National Ballet of Canada
Keiichi Hirano

Arts & Expression, East Asian, Dance

A native of Osaka, Japan, he trained at the Setsuko Hirano Ballet School before joining The National Ballet of Canada as an Apprentice in 1999. He became a First Soloist in 2006.

Among his roles with The National Ballet of Canada are lead roles in La Fille mal gardée, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, Madame Butterfly, Alice, La Sylphide and The Contract (The Pied Piper).

Keiichi created roles in James Kudelka's An Italian Straw Hat and Cinderella and danced in the world premieres of Matjash Mrozewski's A Delicate Battle and John Alleyne's Tristan and Isolde. He has also performed in the company premieres of Jerome Robbins' Glass Pieces and West Side Story Suite and Christopher Bruce's Rooster.

In 2006, Keiichi was selected by Karen Kain to represent The National Ballet of Canada in the Seventh International Competition for the Erik Bruhn Prize.

Media Quotes for Keiichi Hirano

Romeo and Juliet
"Keiichi Hirano was a fun-loving Benvolio. He is a wonderful technician." The Globe and Mail, 2006

The Nutcracker
"Whether on the ground or in the air, he extends his limbs just a little bit further, his jumps just a little bit higher. This guy has real artistry and a golden career should be his." The Globe and Mail, 2005

The Sleeping Beauty
"Keiichi Hirano brought down the house with his fantastic Bluebird jumps where he barely touched the ground." The Globe and Mail, 2006