BALLET ASTERAS ~ Inviting Japanese Dancers from Overseas ~


Ballet Asteras
has been annually staged since 2009 with the aim to introduce Japanese ballet dancers who are mainly performing outside Japan. The idea was conceived by a former dancer whose performance was well known overseas but found it difficult to find an opportunity to dance once she returned to Japan, as she was not known to the Japanese ballet world or the public. Alongside training dancers who will represent the future generation, the NNT (New National Theatre) Ballet School presents a Gala performance to provide these dancers such opportunity and also to introduce talented young dancers from overseas to the Japanese audience.

Here are the extracts of the messages sent from the dancers after their appearance in Ballet Asteras 2016.

KOIKE Saori & Motuzov EGOR

from Kremlin Ballet (Russia)


We were extremely grateful to have been given the chance to perform on stage of the New National Theatre Opera House. The wonderfully warm applause from the audience made us realize that love for ballet was a common feeling wherever you are in the world.

EBIHARA Yuka & Dawid TRZENSIMIECH

from Polish National Ballet (Poland)


Not only has this Gala presented the Japanese dancers to perform in Japan but it has also provided a great opportunity for dancers from different ballet companies to be on the same stage.

ARAI Yoshihisa & Anais BUENO

from the Joffrey Ballet (USA)


Those of us who shared the common language and passion for BALLET came together. It was such a great honor to be on stage with high level performers from all over the world. We are truly grateful for having given the opportunity.

URABE Kurimu & MACHIYAMA Takashi

from the National Academic Bolshoi Theatre Republic of Belarus (Belarus)


The best part of the experience was being given the chance to rehearse with wonderfully talented dancers from many different countries as well as performing on stage of the huge Opera House. We hope to come back and perform on this stage again.

SUZUKI Rieka & Tamás Kristóf DARAI

from Croatian National Theatre & Theater Augsburg (Croatia)


It was the first time I was given the chance to dance in Japan and I was very thrilled to have my parents finally see me perform on stage as a professional dancer for the first time. The few days I have spent at the theatre were memorable and very exciting.

ISHIHARA Koto & Vitor LUIZ

from San Francisco Ballet (USA)


Thank you everyone for giving us this opportunity to dance on the same stage with so many wonderful dancers of our generation. We hope to come back to perform at this Opera House again.

MIYAZAKI Tamako & Andile NDLOVU

from the Washington Ballet (USA)


We would like to express our love for Japan and its culture, and mostly the hospitality we have experienced. We have enjoyed the class lessons which was offered to us daily and the orchestra and everyone we got to perform with were very supportive. We would love to join Ballet Asteras again.


The open call for applicants for Ballet Asteras 2017 will commence in April 2017.

Please watch this space for further announcement.