Japan Ballet Competition (JBC) is a ballet competition held at venues across Japan, open to dancers from Japan and overseas alike. Since its first event in 2014, JBC has been held more than a dozen times a year nationwide, offering dancers of all ages a stage to be evaluated by an international panel of judges.
Organization Overview
| Name | Japan Ballet Competition Organizing Committee |
|---|---|
| Representative | Yoko Yamashiro, Executive Committee Chair |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Address | 2-408 Yamanote, Meito-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 465-0011, Japan |
| Phone | +81-52-734-2490 |
| info@jbcex.jp | |
| Japanese-language site | https://jbcex.jp/ (for residents of Japan) |
What Makes JBC Different
- Competitions are held at venues across Japan throughout the year, giving dancers many opportunities to enter close to home or while traveling.
- Divisions are organized by age and level, from Preparation through advanced Classical, Modern, and Ensemble categories.
- Dancers applying from outside Japan may register online, and an interpreter is permitted to accompany participants backstage on the day of the competition.
- Detailed scoring is published immediately after each performance, giving dancers concrete feedback alongside their ranking.
Judging System
Each competition is judged by a panel of 3 to 12 teachers, drawn from an international roster that includes principals, soloists, and instructors from companies such as the Bolshoi Theatre and the Mariinsky Theatre. Scores are based on a maximum of 1,000 points, split evenly between technical and artistic elements, using a 15-step grading scale from A+ to E-. Full details are available on the Examination Criteria page, and the current judge roster is listed on the Judges page.
Awards
Winners receive rankings and certificates at each competition, with the year’s top dancers invited to compete at the JBC Grand Championships. Please see the Winners page for previous results.
Track Record
Since its founding in 2014, JBC has held competitions in cities across Japan, including Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, and many more, growing into one of Japan’s leading ballet competition series. Upcoming competitions are listed on the Event page.
Contact
For questions about entering JBC from outside Japan, please see the Q&A page first, or contact us by email at info@jbcex.jp. By phone (Japan Standard Time, Japanese language only): +81-52-734-2490.