Gakuro Matsui

Each month we highlight a Prix de Lausanne-related international dance artist.

Name: Gakuro Matsui

Birthplace: Saitama, Japan

Training: Mika Sasaki Ballet Academy in Japan, Ecole de Danse de l´Opéra national de Paris

Prix de Lausanne: Winner of an apprentice scholarship in 2004

Previous companies/positions: Danish Royal Ballet, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo

Current company/position: Norwegian National Ballet

Favorite roles/choreographies: Dancingmadlybackwards (David Dawson), Don Quixote: Basilio (Rudolf Nureyev), Skew Whiff (Lightfoot,León), Symphony in C 3ème mouvement (George Balanchine), Wings of Wax (Jiri Kylián)

Career highlight: Each time I can dance energetically on stage. Receiving an apprentice scholarship at the Prix de Lausanne in 2004. My experience at the Prix de Lausanne was extremely important in my life and I cannot forget the sense of accomplishment I felt.

Message to the Prix de Lausanne candidates: Take advantage of each moment during the Prix de Lausanne and work hard until the very last minute, without doubting yourself, it will help you tremendously during your career.

Message to the Prix de Lausanne organisation: I thank the Prix de Lausanne for their continued warm support to the prize winners. It is thanks to them that I am now a professional dancer. To show one’s potential, power and personality, to concentrate only on dancing, only the Prix de Lausanne’s atmosphere makes it possible.