10
EXECUTIVE AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
GEN HORIUCHI
Executive and Artistic Director
New York City Ballet principal
dancer Gen Horiuchi is an
internationally recognized
ballet dancer and
choreographer who dedicates
the majority of his time and
talents to Saint Louis Ballet,
which he joined in 2000. His
reputation among
choreographers all over the
world has resulted in many
original works created for the
company and St. Louis audiences. Originally from Tokyo, Horiuchi
was the winner of the ultimate international ballet competition—
Switzerland’s Prix de Lausanne. That recognition earned him an
invitation to study at the School of American Ballet. The renowned
George Balanchine invited him to join the New York City Ballet
where he became a Principal Dancer two years later. Horiuchi
performed a variety of roles with New York City Ballet
(including one created for him by Balanchine himself!), was
featured in the movie version of NYCB’s
The Nutcracker
, and
performed on Broadway and the London stage as Mr. Mistoffelees
in
CATS
. He garnered many accolades and won numerous honors
including New York’s Seventh Cultural Bridge Award along with
director Harold Prince. Horiuchi directed the Aoyama Ballet
Festival with artists from around the world and was the
choreographer for the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics
in Nagano, Japan. He returns annually to Osaka, Japan to direct
Ballet USA, a company he founded that presents his own work to
sold out audiences.
