Yoko Morishita
Encyclopedia
Yoko Morishita is a Japanese
ballerina
for Matsuyama Ballet Company.
She represented Japan as a prima ballerina.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
ballerina
Ballerina
A ballerina is a title used to describe a principal female professional ballet dancer in a large company; the male equivalent to this title is danseur or ballerino...
for Matsuyama Ballet Company.
She represented Japan as a prima ballerina.
Career
- Started ballet at the age of three.
- Moved to 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...
to start her ballet life in 1963 when she was 12 years old. - Studied ballet in America in 1969.
- Entered Matsuyama Ballet Company in 1971
- Won for the Gold Medal at the 1974 Varna International Ballet Competition.
- Won the Japan Academy Prize in 1975 and 1977.
- Performed for the 25th anniversary of the Queen Elizabeth in 1977.
- Performed at Palais GarnierPalais GarnierThe Palais Garnier, , is an elegant 1,979-seat opera house, which was built from 1861 to 1875 for the Paris Opera. It was originally called the Salle des Capucines because of its location on the Boulevard des Capucines in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, but soon became known as the Palais Garnier...
as the 1st Japanese ballerina in 1981. - Performed with Rudolf NureyevRudolf NureyevRudolf Khametovich Nureyev was a Russian dancer, considered one of the most celebrated ballet dancers of the 20th century. Nureyev's artistic skills explored expressive areas of the dance, providing a new role to the male ballet dancer who once served only as support to the women.In 1961 he...
from 1983. - Participates in some international ballet competitions as a judge.
- Won the Japan Academy of Arts Award in 1985.
- Won the 10th Laurence Olivier AwardsLaurence Olivier AwardsThe Laurence Olivier Award is presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognise excellence in professional theatre. Named after the renowned British actor Laurence Olivier, they are given for West End shows and other productions staged in London...
in 1985. - One of the Person of Cultural MeritPerson of Cultural Meritis an official Japanese recognition-honor which is awarded annually to select people who have made outstanding cultural contributions. This distinction is intended to play a role as a part of a system of support measures for the promotion of creative activities in Japan...
in 1997. - Won the Hiroshima Prefectural Prize of Honour in 2000.
- Leader of Matsuyama Ballet Company from 2001.
- Member of the The Japan Art Academy from 2002.