Shohei Horiuchi

Shohei Horiuchi
Principal of K-BALLET TOKYO

－What do you think is the significance of physical expression in contemporary society?
Words have the power to convey the details of things, but at the same time they deprive the individual of the opportunity to think freely. On the other hand, in a ballet performance, which uses no words at all, it is all about how the viewer interprets the performance.
In today's passive society, we are bombarded with an incredible amount of stimuli and information from the screen.
I feel that physical expression, that leaves room for thinking and feeling, has great potential these days.



－What do you want to convey to people through your physical expression?
There is a certain standard of beauty in ballet. I began ballet at the age of 10, and as I grew to understand ballet, I realized how far I fell short of the ballet standard. Every day I looked at my reflection in the mirror and continued to work on correcting my ugliness and shortcomings. It was not until I became an adult that I discovered the joy of expressing my true self. Now I am conscious of how much I can create a personal standard of beauty for myself in the mirror. I would be happy if my story, in which I continue to face myself, is an expression that resonates with the audience.


－What do you think about lately?
I am thinking about how to face myself. I am very fortunate to dance with one of the best ballet companies in Japan, K-BALLET TOKYO. When I danced the roles I had always dreamed of and reached the highest ranks, I instantly lost my goals and sometimes I did not know what I was dancing for.
Even at such times, I would go to the studio every morning and stretch before grabbing the barre. As my body warms up, I feel every muscle in my body. It is a pleasant sensation, a kind of meditation. I think about how much I can appreciate my current environment, rather than aiming for a goal in my daily life when I am facing my body. I think about such a natural thing.