{"id":9343,"date":"2026-04-22T09:57:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T07:57:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/?p=9343"},"modified":"2026-04-22T10:23:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T08:23:12","slug":"flash-35-life-after-jba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/flash-35-life-after-jba\/","title":{"rendered":"FLASH #35 – LIFE AFTER JBA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

FLASH #35 – LIFE AFTER JBA<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marta Dias \u00a9Agathe Pouponey
<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2018home\u2019 for their entire career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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% <\/strong>– who, during this time, have been offered professional contracts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With our current graduate generation in full audition-mode and JBA\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

American\/Japanese Anna Yeh <\/strong>was one of JBA\u2019s first generation of artists.In possession of a strong technique in both classical and modern styles, Anna<\/strong> stood out for her artistry and musical sensibility, which was so evident in David Dawson\u2019s <\/strong>Metamorphosis<\/em>, Yannick Boquin\u2019s<\/strong> Concerto con Brio<\/em>, Craig Davidson\u2019s <\/strong>Autumn <\/em>and Altea Nu\u00f1ez\u2019s<\/strong> Summer<\/em>.Joining the National Ballet of Brno<\/strong>, Czech Republic in 2021, Anna<\/strong> 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 Bayad\u00e8re.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Anna Yeh \u00a9Pavel Hejny<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Anna Yeh \u00a9Pavel Hejny<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

We remember Akihito Shimogata<\/strong> 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\u2019s<\/strong> professional career led him to the Vanemuine Ballet<\/strong> in Tartu, Estonia where he recently was promoted to Junior Soloist of the company.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

After spending their time with JBA, Lara Wolter<\/strong> (Belgium) and Marta Mendo Dias<\/strong> (Portugal) received contracts with the Ballet du Rhin<\/strong> in Mulhouse, France. Both young ladies are now fully integrated into the company and have been performing works by William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, Rub\u00e9n Julliard, Lucinda Childs, Martin Chaix & Bruno Bouch\u00e9<\/strong> over the past few seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lara Wolter \u00a9Agathe Pouponey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On spreading their wings, both of last year\u2019s graduates Letizia Austoni <\/strong>(Italy) and Ella Matthews<\/strong> (Australia) headed to Germany with Ella<\/strong> joining the Staatsballett Karlsruhe<\/strong>, and Letizia<\/strong> as an apprentice, the Dresden SemperOper Ballett<\/strong>, performing roles in Colossus<\/em> (Stephanie Lake<\/strong>), Nijinsky<\/em> (John Neumeier<\/strong>) & The Nutcracker <\/em>& The Sleeping Beauty<\/em> by Aron Watkin.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Natsuki Nishiyama<\/strong> (Japan) started her training with JBA in 2021, joining the National Ballet of Prague<\/strong>, Czech Republic in 2023. Natsuki will be remembered as one of JBA\u2019s original CINDERELLA\u2019s<\/strong>; she is now making waves dancing the title role in Kenneth MacMillan\u2019s <\/strong>Manon<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Florian Carer<\/strong> (France) joined Stephan<\/strong> Delattre\u2019s Delattre Dance Company <\/strong>in 2021 and has recently joined Ballet Illicite<\/strong> in Bayonne where he performs works by Mauro Bigonzetti, Nacho Duato, Hans van Manen <\/strong>and F\u00e1bio Lopez<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Florian Carer \u00a9Stephane Bellocq<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Florian Carer \u00a9Stephane Bellocq<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

