St. Louis Ballet’s artistic director Gen Horiuchi choreographed the winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, in 1998. (Horiuchi is from Japan.
) He played Mr. Mistoffelees in “Cats.” Legendary choreographer George Balanchine not only invited Horiuchi to perform with the New York City Ballet but also wrote the role of Mercury in the ballet “Perséphone” especially for him.
That such talent resides in St. Louis, rather than on one of the coasts, will surprise anyone who isn’t familiar with the city’s dance scene, which punches far above its weight class in terms of talent, creativity and offerings. Here is a look inside the professional companies that call St.
Louis home. Ballet For its inspiration, Ballet 314 draws on the literary. In fact, each season is a collection of narratives turned into dance.
This year, the company’s theme is “|non| fiction” and will include a one-act ballet that is based on the life of Tituba, a Black woman who was accused of being a witch in Salem in the 1690s. But up next is a version of the “Nutcracker” set during the World’s Fair. Up next: “The Nutcracker & the World’s Fair” When: 10 a.
m. and 7 p.m.
Dec. 13; 2 and 7 p.m.
Dec. 14; 2 p.m.
Dec. 15 Where: Edison Theatre, Washington University, 6465 Forsyth Boulevard How much: $25-$55 Gen Horiuchi, artistic director for St. Louis Ballet has been in ballet most of his life — he won the Prix de Lausanne, a ballet prize in Switzerland, at 15.
But now instead of dancing he leads .