Yoko Morishita
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Yoko Morishita (森下洋子 Morishita Yoko, born in Hiroshima December 7, 1948) is a Japanese ballerina for Matsuyama Ballet Company. She represented Japan as a prima ballerina.
[edit] Career
- Started ballet at the age of three.
- Moved to Tokyo to start her ballet life in 1963 when she was 12 years old.
- Studied ballet in America in 1969.
- Entered Matsuyama Ballet Company in 1971
- Won for the Gold Medal at the 1974 Varna International Ballet Competition.
- Won the Japan Academy Prize in 1975 and 1977.
- Performed for the 25th anniversary of the Queen Elizabeth in 1977.
- Performed at Palais Garnier as the 1st Japanese ballerina in 1981.
- Performed with Rudolf Nureyev from 1983.
- Participates in some international ballet competitions as a judge.
- Won the Japan Academy of Arts Award in 1985.
- Won the 10th Laurence Olivier Awards in 1985.
- One of the Person of Cultural Merit in 1997.
- Won the Hiroshima Prefectural Prize of Honour in 2000.
- Leader of Matsuyama Ballet Company from 2001.
- Member of the The Japan Art Academy from 2002.