Yoshida Miyako returns to London with National Ballet of Japan
Yoshida served for many years as principal dancer of The Royal Ballet, which is based at the ornate theater.
Yoshida told reporters on Tuesday that she felt truly nostalgic as she returned to the theater, and was happy to watch the dancers rehearse.
She said she hopes the performance will become a big step forward for the National Ballet of Japan, as it aims to become a global name.
The company will perform Yoshida's production of the 19th century classic "Giselle," over four days from Thursday.
Yonezawa Yui, who will play Giselle, said it is like getting a gift to be able to dance on a historic stage like this. She said she hopes to perform well to make the spectators in London happy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
5 days ago
National Ballet of Japan Stages 1st Overseas Performance in London
News from Japan Culture World Jul 25, 2025 12:34 (JST) London, July 24 (Jiji Press)--The National Ballet of Japan on Thursday staged its first hosted performance overseas at the Royal Opera House in London with its production of "Giselle," a masterpiece of classic ballet. Thursday's show was the first of a total of five performances scheduled through Sunday. Miyako Yoshida, artistic director of the NBJ, once served as principal dancer at the Royal Ballet, a ballet company based at the Royal Opera House. For Yoshida, the NBJ's London performances mark her triumphant return to the theater where she performed for many years. In an interview on Tuesday, prior to the London performances, Yoshida said, "This is a major step forward for the NBJ as it pursues globalization." "I hope the company will use this experience to move on to the next stage," she said enthusiastically. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Kyodo News
5 days ago
- Kyodo News
National Ballet of Japan holds 1st overseas show in 16 yrs in London
LONDON - The National Ballet of Japan gave its first overseas performance in 16 years in London on Thursday, with Miyako Yoshida, formerly a principal dancer in the city's Royal Ballet, directing the presentation. The five-show production of "Giselle" also marks the British debut of the dance company under the New National Theatre, Tokyo, as well as the first show it has organized outside the country. The Japanese troupe last performed overseas in 2009, when it appeared in Moscow at the invitation of the Russian government. The opening night was a roaring success, with the over 2,000-strong audience at the 19th century Royal Opera House erupting into rapturous applause as dancers took to the stage for a curtain call. Speaking with Kyodo News after the show, Yoshida said, "The dancers all did really was something special about the atmosphere in the concert hall tonight." "I'm really pleased everyone danced so energetically," she added. Yoshida initially came to study ballet in Britain in 1983 and went on to become the first-ever Japanese principal dancer in the Royal Ballet in 1995. In a media preview showcase on Tuesday, she said of the Japanese ballet founded in 1997, "We are still a young company, so I just want the world to know us." "I hope this performance will become a bridge between the U.K. and Japan." In the lead-up to the sold-out event, the Tokyo-based troupe's visit to Britain has generated significant interest and media attention. Reacting to the performance, a 52-year-old ballet fan from London said, "I think the Japanese ballet dancers are very, very precise. They're so in time it's sort of perfect." "I thought it was beautiful, I thought it was amazing." Principal dancer Yui Yonezawa expressed her happiness at being able to dance in London. The ballerina was hospitalized in the middle of last year before undergoing an eight-hour surgery in November that seemed to leave her hopes of performing in jeopardy. Speaking to journalists, she said, "I cherish even simple moments, and just living in this moment is such a wonderful thing." Yonezawa plays the titular heroine Giselle, a peasant girl who dies after discovering her lover's identity and finds herself in the realm of ghosts.
The Mainichi
5 days ago
- The Mainichi
National Ballet of Japan holds 1st overseas show in 16 yrs in London
LONDON (Kyodo) -- The National Ballet of Japan gave its first overseas performance in 16 years in London on Thursday, with Miyako Yoshida, formerly a principal dancer in the city's Royal Ballet, directing the presentation. The five-show production of "Giselle" also marks the British debut of the dance company under the New National Theatre, Tokyo, as well as the first show it has organized outside the country. The Japanese troupe last performed overseas in 2009, when it appeared in Moscow at the invitation of the Russian government. The opening night was a roaring success, with the over 2,000-strong audience at the 19th century Royal Opera House erupting into rapturous applause as dancers took to the stage for a curtain call. Speaking with Kyodo News after the show, Yoshida said, "The dancers all did really was something special about the atmosphere in the concert hall tonight." "I'm really pleased everyone danced so energetically," she added. Yoshida initially came to study ballet in Britain in 1983 and went on to become the first-ever Japanese principal dancer in the Royal Ballet in 1995. In a media preview showcase on Tuesday, she said of the Japanese ballet founded in 1997, "We are still a young company, so I just want the world to know us." "I hope this performance will become a bridge between the U.K. and Japan." In the lead-up to the sold-out event, the Tokyo-based troupe's visit to Britain has generated significant interest and media attention. Reacting to the performance, a 52-year-old ballet fan from London said, "I think the Japanese ballet dancers are very, very precise. They're so in time it's sort of perfect." "I thought it was beautiful, I thought it was amazing." Principal dancer Yui Yonezawa expressed her happiness at being able to dance in London. The ballerina was hospitalized in the middle of last year before undergoing an eight-hour surgery in November that seemed to leave her hopes of performing in jeopardy. Speaking to journalists, she said, "I cherish even simple moments, and just living in this moment is such a wonderful thing." Yonezawa plays the titular heroine Giselle, a peasant girl who dies after discovering her lover's identity and finds herself in the realm of ghosts.
