From eating his own hand to a £25,000 prize. It's the story of dance's new darling, 25-year-old Adam Linder.

Winner of The Place's Prize for Dance 2008, he took on themes of consumption, gluttony and status anxiety.

"Contemporary dance can be intimidating," Adam says. "But I see dance and movement as a tool with which I can communicate ideas."

Fois Gras was only his second piece for the stage, which began by submitting a three-minute film to The Place Prize.

"Two minutes of dancing and one minute of talking, it's incredibly easy to enter," the Australian born, London-based dancer and choreographer says.

Anyone living in England can enter and convention is far from the goal. Adam's pitch - including a scene where he attempts to eat his hand - made it to a shortlist of 40 and then 20 after a 15-minute interview.

The five chosen finalists received £5,000 each and a 10-day run on stage at The Place last month, where Adam was finally proved the favourite.

"I was a restless child, always jumping around and doing routines for my parents with my older sister," he says.

"I'm so grateful they were totally supportive when I left Australia at 16 for the creative and cultural richness of Europe."

The Place is at 17 Duke's Road, Euston. Call 020 7121 1100. See www.theplace.org.uk for The Place Prize entry details and more.

Adam's next performance will be A Perfect Score, choreographed by Rafael Bonachela, at the Southbank Centre on January 31, 2009. See www.southbankcentre.co.uk

This month is also the 30th anniversary of Dance Umbrella, the most important champion of British contemporary dance. Having organised more than 1,500 performances, Adam's top pick from this year's calendar is Episodes of Flight , by Rosemary Butcher at the Riverside Studios. "Her thought-provoking style is always taking dance to the next level," he says.

Episodes of Flight, by Rosemary Butcher is at the Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, Hammmersmith on Monday and Tuesday, November 3/4. Post-show talk with Rosemary on Monday. £15. 8pm. Call 020 8237 1111. For more details see www.riversidestudios.co.uk .