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Calgary Herald

Alberta Ballet School graduate accepted into Argentina's premier dance company after first pro audition

Yoshino Horita didn't hesitate when her new boss asked her what her goals were at Teatro Colon's Ballet Company in Buenos Aires. Article content This is no ordinary boss. Julio Bocca is the newly installed director of Argentina's 100-year-old national ballet company and a global superstar in the world of dance. The New York Times describes him as 'the most famous Argentine dancer in recent memory.' At his peak, his performances would fill soccer stadiums in his home country. Article content Article content Still, Horita didn't mince words. Article content Article content In February, Horita was one of hundreds of young dancers who auditioned in front of Bocca, who took over as director of the company in 2024. When he accepted the role, he told the New York Times he wanted the company to 'find its place among the best in the world' and audiences at the historic Teatro Colon would see 'the best of the best' whenever the curtains rose. Article content Auditions for major ballet companies can be ruthless. They take the form of a class, and dancers can be cut within five minutes. Even for those who pass the audition, the usual practice is to offer a contract for the future, maybe six months or a year down the road. Students like Horita tend to blast audition tapes out to as many companies as they can, but have low expectations of being successful right off the bat. Article content Article content But after her February audition in Buenos Aires, Horita was accepted on the spot. To say this is unusual in the world of ballet is an understatement. What makes it even more remarkable is that it was her very first professional audition. She hadn't even graduated from Calgary's Alberta Ballet School yet. Article content 'I couldn't believe it for 10 minutes or so, actually,' she says. 'I called my mom and I told her I was accepted. Then we both started panicking. But after a bit, I came down mentally and was very grateful and happy.' Article content After four months in Buenos Aires working full time with the company, Horita was back in Calgary this week. The 18-year-old has to write her final exams at the Alberta Ballet School, which offers a full academic and residential program for aspiring dancers from around the globe. On Sunday, she will graduate and say goodbye to the school and city that have been her home since arriving at the age of 15 from Kumamoto, Japan.