Matthew Koon
Encyclopedia
Matthew Koon is an English
stage actor
and dancer. He is most noted for participating in the Sky One
television series Got to Dance, in which he reached the final, finishing in 3rd place.
. At the age of 9, he auditioned for the Royal Ballet School
Junior Associate programme, he was successful and consequently attended weekly classes in Leeds. He also trained at Centre Pointe Dance Studios in Manchester, before taking a full time place at the English National Ballet School
.
Koon made his professional stage debut at the age of 12, playing the title role of Billy Elliot in the West End
production of Billy Elliot the Musical
. He auditioned for the role at the Zion Centre, Manchester
in February 2005. He made his first appearance in the role on 1 March 2006, and his final performance on 2 December 2006. He was the first boy from a Chinese
background to play the role of Billy.
Following auditions in 2009, in 2010 Koon participated in the inaugural series of Got to Dance, a televised dance competition broadcast on Sky One
. In articles about the show, he is quoted as saying that if he won the competition, he would use the prize money to continue his dance training at a professional performing arts school. He successfully competed in the second semi-final, ultimately finishing joint 3rd in the grand final on 14 February 2010.
In 2010, Koon won the national final of Dance Master UK
, a stage dance competition for boys, promoted by the International Dance Teachers' Association. Having qualified for the competition in a regional heat, Koon competed against other regional finalists at the Opera House Theatre
in the Winter Gardens, Blackpool
.
in Salford, Greater Manchester
. He lives with father, Arthur and his mother, Hilda. Matthew has one sister, Anna. He has studied at Lightoaks Junior School and is currently at Trinity Church of England High School.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
stage actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and dancer. He is most noted for participating in the Sky One
Sky One
Sky1 is the flagship BSkyB entertainment channel available in the United Kingdom and Ireland.The channel first launched on 26 April 1982 as Satellite Television, and is the fourth-oldest TV channel in the United Kingdom, behind BBC One , ITV and BBC Two...
television series Got to Dance, in which he reached the final, finishing in 3rd place.
Career
Matthew Koon began studying ballet at the age of 2, at the Alison Livesey School of Dance and Drama in Whitefield, Greater ManchesterWhitefield, Greater Manchester
Whitefield is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on undulating ground in the Irwell Valley, along the south bank of the River Irwell, south-southeast of Bury, and to the north-northwest of the city of Manchester...
. At the age of 9, he auditioned for the Royal Ballet School
Royal Ballet School
The Royal Ballet School is one of the most famous classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of the Royal Ballet, a leading international ballet company based at the Royal Opera House in London...
Junior Associate programme, he was successful and consequently attended weekly classes in Leeds. He also trained at Centre Pointe Dance Studios in Manchester, before taking a full time place at the English National Ballet School
English National Ballet School
English National Ballet School is a specialist classical ballet school based in London in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1988, the school is the official associate school of the English National Ballet, with many graduates becoming dancers with the company...
.
Koon made his professional stage debut at the age of 12, playing the title role of Billy Elliot in the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
production of Billy Elliot the Musical
Billy Elliot the Musical
Billy Elliot the Musical is a musical based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot. The music is by Sir Elton John, and book and lyrics are by Lee Hall, who wrote the film's screenplay. The plot revolves around motherless Billy, who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes...
. He auditioned for the role at the Zion Centre, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in February 2005. He made his first appearance in the role on 1 March 2006, and his final performance on 2 December 2006. He was the first boy from a Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
background to play the role of Billy.
Following auditions in 2009, in 2010 Koon participated in the inaugural series of Got to Dance, a televised dance competition broadcast on Sky One
Sky One
Sky1 is the flagship BSkyB entertainment channel available in the United Kingdom and Ireland.The channel first launched on 26 April 1982 as Satellite Television, and is the fourth-oldest TV channel in the United Kingdom, behind BBC One , ITV and BBC Two...
. In articles about the show, he is quoted as saying that if he won the competition, he would use the prize money to continue his dance training at a professional performing arts school. He successfully competed in the second semi-final, ultimately finishing joint 3rd in the grand final on 14 February 2010.
In 2010, Koon won the national final of Dance Master UK
Dance Master UK
-Overview:Dance Master UK was established in the late 1990s by the International Dance Teachers Association, as the male equivalent of their long running competition Miss Dance of Great Britain. Dance Master UK is a theatre dance competition for boys held annually in the UK with a national final...
, a stage dance competition for boys, promoted by the International Dance Teachers' Association. Having qualified for the competition in a regional heat, Koon competed against other regional finalists at the Opera House Theatre
Opera House Theatre, Blackpool
The Opera House Theatre is a 2,920 capacity theatre in Blackpool Lancashire, England. It is located within the Winter Gardens, a large entertainment complex in the town centre and originally opened in 1889, although it has been rebuilt twice, in 1910 and 1939....
in the Winter Gardens, Blackpool
Winter Gardens, Blackpool
The Winter Gardens is a large entertainment complex in the town centre of Blackpool, Lancashire, England. It has twelve different venues, including a theatre, ballroom and conference facilities. Opened in 1878, it is a Grade II* listed building, incorporating various elements built between 1875 and...
.
Personal life
Matthew Koon is from Kays Gardens, TrinityTrinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
in Salford, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
. He lives with father, Arthur and his mother, Hilda. Matthew has one sister, Anna. He has studied at Lightoaks Junior School and is currently at Trinity Church of England High School.
Awards and titles
- Fonteyn Nureyev Young Dancers Competition - Winner, 2008
- Janet Cram Awards - Outstanding Dance Award, 2008
- Janet Cram Awards - Boys Cup, 2008
- English Dance Championships - Winner, 2009
- Marjorie Davies Tap Awards - Senior Class Prize, 2009
- International Ballet Championship - Winner, 2009
- Young Ballet Dancer of the Year - Winner, 2009
- Young British Tap Dancer of the Year - Runner-up, 2009
- Dance Master UKDance Master UK-Overview:Dance Master UK was established in the late 1990s by the International Dance Teachers Association, as the male equivalent of their long running competition Miss Dance of Great Britain. Dance Master UK is a theatre dance competition for boys held annually in the UK with a national final...
- Winner, 2010
Video
- Electricity - from Billy Elliot the Musical
- Swan Lake Scene - from Billy Elliot the Musical
- Fonteyn Nureyev Young Dancers Competition