Japanese Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Megumi Nakamura

なかむら めぐみ

Nakamura Megumi

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1970-01-01 (Yokohama, Japan)
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Italy (childhood) → France (study & early career) → Netherlands (based) → Japan (current base)

Career

Occupations
choreographer, dancer
Active Years
1988-
Affiliations
Jeune Ballet de France, Avignon Opera, Monte Carlo Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, Dance Sanga
Influenced By
Jiří Kylián

Education

Kanagawa Prefectural Koryo High School
Period: 1986-1988
Year of Graduation: 1988
Country: Japan
Competed in the Prix de Lausanne while in high school
Rosella Hightower Dance School (Cannes)
Country: France
One of the institutions where she received dance training abroad

Awards

1st Asia-Pacific Ballet Competition IBM Prize
1987
Organization: Asia-Pacific Ballet Competition organizers
Result: recipient
Prix de Lausanne — Professional Prize
1988
Organization: Prix de Lausanne
Result: winner
Golden Theater Prize
2000
Work: Dream Window
Organization: Netherlands (organizer unspecified)
Result: recipient
Nimura Dance Prize
2002
Organization: Nimura Dance Prize organizers
Result: recipient
Eguchi Takaya Prize
2011
Organization: Contemporary Dance Association (etc.)
Result: recipient
Art Encouragement Prize (Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
2011
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan)
Result: recipient
Order of the Purple Ribbon
2018
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: honoree
Kanagawa Culture Award
2018
Organization: Kanagawa Prefecture
Result: recipient

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Dream Window

2000 solo dance / contemporary

A self-choreographed solo performed by the artist; staged in the Netherlands and awarded the Golden Theater Prize.

dreamsinner self

One 6

2005 solo dance / contemporary

A solo piece performed in the Netherlands exploring bodily expression and formal experiment.

the bodyform

ROSE WINDOW

2009 contemporary dance

Performed at the Dance Triennale TOKYO 2009; emphasizes the relationship between space, light, and music.

spacelightmusic

Waltz (for Noism07)

dance / choreography

Choreographed for Noism07; one of the pieces that earned the Dance Critics Association Newcomer Award.

dance expressiongroup and individual

Style & Themes

Literary Style
contemporary physical expression grounded in classical ballet techniquemeticulous structures intertwining music and space
Recurring Motifs
timememoryrelationship between body and space

Legacy

Bridged classical ballet technique and contemporary dance expression, achieving recognition through international activity, choreography, and teaching. Has coached major companies and schools worldwide and received numerous awards.

Trivia

  • She lived in Italy during childhood due to her father's work.
  • While in high school she won the Prix de Lausanne Professional Prize (1988), a first for a Japanese competitor.
  • She was a member of Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) from 1991 to 1999.