FLASH #35 – LIFE AFTER JBA

Junior Ballet Antwerp was founded with a very clear mission in mind: bridging the difficult gap between the end of the vocational studies and the start of a career in dance.

Marta Dias ©Agathe Pouponey

Carefully designed to reflect the daily working of a professional ballet company, JBA offers its young trainees all the opportunities to develop their general technique and artistry so that they are far better prepared to enter the demanding dance arena.

Essential during this time is the extensive experience they receive by working closely with in-demand choreographers as well as gaining plentiful experience on stage, this being the place which they will call ‘home’ for their entire career.

Since our launch in 2019, 62 young talents have passed through the premises with 55 finalizing the two-year JBA program. We can take pride in the high number – no less than 80% – who, during this time, have been offered professional contracts.

With our current graduate generation in full audition-mode and JBA’s annual audition for budding talent very imminent, it is the perfect moment to spotlight a few of our former dancers, all shining in companies around Europe.

American/Japanese Anna Yeh was one of JBA’s first generation of artists.In possession of a strong technique in both classical and modern styles, Anna stood out for her artistry and musical sensibility, which was so evident in David Dawson’s Metamorphosis, Yannick Boquin’s Concerto con Brio, Craig Davidson’s Autumn and Altea Nuñez’s Summer.Joining the National Ballet of Brno, Czech Republic in 2021, Anna quickly rose to the rank of soloist and was named principal dancer of the company at the start of 2026 dancing leading roles in a.o. The Nutcracker, Don Quijote, Cyrano de Bergerac and La Bayadère.

We remember Akihito Shimogata for the generosity of his dancing as well as for his deeply-felt artistry in every single role he performed with Junior Ballet Antwerp throughout the 4 years he stayed with us. Akihito’s professional career led him to the Vanemuine Ballet in Tartu, Estonia where he recently was promoted to Junior Soloist of the company.

After spending their time with JBA, Lara Wolter (Belgium) and Marta Mendo Dias (Portugal) received contracts with the Ballet du Rhin in Mulhouse, France. Both young ladies are now fully integrated into the company and have been performing works by William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, Rubén Julliard, Lucinda Childs, Martin Chaix & Bruno Bouché over the past few seasons.

On spreading their wings, both of last year’s graduates Letizia Austoni (Italy) and Ella Matthews (Australia) headed to Germany with Ella joining the Staatsballett Karlsruhe, and Letizia as an apprentice, the Dresden SemperOper Ballett, performing roles in Colossus (Stephanie Lake), Nijinsky (John Neumeier) & The Nutcracker & The Sleeping Beauty by Aron Watkin.

Natsuki Nishiyama (Japan) started her training with JBA in 2021, joining the National Ballet of Prague, Czech Republic in 2023. Natsuki will be remembered as one of JBA’s original CINDERELLA’s; she is now making waves dancing the title role in Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon.

Florian Carer (France) joined Stephan Delattre’s Delattre Dance Company in 2021 and has recently joined Ballet Illicite in Bayonne where he performs works by Mauro Bigonzetti, Nacho Duato, Hans van Manen and Fábio Lopez.

With more JBA graduates dancing with companies such as Bayerisches Staatsballett, Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, Milwaukee Ballet II, Póznan Opera Ballet, the National Ballet of Portugal, Theater Hof, Tivoli Ballet, the National Ballet of Japan, Ballet am Rhein, Thüringer Staatsballett, the Moravian Theatre Olomouc and the Hungarian National Ballet, it is safe to say that Junior Ballet Antwerp is providing young artists with an essential stepping stone to the professional industry.

We can’t wait to find out where this year’s graduates will start their careers, following their childhood dreams.