Being good at business may be "the most fascinating art," as Andy Warhol said — and few likely know that better than Tetsuya Kumakawa, dancer extraordinaire turned extraordinary businessman.
Once the darling prodigy of The Royal Ballet as the first Asian dancer and youngest soloist to ever grace its Covent Garden stage in London, Kumakawa continues to amaze audiences with his sublime form and signature leaps. Yet now, nearly 25 years after winning a gold medal at ballet's prestigious Prix de Lausanne, it is his savvy business sense that garners growing applause off-stage.
Since returning to Japan from the Royal Ballet in 1999 to start his K-Ballet company in Tokyo, Hokkaido-born Kumakawa has industriously expanded his artistic domain. With five ballet schools across the nation, from Yokohama to Fukuoka, his realm extends into adult classes in dance and a company named Body Alignment U-Be that features massage and wellness services.
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