Joo Won Ahn (born 1993) is a South Korean ballet dancer who is currently a principal dancer with the

American Ballet Theatre American Ballet Theatre (ABT) is a classical ballet company based in New York City. Founded in 1939 by Lucia Chase and Richard Pleasant, it is recognized as one of the world's leading classical ballet companies. Through 2019, it had an annual ei ...

. Ahn was born in

Wonju Wonju () is the most populous city in Gangwon Province, South Korea. The city is located approximately east of Seoul. Wonju was the site of three crucial battles during the Korean War. Geography Wonju sits at the southwestern corner of Gangw ...

. He trained at the Y.J. Ballet People Academy and Sunhwa Arts School, then entered the

Korea National University of Arts Korea National University of Arts is a national university in Seoul, South Korea. Korea National University of Arts was established in 1993 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea as the only national university of arts with an a ...

in 2012. In 2013, after he won a gold medal at the

Youth America Grand Prix Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is the world's largest non-profit international student ballet competition and scholarship program, open to dance students of all nationalities, 9–19 years old. YAGP annually conducts regional auditions in the Unit ...

, he joined the

Studio Company. He became an apprentice with the main company in January the following year and was taken to the corps de ballet five months later. He became a soloist in 2019 and principal dancer in 2020, at age 26. He is the second Korean to reach this position, after

Hee Seo Hee Seo (; born 13 March 1986) is a South Korean ballet dancer who is a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), one of the three leading classical ballet companies in the United States. She became the company's first Korean ba ...

References

Living people 1993 births People from Wonju South Korean male ballet dancers American Ballet Theatre principal dancers South Korean expatriates in the United States 21st-century ballet dancers {{SouthKorea-bio-stub