Fumi Kaneko
金子扶生
Kaneko in The Sleeping Beauty
Born1991 or 1992 (age 31–32)
NationalityJapanese
EducationJinushi Kaoru Ballet School
Occupationballet dancer
Years active2010–present
Career
Current groupThe Royal Ballet
Former groupsJinushi Kaoru Ballet Company

Fumi Kaneko (金子 扶生, Kaneko Fumi, born 1991 or 1992[1]) is a Japanese ballet dancer. She joined the Royal Ballet in London in 2011, and was named a principal dancer in 2021.

Early life

Kaneko was raised in Osaka. She started ballet at age three,[1] and at 8, she started attending Jinushi Kaoru Ballet School until 11 pm. Her training was mainly in the Russian style.[2][3]

Due to the lack of performance opportunities for young dancers in Japan, she competed in various international competitions, winning first class distinction at Varna International Ballet Competition in 2008, and a silver medal at Moscow International Ballet Competition in 2009.[2][4]

Fumi Kaneko, The Sleeping Beauty
Gina Storm-Jensen and Fumi Kaneko, The Sleeping Beauty

Career

Kaneko joined the Jinushi Kaoru Ballet Company in 2010.[5] After she won a silver medal at USA International Ballet Competition in 2010,[6] she joined The Royal Ballet in London in April 2011,[1] even though at the time she did not speak English.[2] She was named first artist in 2012,[7] soloist in 2013[8] and first soloist in 2018.[9] Lead roles she danced include Kitri in Don Quixote, Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker and Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, as well as in MacMillan's Concerto and Balanchine's Symphony in C.[2]

In January 2020, Kaneko was supposed to dance in the cinema relay of The Sleeping Beauty as the Lilac Fairy, but danced the lead role Aurora in order to replace an injured Lauren Cuthbertson.[10][11] Later that year, her debut as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]

In May 2021, she was promoted to principal dancer. Her first performance since her promotion was in Wheeldon's Within the Golden Hour.[12] Since her promotion, she had made her debut as Juliet in MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet,[13] and as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake.[14] She also originated the role of Satan in McGregor's The Dante Project,[15] and in Abraham's The Weathering.[16] In March 2022, Kaneko appeared in a gala benefitting the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal at the London Coliseum, performing the white swan pas de deux from Swan Lake with William Bracewell.[17]

Personal life

As of 2019, Kaneko lives in Chiswick, West London.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Royal Ballet promotion to principal 'like a dream' says Japan's Fumi Kaneko". The Japan Times. 20 May 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Craine, Debra (26 October 2019). "Fumi Kaneko and Reece Clarke on being the Royal Ballet's star couple". The Times.
  3. 1 2 Swinson Reid, Ella (17 July 2020). "Watch the Royal Opera House's The Sleeping Beauty from home". Town & Country.
  4. ↑ "XXIII International Ballet Competition – Varna 2008". Varna International Ballet Competition. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  5. ↑ "Fumi Kaneko". Royal Opera House. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  6. ↑ "2010". USA International Ballet Competition. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  7. ↑ "Royal Ballet: Promotions, joiners and leavers for the 2011/12 season". DanceTabs. 11 July 2012.
  8. ↑ "The Royal Ballet Promotions/Joiners/Leavers 2013/14". Ballet News. 3 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "The Royal Ballet Promotions 2018/19 Season". Ballet News. 13 July 2018.
  10. ↑ Al-Hassan, Aliya (17 January 2020). "BWW Review: The Sleeping Beauty, ROH Live". BroadwayWorld.
  11. ↑ Heyes, Katie (17 August 2020). "Review: the Royal Ballet's 'The Sleeping Beauty'". Palatinate.
  12. ↑ "The Royal Ballet Announces Company Promotions". BroadwayWorld. 18 May 2021.
  13. ↑ Winship, Lyndsey (10 October 2021). "The Royal Ballet: Romeo and Juliet review – intoxicating, instinctive and full of new detail". The Guardian.
  14. ↑ Winship, Lyndsey (5 May 2022). "All In: For Royal Ballet Principal Fumi Kaneko, Passion and Fortitude Have Helped Her Reach the Top". Pointe.
  15. ↑ Winship, Lyndsey (15 October 2021). "The Dante Project review – Wayne McGregor moves heaven, earth and hell". The Guardian.
  16. ↑ Craine, Debra (20 March 2022). "Dance for Ukraine review — a fundraising gala of incredible skill and spirit". The times.
  17. ↑ Craine, Debra (20 March 2022). "Dance for Ukraine review — a fundraising gala of incredible skill and spirit". The Times.
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