Junxiong Zhao

Principal Dancer of Boston Ballet

 

Junxiong Zhao was born in Chongqing, China. He began his training at age 11 with Shanghai East Ballet School in Shanghai, China. In 2010, he began training at The Washington Ballet School under Kee Juan Han and Carlos Varcarcel and a year later joined The Washington Ballet Studio Company. In 2012, he joined Ballet Arizona, dancing in many roles including Cinderella, La Bayadère and Romeo and Juliet.

 

Zhao has received many national and international awards, including the Choreographic Prize at the 2015 Erik Bruhn in Canada;Senior Silver Medal at World Ballet Competition 2012; Senior Gold Medal at the 2012 Cape Town International Ballet Competition in classical and contemporary categories; Senior Bronze Medal at the 2011 Youth American Grand Prix, New York; Senior Gold Medal in the Classical Category at the 2011 Youth American Grand Prix Semifinals, Torrington, Connecticut; and Senior Silver Medal in the Contemporary at Youth American Grand Prix Semifinals; Junior Bronze Medal at the 2009 Helsinki International Ballet Competition in Helsinki, Finland; and Top 12 at the 2009 Youth American Grand Prix Finals, New York. Zhao was awarded a scholarship for The School at Jacob’s Pillow in Becket, Massachusetts (2011), and a scholarship for the The Washington Ballet Trainee Program in Washington, DC (2010– 2011).