Among a total of 82 candidates from 20 countries, the three young people were able to qualify for the international dance competition, to which six Portuguese, four boys and two girls applied.

According to information available on the official website of the competition, the three Portuguese selected for the 49th edition of the award - António Casalinho, Francisco Gomes and Laura Viola - come from the Annarella Sánchez International Conservatory of Ballet and Dance in Leiria. Two foreign students from the same dance school in Leiria are also competing: The Italian Giulio Diligente and the British Maia Roberts.

Among those selected are six Brazilian dancers: Kayke Nogueira, from the Bolshoi Theatre School in Brazil, Rui Cesar da Cruz and Luiza Falcão, from the Cultural Group of Dance Island, João Felipe Domingos, from Basileu França, Andrey Jesus Maciano, from the Young Ballet of São Vicente, and Ana Sartini, from Ballet Vortex.

The 49th edition of the Prix Lausanne runs from 31 January to 7 February in Switzerland. The finals are scheduled for the 6 of February. The Prix de Lausanne, is one of the most important awards dedicated to dance and it was created in 1973 and is managed by the Fondation en Faveur de l'Art Chorégraphique. In the 48th edition, which took place in February this year, the Portuguese dancer Catarina Pires, from the Zurich Dance Academy, received the "public’s favourite" award.