The Gertrud Kraus Choreography Competition is held in collaboration with the foundation established in memory of Gertrud Kraus and Gretel Müller, née Kraus. It marks the culmination of a process of creation and research in the fields of dance and choreography. The competition aims to encourage students to discover their unique voice and to enable them to create and dream. In recent years, a competition for composing music for dance has also been added as part of this event.

Gertrud Kraus (1901–1977) gained recognition throughout Europe for her solo performances and later with her company, among other works for the 1935 suite Ghetto Songs. At the height of her artistic success, she immigrated to Eretz Israel, opened her own studio, and established a new dance group. She created the choreography for her works together with the dancers of the company, using improvisation as part of the creative process.

In 1950, she founded the Israel Ballet Theatre. In 1962, she was appointed Professor of Dance at the Rubin Academy in Jerusalem, and the following year she was awarded the Israel Prize. Until her death, she continued to teach at the Academy and to paint, and became a supporter of dance artists in Israel, especially young artists. Gertrud Kraus bequeathed her entire estate to the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, with the aim of developing its School of Dance.