With more JBA graduates dancing with companies such as Bayerisches Staatsballett, Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, Milwaukee Ballet II, P\u00f3znan Opera Ballet, the National Ballet of Portugal, Theater Hof, Tivoli Ballet, the National Ballet of Japan, Ballet am Rhein, Th\u00fcringer Staatsballett, the Moravian Theatre Olomouc<\/strong> and the Hungarian National Ballet<\/strong>, it is safe to say that Junior Ballet Antwerp is providing young artists with an essential stepping stone to the professional industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can\u2019t wait to find out where this year\u2019s graduates will start their careers, following their childhood dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Text: \u00a9Alain Honorez
Images: \u00a9 Agathe Pouponey, Filip Van Roe, Pavel Hejny, R\u00fcnno Lahesoo & Stephane Bellocq<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 \u00a9Agathe Pouponey Carefully designed to reflect the daily working of a professional ballet company, JBA offers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9347,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-flash-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFLASH #35 - LIFE AFTER JBA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover where former Junior Ballet Antwerp dancers are today. FLASH #35 highlights their international careers and life after JBA.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/flash-35-life-after-jba\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"FLASH #35 - LIFE AFTER JBA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover where former Junior Ballet Antwerp dancers are today. FLASH #35 highlights their international careers and life after JBA.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/flash-35-life-after-jba\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Junior Ballet Antwerp\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-22T07:57:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-22T08:23:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MARTA-\u00a9Agathe-Pouponey-image00001.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Media Architect\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Media Architect\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/en\\\/flash-35-life-after-jba\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/en\\\/flash-35-life-after-jba\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Media Architect\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a51cdd85bcaa09dd83c6ac3839b00c93\"},\"headline\":\"FLASH #35 – LIFE AFTER JBA\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-22T07:57:27+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-22T08:23:12+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/en\\\/flash-35-life-after-jba\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":756,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/en\\\/flash-35-life-after-jba\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/MARTA-\u00a9Agathe-Pouponey-image00001.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Flash\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/en\\\/flash-35-life-after-jba\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/en\\\/flash-35-life-after-jba\\\/\",\"name\":\"FLASH #35 - LIFE AFTER JBA\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/en\\\/flash-35-life-after-jba\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/en\\\/flash-35-life-after-jba\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/MARTA-\u00a9Agathe-Pouponey-image00001.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-22T07:57:27+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-22T08:23:12+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a51cdd85bcaa09dd83c6ac3839b00c93\"},\"description\":\"Discover where former Junior Ballet Antwerp dancers are today. FLASH #35 highlights their international careers and life after JBA.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/en\\\/flash-35-life-after-jba\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/en\\\/flash-35-life-after-jba\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/MARTA-\u00a9Agathe-Pouponey-image00001.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/MARTA-\u00a9Agathe-Pouponey-image00001.jpg\",\"width\":1800,\"height\":1200},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"Junior Ballet Antwerp\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a51cdd85bcaa09dd83c6ac3839b00c93\",\"name\":\"Media Architect\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/juniorballetantwerp.be\\\/en\\\/author\\\/media-architect\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"FLASH #35 - LIFE AFTER JBA","description":"Discover where former Junior Ballet Antwerp dancers are today. FLASH #35 highlights their international careers and life after JBA.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/flash-35-life-after-jba\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"FLASH #35 - LIFE AFTER JBA","og_description":"Discover where former Junior Ballet Antwerp dancers are today. FLASH #35 highlights their international careers and life after JBA.","og_url":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/flash-35-life-after-jba\/","og_site_name":"Junior Ballet Antwerp","article_published_time":"2026-04-22T07:57:27+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-04-22T08:23:12+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1800,"height":1200,"url":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MARTA-\u00a9Agathe-Pouponey-image00001.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Media Architect","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Media Architect","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/flash-35-life-after-jba\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/flash-35-life-after-jba\/"},"author":{"name":"Media Architect","@id":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/a51cdd85bcaa09dd83c6ac3839b00c93"},"headline":"FLASH #35 – LIFE AFTER JBA","datePublished":"2026-04-22T07:57:27+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-22T08:23:12+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/flash-35-life-after-jba\/"},"wordCount":756,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/flash-35-life-after-jba\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MARTA-\u00a9Agathe-Pouponey-image00001.jpg","articleSection":["Flash"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/flash-35-life-after-jba\/","url":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/flash-35-life-after-jba\/","name":"FLASH #35 - LIFE AFTER JBA","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/flash-35-life-after-jba\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/flash-35-life-after-jba\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MARTA-\u00a9Agathe-Pouponey-image00001.jpg","datePublished":"2026-04-22T07:57:27+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-22T08:23:12+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/a51cdd85bcaa09dd83c6ac3839b00c93"},"description":"Discover where former Junior Ballet Antwerp dancers are today. FLASH #35 highlights their international careers and life after JBA.","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/flash-35-life-after-jba\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/flash-35-life-after-jba\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MARTA-\u00a9Agathe-Pouponey-image00001.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MARTA-\u00a9Agathe-Pouponey-image00001.jpg","width":1800,"height":1200},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/","name":"Junior Ballet Antwerp","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/a51cdd85bcaa09dd83c6ac3839b00c93","name":"Media Architect","url":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/author\/media-architect\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9343"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9343\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9413,"href":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9343\/revisions\/9413"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/juniorballetantwerp.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}