Ahn Joo Won Is Now a Principal Dancer at the ABT

Ballet dancer Ahn Joo Won, a graduate of the School of Dance, promoted to Principal Dancer at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT). After Seo Hee, the first Korean female ballet dancer to be a Principal Dancer at ABT in 2012, Ahn is the first Korean male ballet dancer to be a principal dancer at ABT. He made this accomplishment in six years since he had joined ABT and in a year since he had promoted to Soloist. The ABT is one of the top-class classical ballet companies around the world along with Mariinsky Ballet (Russia), Bolshoi Ballet (Russia), Paris Opera Ballet (France), and Royal Ballet (UK).

As an enrolled student at the Korea National University of Arts in 2013, Ahn joined ABT Studio Company (formerly ABT II) after winning the Gold Medal at Youth America Grand Prix in New York City and. After six months, he joined ABT as an apprentice in January 2014, and in another six months in the same year, he became a member of the corps de ballet. In May 2018, he played the first title role in La Bayadere. His promotion this time was also quick, considering he got promoted to Soloist only last year. The ABT has about eighty members in total composed of corps de ballet, Soloist, and Principal Dancer, and there are only eight Principal Dancers each for males and females.

Ahn has been staying in Korea since April in the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak. In a media interview, he said, “When I heard about promotion, it came as a total surprise. I didn’t expect it at all because ABT is currently having the whole seasons off due to the pandemic.” He commented, “I think many Korean ballet dancers are making good performances on the global stage these days because we have an excellent ballet education system in Korea. I also came to this position thanks to great teachers and coworkers who helped me grow up.”

Besides, the ABT has called off its seasons since this April. At this moment in time, Ahn is planning on making a special appearance in the 2nd Ballet Festival Busan.

Photo by Rosalie O'Connor, Courtesy ABT