Biography
A native of Osaka, Japan, Mr. Hirano trained at the Setsuko Hirano Ballet School before joining The National Ballet of Canada in 1999. He became a First Soloist in 2006.
Recently,
Mr. Hirano danced the role of Mercutio in the world premiere of Romeo and Juliet by Alexei Ratmansky, The
Knave of Hearts in the North American premiere of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Christopher Wheeldon and Claudius
in the North American premiere of Hamlet by
Kevin O’Day.
His
repertoire also includes Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty,
The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Cinderella, An Italian Straw Hat, La
Fille mal gardée, The Seagull,
Madame Butterfly, La
Sylphide, Etudes, Opus 19/The Dreamer, Jewels,
The Four Temperaments, Theme
and Variations and Carmen.
In
2010, Mr. Hirano was awarded the David Tory Award and in 2003, he was awarded the William Marrié Award for Dramatic
Excellence.
Keiichi Hirano is sponsored through Dancers First by Patricia Younger.
Quotes
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
“Keiichi Hirano danced beautifully as The Knave of Hearts, partnering expertly in the final Wonderland pas de deux, reminding us just how beautiful classical dance can be.”
The Hamilton Spectator, 2011
Carmen
“Keiichi Hirano was thrilling as Garcia, leader of the
bandits, in a performance that hints at dark undercurrents. His airborne jump
and secure partnering suggest brilliant things to come.”
Ballet Review,
2009
Nijinsky
“Keiichi
Hirano’s body moves with the suppleness of a serpent in the role of the Golden
Slave in Scheherazade.”
National Post, 2013