Gen Horiuchi
Encyclopedia
Gen Horiuchi is a Japan
ese ballet
dancer and choreographer. He was a principal dancer of the New York City Ballet
and is artistic director of the Saint Louis Ballet Company.
, Japan
. He was raised in a ballet family: his parents were both professional dancers and own their own studio in Tokyo.
In 1980, Horiuchi won the Prix de Lausanne
, the international ballet competition in Switzerland
. He then received a scholarship to study at the School of American Ballet.
In 1982, he was invited by George Balanchine
to join the New York City Ballet
, where he became a principal dancer in 1989. He played Mr. Mistoffelees in the musical "Cats", both on Broadway and in London's West End. He choreographed the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Since 1993 he has been a judge of the Prix de Lausanne.
Since 2000 he has been artistic director of the Saint Louis Ballet Company and School. He has created a dozen original works for the company. Under his direction, the school rose from 50 students in 2000 to 350 in 2008.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
dancer and choreographer. He was a principal dancer of the New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
and is artistic director of the Saint Louis Ballet Company.
Biography
Gen Horiuchi was born and raised in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He was raised in a ballet family: his parents were both professional dancers and own their own studio in Tokyo.
In 1980, Horiuchi won the Prix de Lausanne
Prix de Lausanne
The Prix de Lausanne is an International dance competition held annually in Lausanne, Switzerland. The competition is for young dancers seeking to pursue a professional career in classical ballet, and many former prize winners of the competition are now leading stars with major ballet companies...
, the international ballet competition in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. He then received a scholarship to study at the School of American Ballet.
In 1982, he was invited by George Balanchine
George Balanchine
George Balanchine , born Giorgi Balanchivadze in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to a Georgian father and a Russian mother, was one of the 20th century's most famous choreographers, a developer of ballet in the United States, co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet...
to join the New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
, where he became a principal dancer in 1989. He played Mr. Mistoffelees in the musical "Cats", both on Broadway and in London's West End. He choreographed the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Since 1993 he has been a judge of the Prix de Lausanne.
Since 2000 he has been artistic director of the Saint Louis Ballet Company and School. He has created a dozen original works for the company. Under his direction, the school rose from 50 students in 2000 to 350 in 2008.