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Ballet alumnus competing in Winter Olympics

admin February 4, 2018 Dance News No Comment

Figure skater Nathan Chen in Ballet West’s The Sleeping Beauty in 2011In a tour-de-force display of artistry and athleticism, Nathan Chen won the national title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships earlier this month and secured his spot for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Chen trained at Ballet West Academy in Salt Lake City, Utah for six years, dancing alongside company dancers in The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.

 

Taping a promotional package at the Ballet West studios for NBC News this fall, Chen told correspondent Stephanie Gosk, “This is where it all started. My training and ballet background definitely gives me the competitive edge on the ice.”

 

Peter Christie, former Academy director and current education and outreach director, said, “He had an incredible one-of-a-kind focus. It was clear to all of us watching him that this was his destiny. He has the drive and determination to make all of his dreams come true.”

 

Chen’s talents were even noticed by the late Ballet Master Mark Goldweber, who created a variation just for him in The Sleeping Beauty to show off his jumping abilities. Now, five years later, Chen is the first and currently the only skater competing with five different types of quadruple jumps: toe loop, Salchow, loop, flip and Lutz. He also holds the record for the first skater to land seven clean quadruple jumps in a competition.

 

“What Nathan has accomplished is truly remarkable,” said Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute. “We are proud to have played a role in his success. He has earned our deep respect and I will be loudly cheering him on from Salt Lake City next month when he competes in South Korea.”

 

Watch Chen perform his national title routine below and check out this article posted by the Los Angeles Times this week recalling how Chen predicted he’d be competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics at age 10. Then meet the other figure skaters representing Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympics here. 

 

 

Photo: Nathan Chen in Ballet West’s The Sleeping Beauty in 2011. Photo by Luke Isley.