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Daphne–Preis

Mit dem Daphne–Preis macht die TheaterGemeinde Berlin auf herausragende junge Darsteller:innen der Berliner Kulturszene aufmerksam. Die Mitglieder der TG Berlin ermitteln jedes Jahr aus den Nominierungen des Vorstandes den/die Preisträger:in. Der Preis umfasst eine Bronzeskulptur des deutschen Bildhauers und René-Sintenis-Schülers Karl-Heinz Krause (1924–2019), die die von Apoll begehrte Nymphe Daphne zeigt. Seit dem 60-jährigen Bestehen der TheaterGemeinde Berlin (2023) ist der Preis zusätzlich mit 2.500 Euro dotiert.


Die Stimmen sind ausgezählt

Leroy Mokgatle heißt die Daphne-Preisträgerin 2026 der TheaterGemeinde Berlin. Die 25-jährige Tänzerin aus dem Ensemble des Staatsballetts Berlin erhielt mit 41 Prozent die deutliche Mehrheit der abgegebenen Stimmen und geht somit als Siegerin aus der Wahl hervor. Den zweiten Platz mit 34 Prozent belegt die Schauspielerin Maeve Metelka (Berliner Ensemble), gefolgt von der Schauspielerin Lorena Handschin (Deutsches Theater Berlin) mit 25 Prozent. 

Die Preisverleihung findet am Freitag, den 10. Juli 2026 um 19:30 Uhr im Rahmen der Aufführung „Ein Sommernachtstraum“ in der Deutschen Oper Berlin statt.

Tickets bestellen


Im Vorfeld zur Preisverleihung haben wir mit Leroy Mokgatle gesprochen

Dieses Interview wurde auf Englisch geführt. Sie haben hier die Möglichkeit, sich eine deutsche Übersetzung anzeigen zu lassen.

What or who inspired you to become a dancer?

I didn't really have a specific person who inspired me at the beginning. It was more that I had to choose an extracurricular activity, and while I knew the usual sports, I was curious about ballet, so I chose it without really knowing what it was.

Before that, I was always dancing at home, just in front of the TV, but I never thought I'd be good at it or take it seriously.

It was actually my teacher who saw something in me. She pushed me to continue, helped me complete my exams, and supported me in getting a scholarship to a state theater ballet school. So I think the inspiration really came through her belief in me.

Which role(s) would you absolutely like to dance?

I would absolutely love to dance Second Detail and In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated by William Forsythe.

Another big dream of mine is to dance Wings of Wax and Petit Mort by Jiří Kylián.

Bildtext
Approximate Sonata (2016) – William Forsythe, © Staatsballett Berlin, Yan Revazov

Which role(s) would you like to let others take on?

I have quite mixed feelings about classical ballet. I sometimes find it a bit constricting, especially in how movement and expression are expected to look a certain way, which doesn't always feel natural to me.

So those more traditional classical roles are probably something I'd rather leave to others who really connect with them.

That said, I do appreciate it. It keeps me strong and gives me a solid foundation, even if it's not where I feel most at home.

For which still living choreographers would you like to cook, and what would be served?

At the top of my head, I'd say I'd cook something like butter chicken with basmati rice for William Forsythe, something comforting and full of flavor.

But at the same time, I think I wouldn't want to put myself under pressure trying to impress in the kitchen and in the studio. So I'd probably keep it simple and just enjoy the moment.

What attracts you to the profession of a dancer, and what could you do without?

To be honest, what really attracted me to this profession is the opportunity to embody different characters on stage. I love being able to step into different roles and fully transform, especially with all the support around it, like makeup, hair, and costumes that really help bring everything to life.

That sense of transformation really excites me.

What I could do without, though, is starting very early in the morning or having to rehearse for long hours.

What ballet would you have liked to write yourself?

My ballet would be driven by a deep emotional core, something that can't really be explained, but can be felt.

I'd use different movement qualities to create shifting moods, and include a subtle thread of African spirituality throughout. The overall tone would be darker and more introspective.

I usually connect to storylines, but I think I'd want to explore something more abstract, leaving space for interpretation.

Bildtext
Wunderkammer © Staatsballett Berlin, Yan Revazov

Which ending of which ballet would you most like to rewrite, and what would it look like then?

That's a difficult one for me, because there isn't one specific ballet that comes to mind.

But in general, I think many classical ballets portray women as quite fragile or easily broken by men's actions, and that's something I'd be interested in rethinking.

I think it would be interesting to rewrite some of those endings in a way that gives female characters more agency and makes them feel more relatable.

At the same time, I wouldn't want to lose the sense of fantasy that those ballets carry, so it would be about finding a balance between the two.

Which spot in your apartment did you choose for the Daphne sculpture?

I've heard the sculpture is quite big, so I'll probably need a bigger apartment. Haha.

If you had to dance Daphne, who would be your preferred partner for Apollo?

I definitely have someone in mind, but I think I'm a bit too shy to say it out loud.

But it would have to be someone I really trust, someone I feel a strong connection with on stage, because I think that kind of partnership is essential for a role like that.


Die Preisverleihung findet am Freitag, den 10. Juli 2026 um 19:30 Uhr im Rahmen der Aufführung „Ein Sommernachtstraum“ in der Deutschen Oper Berlin statt.

Tickets bestellen


Bisherige Preisträger:innen

2023

Penny Sofroniadou

Komischen Oper Berlin

Sängerin


2019

Linn Reusse

Deutsches Theater Berlin

Schauspielerin


2018

Sina Martens

Berliner Ensemble

Schauspielerin


2017

Marcel Kohler

Deutsches Theater

 Schauspieler


2016

Moritz Gottwald

Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz

Schauspieler


2015

Antonia Bill

Berliner Ensemble

Schauspielerin


2013

Sabin Tambrea

Berliner Ensemble

Schauspieler


2012

Dinu Tamazlacaru

Staatsballett Berlin

Balletttänzer


2011

Moritz Grove

Deutsches Theater

Schauspieler


2010

Lea Draeger

Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz

Schauspielerin


2008

Anna Prohaska

Staatsoper Unter den Linden

Sopranistin


2007

Anna Samuil

Staatsoper Unter den Linden

Sängerin


2005

Christina Drechsler

Berliner Ensemble

Schauspielerin


Weitere Preisträger:innen:

2006 Michael Banzhaf Tänzer / Staatsballett Berlin
2004 Polina Semionowa Tänzerin / Staatsballett Berlin
2002 Gun-Brit Barkmin Sängerin / Komische Oper Berlin
2001 Nicole Rößler Musicaldarstellerin / Neuköllner Oper
1998 Michael Rissmann Tänzer / Staatsoper Unter den Linden
1996 Anna Steffens Schauspielerin / Maxim-Gorki-Theater
1992 Daniel Morgenroth Schauspieler / Deutsches Theater Berlin
1992 Aneke Wehberg Schauspielerin / Intimes Theater (Oranienstraße)
1989 Sabine Sinjen Schauspielerin / Schlosspark Theater
1987 Felix Martin Musicaldarsteller / Kammerspiele Moabit
1984 Daniela Strietzel Schauspielerin / Kammerspiele Moabit
1980 Tillmann Braun Schauspieler / Schiller Theater
1979 Rainer Behrend Regisseur / Tribüne
1978 Kaja Borris Sängerin / Deutsche Oper Berlin
1976 Heribert Sasse Schauspieler / Schiller Theater, Werkstatt