BACKSTAGE PRODUCTS Co., Ltd. and SHOKO the World of Art Co., Ltd. announce business partnership agreement
~ Aiming to develop the career support project "APLOM CAREER" ~
We are pleased to announce that BACKSTAGE PRODUCTS Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as BP) has signed a business partnership agreement with SHOKO the World of Art Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as SWA), represented by Shoko Nakamura.
Main partnership details
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Full-scale commercialization of career support for ballet dancers and creators through BP's business "APLOM CAREER"
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Undertaking agent services for SWA with BP as the trustee
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Joint product development for BP's apparel product business, "APLOM"
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Other (planning and development of various projects in the fields of arts and entertainment)
Through this partnership, the two companies will not only provide career support for ballet dancers and creators through "APLOM CAREER," but will also work to create new value and enhance career support beyond the ballet world through a wide range of activities.
BACKSTAGE PRODUCTS Co., Ltd. CEO Risa Ohno SHOKO the World of Art Co., Ltd. CEO Shoko Nakamura
Comment from Risa Ohno, CEO of BACKSTAGE PRODUCTS Co., Ltd.
"I am honored to have had the opportunity to enter into a business partnership with Shoko Nakamura. I feel a great sense of responsibility and great joy in being able to support the careers of top dancers who are active around the world.
"We will work with Nakamura to support the comprehensive art of ballet without lowering the barrier to entry, and to provide an environment where ballet dancers can feel secure in building a second career, thereby expanding the dreams and possibilities of each dancer. Furthermore, with the aim of improving the status of ballet and the arts in Japan and developing culture, we will continue to work on socially meaningful initiatives, focusing on improving education and product development."
Profile of Risa Ohno
Born in Tokyo
Started piano at age 2 and ballet at age 4
2013: Joined the Momoko Tani Ballet Institute (now the Momoko Tani Ballet Academy)
In 2019, after graduating from Senzoku Gakuen College of Music's ballet course as a member of the first class, she joined the Momoko Tani Ballet Company, where she was in charge of classroom instruction and teaching assistance for the Momoko Tani Ballet Company trainees before leaving the company.
She got a job at an IT company and has a wide range of experience, from being a secretary to the president to accounting and engineering.
While there is a lot of career support and management for athletes as they go about their job search, I found it strange that there is not much career management for ballet dancers, and I was keenly aware that ballet is not being properly promoted as an art form in society.
As each dancer has different career aspirations, he felt the need for a place that could provide career support and management tailored to each dancer, so he founded BACKSTAGE PRODUCTS, Inc.
The first APLOM store was opened in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France, and the company founded "APLOM," a lifestyle brand centered on ballet, and "APLOM CAREER," which provides support for ballet dancers' second careers.
Aiming to embody the company's philosophy of "bringing the art of ballet closer to people," the company is involved in art projects not only in Japan but also in Paris, France and Japan.
Profile of Shoko Nakamura
Born in Saga Prefecture, she studied at Nomura Riko Ballet before moving on to study at Tanaka Chikako Ballet.
In 1996, he won the Scholarship Award and the Television Viewers' Award at the Prix de Lausanne.
1996-Studied at the John Cranko School in Stuttgart, Germany.
In 1998, she joined the Stuttgart Ballet as a trainee.
Joined the Vienna State Opera Ballet in 2000
Won first place at the 2001 German and Luxembourg competitions.
Promoted to soloist in 2002. Joined the Berlin State Opera Ballet in 2006, and was promoted to principal in 2007.
Joined the Hungarian State Opera Ballet in 2013 (principal).
Since September 2015, she has been based in Japan and has been a guest principal at K Ballet Company (now K Ballet Tokyo). In 2018, she won the 39th Tachibana Akiko Award for Excellence, and in 2020, she won the 34th Hattori Chieko Award. In 2020, she left K Ballet Company (now K Ballet Tokyo) and became an honorary principal. She is currently active as a freelance dancer.
Her main repertoire includes Princess Aurora in Malakhov's Sleeping Beauty, Balanchine's Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Béjart's Der Ring des Nibelungen, Preljocaj's Snow White, MacMillan's Manon, etc. At K Ballet Company, she danced Princess Marie in Kumakawa's Nutcracker, the title roles in Cinderella and Giselle, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Kitri in Don Quixote, Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, the title role in Kumakawa's Carmen, and the Fatal Woman in Petit's Youth and Death. Premiere cast members include the title role in "Cleopatra," the courtesan in "Madame Butterfly," the bride in "Andante" choreographed by Kanamori Jo, and "Einstein on the Beach" choreographed by Hirahara Shintaro.