Meet the Team
At Chengwu Guo Ballet, our mission is clear: to guide and nurture every individual who is eager to learn and improve, regardless of skill level, to achieve their own goals. Our team of dedicated and experienced professionals is here to share their expertise, knowledge, and skills with you. We combine modern teaching methods with a deep respect for ballet traditions to ensure you receive the highest quality instruction.
Welcome to Chengwu Guo Ballet, where everyone is empowered to dance!
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Founder/Artistic Director
Born in China, at the age of 11, he joined the prestige dance academy, the school of Beijing Dance Academy. After Chengwu won the second prize and only contemporary award in the prestigious ballet competition Prix de Lausanne, he joined The Australian Ballet School in 2007. Chengwu joined The Australian Ballet in 2008. In 2013, Chengwu was promoted to the highest rank of the company, Principal Artist at the age of 24. He has guested around the world dancing alongside experts in the ballet world. His repertoire highlights include Basilio in Don Quixote, Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, Franz in Coppélia and Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux.
Chengwu was starred in the famous movie “Mao’s Last Dancer” as teenager Li, made an incredible debut as a screen actor.
In 2006, Chengwu won 2 gold medals at Tao Li Bei of China Competition and the Beijing International Ballet Competition.
He has won both the Telstra Ballet Dancer Award and Telstra People's Choice Award for 2011. He was the first male dancer to win both awards.
Chengwu is a qualified vocational ballet teacher who attains a graduate diploma of Elite Dance Instruction.
With a fervent dedication, he supports ballet aficionados, leveraging his expertise, skills, and unique training methods to guide them towards their aspirations with passion and precision.
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Head of Ballet Training
Ako was born in Nagoya, Japan in 1991. At three years old she began her training at the Shiho Kanazawa Ballet Studio. In 2005, Ako won second prize at the Japan Grand Prix, and in 2006, she studied at The Royal Ballet School’s International Summer School. In 2007, she was awarded The Australian Ballet School Tuition Scholarship, which was announced at the Youth America Grand Prix. Ako toured with The Dancers Company in 2008 and in 2010, joined The Australian Ballet. She was promoted to principal artist in April 2015, following her debut as Giselle, becoming The Australian Ballet's first Japanese principal artist.
Since joining The Australian Ballet, Ako has performed a variety of classical and contemporary works by choreographers such as Forsythe, McGregor, Murphy, Ratmansky and Wheeldon, and danced principal roles in ballets by choreographers such as Ashton, Balanchine, Lifar, MacMillan and Wright.
Ako is a multi-award-winning artist, celebrated for her exceptional talent and dedication in the world of ballet. Her accolades include Helpmann Award, Australian Dance Award and Aichi Prefecture Arts and Cultural Award, showcasing her remarkable achievements on stage.
Ako is not only a celebrated ballet dancer but also a dedicated vocational ballet teacher. Armed with a graduate diploma in Elite Dance Instruction, she is passionate about nurturing the next generation of superstars. With her expertise and commitment, Ako guides aspiring dancers on their journey to excellence. Her dedication to teaching and mentoring reflects her deep love for the art of ballet and her desire to inspire future generations of dancers.
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Guest Teacher
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Guest Teacher
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Guest Teacher
