The Committee

Bruno Roy, President

Bruno stood on the podium at the French Championships at the age of 13, earning 3rd place. He trained in dance at the Jeune Ballet de Rosella Hightower and simultaneously obtained a degree in mathematics. As a soloist at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, he was also invited to perform at the Gala des Étoiles at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, as well as in Miami, Montreal, and New York, and with Roberto Bolle and Friends in Turin. A recipient of a Dance Transition scholarship in 2009, he is now an actuary at the Pension Fund of the State of Geneva.

Lawrence Rigg, Vice President

A professional dancer with Ballett Zürich, the Ballet du Capitole de Toulouse, Victor Ullate in Madrid and the Béjart Ballet Lausanne, in 2022 he was awarded a Danse Transition scholarship, which enabled him to obtain his teaching qualification at his alma mater, the Royal Ballet School in London. Now a teacher at the TAZ Academy in Zurich, he is regularly invited to teach at professional companies and schools, notably the English National Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris and the Royal Ballet School in Antwerp. In 2025, he was awarded a Bachelor of Professional Arts Practice (Honours) from Middlesex University and was selected to take part in the Positioning Ballet Forum for future leaders and artistic directors, hosted in Amsterdam by the Dutch National Ballet.

Caroline Lam

Professional dancer, state diploma for teaching contemporary dance, and Swiss professional teaching. Performer, notably for the Company Linga, Gisela Rocha, Marie Caroline Hominal. She received a scholarship from Danse Transition in 2009 and is now a certified Pilates Institute instructor and head of the CFC programme in performing dance, specialising in contemporary dance, at the CFP ARTS in Geneva. In parallel, she continues to develop her choreographic research and her activity as a dancer-performer. 

Morgane Akermann

Accountant and manager for several theater and dance companies since 2018, as well as case manager for the Fondation d’Aide Sociale et Culturelle du Canton de Vaud. She studied in the Faculty of Theology and History of Religions at the University of Lausanne, while training in cultural accounting with her family’s trust company. 

Francisco Javier Casado Suarez

Professional dancer, Javier began studying classical dance and inclusive dance work with people with disabilities in 2004. He trained at the Rudra Béjart school, then became a dancer for the Béjart Ballet, where he performed several roles from various repertoires. Recipient of a Dance Transition scholarship in 2023, he is now a certified State teacher in classical dance. Since then, he has been teaching at the AFJD in Lausanne, whilst continuing his research as a dancer, and organizes workshops and private classes.

Vittorio Bertolli

He graduated from Rudra Béjart in 2002 and went on to work as a professional dancer with, amongst others, the Béjart Ballet Lausanne, La Scala in Milan, Aterballetto and Bern:Ballet. As a Danse Transition scholarship holder in 2017, he obtained two Master’s degrees in Dance Studies from the University of Bern and the Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London. He worked as a ballet master at the Luzerner Theater and subsequently at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, and teaches contemporary dance to professional dancers in Switzerland and internationally. At the same time, he is involved in scientific and educational research projects in dance, whilst continuing to perform from time to time.

Richard Afonso

A committed figure in the performing arts for over thirty years, Richard Afonso operates at the crossroads of creation, education and cultural policy. As coordinator of the Bachelor’s degree programme in contemporary dance at La Manufacture, he supports the training of young artists in dialogue with the Swiss and international contemporary dance scene. A former collaborator with leading dance companies, he has helped to raise their profile beyond national borders. He champions a rigorous vision of art as a space for thought, research and transformation.

The office

Sara Marini Buncic, General Secretary

Professional dancer with a certificate of choreographic studies from Le Marchepied in Lausanne and CFC of commercial employee. Teacher in contemporary dance and since 2015 choreographer and administrator of the Cie Elidé. In 2016, she also graduated in massage therapy. Previously project manager at the Office of Culture of Morges, currently general secretary of the association Danse Transition. Sara is part of the board of the International Organisation for the Transition of Professional Dancers as secretary. 

Esmeralda Cantoro, Communications Officer

A dancer with roots in urban dance, Esmeralda thrives both on stage and in the battle scene. Alongside her artistic career, she specializes in visual and digital communication. Holding a Federal CFC Diploma in Mediamatics and an Advanced Federal Diploma in Communication, she has worked for the Visions du Réel Festival before joining Danse Transition, where she now contributes to strengthening the organization’s online presence and promoting its initiatives.

Intervenor

Renaud Wiser, Intervenor

Dancer, Choreographer, and Educator. He teaches professional life introduction courses for Danse Transition, in collaboration with professional dance schools in French-speaking Switzerland. Trained at the Ballet Junior de Genève, he pursued an international career as a dancer, notably with the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, Ballet de Marseille, Gothenburg Ballet, and Rambert (London). With over 25 years of experience in the field, he now leads Fertile Ground, an independent company based in Newcastle that provides career opportunities for emerging dancers based in the north of England. He also teaches an introduction to choreographic and multidisciplinary practice at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London and develops independent projects as a choreographer, focusing on a collaborative approach centered on the relationship with the audience.

Honorary president

Susanne Jaillet

Danse Transition’s founder and president from 1993 to 2010. Susanne Jaillet holds a MBA in cultural, social and environmental management. Corporate management consultant. Former Chief Human Resources Officer at a Computing Company. 

Honorary president, in memoriam

Philippe Braunschweig †

Honorary Chairman and Founder of the International Organization for the Transition of Professional Dancers (IOTPD), Honorary Chairman and Founder of the Prix de Lausanne, Honorary Chairman and Founder of the Foundation of the Béjart Ballet Lausanne, Honorary Chairman and Co-founder of the ASD (former Swiss association of dance professionals), degree in physics from the EPFZ, member of the Swiss academy of Technical Science.