Gold & Silber Musikverlag
- Co-director Ludwig² â The King is back (FĂźssen)
- Director Ludwig² â The King is back (Shanghai)
- Solo show âI Love My Lifeâ on Mein Schiff 2 (TUI Cruises)
- Voice actor for Disney & Marvel: Hawkeye, Once Upon a Studio, Wish, Fantastic Four
đˇ Photo: Bernhardt Link
Soprano, Opera & Concert Singer
Juandalynn R. Abernathy is a soprano, opera and concert singer. She was born in the southern United States and is the daughter of Pastor Dr. Ralph D. Abernathy, co-founder of the U.S. civil rights movement and close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In addition to her international concert activities, she is involved as a choir director, vocal coach and mentor for young talents.
- Studied voice at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music (Bachelor of Music) & Boston Conservatory of Music (Master of Music, with honors)
- Supported by a scholarship from the Goethe Institute Munich
- Two-time finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Competition in Boston
- Performances at Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, Varna Summer International Festival & Malta Culture Experience
- Opening concert for the German delegation at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta
- Experienced coach & vocal teacher, mentor for young vocal artists
- Musical director of the gospel choir Voices, Hearts & Souls e.V. and other ensembles in Balingen
- Childrenâs book author (Sing, Juandalynn, sing!)
- Mediator & ambassador for POC and intercultural understanding
A few words
About the Organizers
Spirit of Talents was created to establish a prestigious dance and singing competition in Baden-WĂźrttemberg, a region in southern Germany.
Our goal is to provide children and young people with a professional stage and an unforgettable experience â with fair evaluation, great performance opportunities, and plenty of inspiration.
With passion and experience, we are committed to making Spirit of Talents a unique competition and providing young artists with an unforgettable stage.
We place great importance on first-class organization, an independent panel of judges, and an atmosphere where all participants feel comfortable and can reach their full potential.
Event Venue
Stadthalle Metzingen
Metzingen is the ideal place for our event! This city is world-famous for its Outlet City, a true paradise for shopping enthusiasts with over 80 brand stores. Here, the long tradition of outlet shopping meets modern retail experiences â a true highlight for any trip!
And the best part? Metzingen is incredibly easy to reach! Whether by plane, train, or bus, excellent transport connections ensure a smooth and stress-free journey.
A prime location, fantastic shopping, and all of it in a welcoming city â what more could you ask for? Get ready for an unforgettable event in Metzingen!
We thank
Our Sponsors
We thank our Partners
Hautnah
Achtender
Boutique Hotel Kitz
We thank Hugo Boss for the support
A little more patience!
Registration & Information
The registration for Spirit of Talents is not open yet â but it will be soon!
Sign up for updates and be the first to know when it starts. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unique competition! đđ¤
đ˘ Stay tuned â weâll keep you informed in time!