Global Regional Jury Biography

Miho Tsurutani

A skilled practitioner and a highly qualified instructor.

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Miho is a celebrated Japanese dancer and accomplished ballet instructor. Her illustrious career began after graduating from the prestigious Royal Ballet School, when she joined the English National Ballet as their first Japanese dancer. During her time there, she had the honor of performing for Diana, Princess of Wales on multiple occasions, and graced the stages of renowned theaters across Europe and Korea.

 

Upon returning to her native Japan, Miho continued to shine as a Soloist with the esteemed National Ballet of Japan and the K Ballet Company for a decade. Following her successful stage career, she embarked on a new chapter, returning to the United Kingdom to deepen her understanding of ballet pedagogy. She immersed herself in the Cecchetti Method, a rigorous and systematic approach to ballet training. Her dedication and talent were recognized by the Cecchetti Society Faculty Committee UK, which awarded her The Grety Salomonson Bursary and The Diana Barker Memorial Fund.

 

In 2010, Miho reached a pinnacle in her ballet education and teaching career. She not only achieved the distinguished Enrico Cecchetti Final Diploma qualification, a testament to her mastery of the Cecchetti method's demanding technical and artistic standards, but also went on to earn a Fellowship qualification from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, Great Britain—the highest teaching qualification of the Cecchetti Method.

 

Driven by her passion for teaching, Miho founded "The Ballet Garden" in Tokyo in 2011. Since then, she has been sharing her expertise and knowledge of the Cecchetti Method with aspiring dancers. Her influence extends beyond her studio, as she has served as a tutor for auditions in Japan for prestigious institutions like the Elmhurst Ballet School, the Royal Conservatory of Scotland, and the English National Ballet School. Additionally, she is frequently sought after as a Jury member and tutor for various ballet competitions and seminars.