Seongho Cha

Seongho Cha (Korean: 차성호; also known as Jimmy Cha[1]) is a South Korean dancer currently with the New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts. Cha began dancing at the age of 15,[2] and rose to prominence in his home country of South Korea, winning top honors at a national ballet competition,[3] and going on to represent South Korea at the 2006 USA International Ballet Competition, held once every four years in Jackson, Mississippi.[4][5]

Seongho Cha
Seongho Cha performing in 2009
Born
South Korea
Other namesJimmy Cha
OccupationDancer
Years active2002–present
Korean name
Hangul
차성호
Revised RomanizationCha Seongho

Life and career

Cha joined Anaheim Ballet in 2002 as a soloist and principal dancer. He subsequently won a full scholarship to study dance at Point Park University, where he was called a "resident powerhouse technician."[6] While dancing the lead role of Ichabod Crane at a Pittsburgh Playhouse production of "Sleepy Hollow" in 2004, Cha was lauded as a "complete package…a deceptively intelligent dancer."[7] Cha graduated with a BA in dance from the Conservatory of Performing Arts in 2006, and continued his studies at New York University.[8] Cha had also previously attended Sejong University in Seoul. He has an interest in Oriental medicine and has sought to find ways of combining the philosophy of traditional medicine with his dance.[9]

In 2008, Cha made the transition from ballet to classical Chinese dance, joining Shen Yun Performing Arts as a principal dancer. In 2008, he won honorable mention in an international Chinese dance competition held by New Tang Dynasty Television, and the following year won silver at the same event.[10]

References
  1. Victoria Looseleaf, Online, performers step it up, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2008.
  2. Anaheim Ballet, Inside Rehearsal: Jimmy Cha
  3. Shen Yun Performing Arts, Meet the artists > Seongho Cha Archived 2012-01-10 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Clarion Ledger, 2006 USA IBC competitors by country
  5. Renee Renouf, Jackson International Ballet Competition Archived 2014-09-21 at the Wayback Machine, Ballet Magazine, June 2006
  6. Jane Vranish, Dance review: Students generate powerful moves in Byham show, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 18 March 2006.
  7. Jane Vranish, Dance review: 'Sleepy Hollow' is a Halloween treat, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 23 October 2004.
  8. Olivia Flores Alvarez. Shen Yun Performing Arts, Houston Press, 17 Dec 2009
  9. Korea Times, "Oriental Ballet", 02/04/2004
  10. New Tang Dynasty Television, International Classical Chinese Dance Competition - 2008, 2009 medalists

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