A Lesser Known Side of Japan...

Ballet! Not all the medals are at the London Olympics.




Monday, July 30, 2012


Ballet dancers win second prize

Kyodo


MOSCOW — Two Japanese dancers won second prize in the women's and men's categories at the prestigious International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, on Saturday.

The two are Miki Wakuta, 21, from Osaka, and Arata Miyagawa, 20, from Fukui.

Wakuta is a member of a ballet company in San Jose, California, and Miyagawa, who has been active internationally, belongs to one in Fukui.

"I was able to dance in a relaxed manner without thinking about winning a prize," Wakuta said. "I want to grow further by maturing as a person."

Miyagawa said he is setting his sights overseas.

"I put everything into it. From now on, I want to take part in auditions in Europe," he said