ALL GENRE: 22^ND October, 2021

On the Passing of MAKI Asami, Director of Ballet School and Former Artistic Director of Ballet & Dance

Director of NNT Ballet School and former Artistic Director of Ballet & Dance, MAKI Asami passed away on 20th October, 2021 at the age of 87.

Ms. Maki was appointed as the second Artistic Director of Ballet & Dance at New National Theatre, Tokyo in July 1999 and served in this role for 11 years until August 2010. Leveraging her experience pioneering the world of Japanese ballet as a dancer, choreographer and mentor, she devoted herself to the development and expansion of the National Ballet of Japan's repertoire, worked on original productions to create the unique face of the group, and has left many valuable assets as her legacy.

Ms.Maki personally choreographed La Bayadère, a ballet premiered in 2000, based on Petipa's original choreography, and became the first Japanese person to make headlines for a revised choreography of classical ballet performed at the New National Theatre, Tokyo. In 2004, Ms. Maki fully revised choreography for Raymonda, which won the Asahi Performing Arts Award the same year. This production was also invited to perform at the Kennedy Center in New York in February 2008, marking the National Ballet of Japan's overseas debut. Maki's original work La Dame aux Camélias, which made its world premiere in November 2007, was invited to the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre in 2009 and enjoyed huge success.

Upon the opening of the New National Theatre, Tokyo's Ballet School in April 2001, Ms. Maki was appointed Director, and established a ballet dancer training system. At the Ballet School, in addition to practical skills, she developed a variety of curricula including knowledge and education, and also promoted frequent participation in overseas ballet school festivals with the aim of nurturing world-class dancers. Graduates have been active in ballet companies in both Japan and abroad, including the National Ballet of Japan, and have made significant contributions to the prosperity of the Japanese ballet world.

Everyone involved in the New National Theatre, Tokyo is deeply saddened at the news of Ms. Maki's passing. All of us here stand united in carrying on her parting wish for the further advancement of the ballet world.

In closing, we wish to pay our utmost respects to Ms. Maki's many achievements and voice our sincere condolences at her passing.

New National Theatre, Tokyo
22nd October, 2021