Japanese Literary Awards

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Matsuyama Ballet Company

まつやまバレエだん

Matsuyama Baree-dan

Profile

Gender
Unknown
Born
1948-01-01 （Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan (founding location)）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Minato-ku, Tokyo (headquarters) → Beijing (branch)

Career

Occupations
Ballet company, Performing arts organization
Active Years
1948-
Affiliations
Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Matsuyama Ballet Company, The Japan Ballet Co., Ltd. (operator of Matsuyama Ballet School)
Influenced By
Rudolf Nureyev, Russian classical ballet tradition, Chinese stage arts (notably via The White-Haired Girl)
Influenced
Miyako Yoshida, Yoko Morishita

Awards

Minister of Education Encouragement Award
1957
Work: The Fountain of Bakhchisarai
Organization: Ministry of Education (now MEXT)
Result: 受賞
Minister of Education Encouragement Award
1961
Work: Othello
Organization: Ministry of Education (now MEXT)
Result: 受賞
Japan Dance Critics Association Award
1980
Organization: Japan Dance Critics Association
Result: 受賞
Arts Encouragement Prize (Minister of Education Award)
1984
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs (Arts Encouragement)
Result: 受賞
Japan Dance Critics Association Award
1985
Organization: Japan Dance Critics Association
Result: 受賞
Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival Award
1985
Work: Don Quixote (Nureyev staging)
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: 受賞
Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival Award
1987
Work: New Taima Mandala
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: 受賞
Japan Dance Critics Association Award
1988
Work: New Taima Mandala
Organization: Japan Dance Critics Association
Result: 受賞
Japan Dance Critics Association Award
1989
Organization: Japan Dance Critics Association
Result: 受賞
Japan Dance Critics Association Award
1990
Organization: Japan Dance Critics Association
Result: 受賞
Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival Award
1990
Work: Cinderella
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: 受賞
Japan Dance Critics Association Award
1992
Organization: Japan Dance Critics Association
Result: 受賞
Japan Dance Critics Association Award
1998
Organization: Japan Dance Critics Association
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The White Fox's Bath

1953 Ballet

A short ballet first performed by the company in 1953. It incorporates elements of Japanese folklore and tells a drama rooted in local tales.

folkloretransformationnature and humanity

The White-Haired Girl

1955 Ballet (stage adaptation)

A ballet adaptation of a Chinese stage work. The company's staging is noted for contributing to Sino-Japanese cultural exchange.

Japan–China exchangerevolutionary themessocial issues

The Fountain of Bakhchisarai

1957 Ballet

A romantic ballet based on a Pushkin poem. First staged by the company in 1957 and received critical recognition.

love and jealousytragedyromanticism

Swan Lake (including New Swan Lake)

1960 Classical ballet

Swan Lake was first performed by the company in 1960. A new staging ('New Swan Lake') premiered in 1994.

love and sacrificeclassical repertoire

Gion Festival

1963 Dance piece

An original piece inspired by Kyoto's Gion Festival. First performed in 1963.

traditional festivalsregional culture

Mandala

Contemporary dance / Ballet

A stage work using Buddhist motifs and the mandala as themes. Known as part of the company's repertoire.

Buddhist motifssymbolic expression

Giselle

Romantic ballet

A canonical romantic ballet frequently performed in the company's repertoire.

love and betrayaletherealness

Bibliography

  • The White Fox's Bath (1953)
  • The White-Haired Girl (1955)
  • The Fountain of Bakhchisarai (1957)
  • Swan Lake (1960)
  • Gion Festival (1963)
  • New Swan Lake (1994)
  • The Nutcracker
  • The Sleeping Beauty
  • Don Quixote
  • Giselle

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Choreography and staging based on classical balletStage aesthetics influenced by Western choreographers (e.g., Nureyev)
Recurring Motifs
Works themed on Japan–China friendship and cultural exchangeStage adaptations of folklore and traditional festivalsMandala and Buddhist motifs

Legacy

Founded in 1948, Matsuyama Ballet Company has held an important place in Japanese classical ballet, contributing to international exchange and Japan–China friendship through stage works. The company's school has trained many dancers.

In Popular Culture

  • Many entertainers and actors studied at Matsuyama Ballet School (numerous well-known former students).

Trivia

  • Founded in 1948 by Itsuko Matsuyama (松山樹子) and Masao Shimizu (清水正夫).
  • Headquartered in Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo; the rehearsal facility is called 'Museion'.
  • Matsuyama Ballet School has many branches; the school is operated by The Japan Ballet Co., Ltd.
  • Founder Itsuko Matsuyama passed away in 2021 at the age of 98.