Photo/Illutration Miyuu Nagashima poses for a photo in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, with her certificate from the International Dance Festival held in Berlin in February. (Hiroshi Miura)

TAKARAZUKA, Hyogo Prefecture--Standing just 140 centimeters tall, Miyuu Nagashima was leaps and bounds ahead of her overseas rivals.

The 12-year-old took first prize in the Classical Dance division for children aged between 8 and 12 at the International Dance Festival (Tanzolymp) held in Berlin in February.

She also ranked third in the Contemporary Dance division for the same age group.

“I want to study overseas to become a ballet dancer who can play a beautiful lead role,” said the sixth-grader who lives in Takarazuka and attends Hibarigaoka Gakuen Elementary School.

Nagashima started taking ballet classes in Takarazuka when she was 4 years old.

She began to compete in contests when she was a second-grader and went on to win first place at five contests in Japan when she was a fifth-grader.

Nagashima was hugely encouraged when she competed at the Berlin festival for the first time in 2023.

This year, Nagashima opted for an act that consisted of difficult jumps and turns to show off her skills.

She earned high praises from the judges, who labeled her performance as outstanding and impressive.

“I danced with a smile to convey the fun of ballet,” she said.

Nagashima recently met with Mayor Harue Yamasaki here to share her success.

“Your style in the air is beautiful,” said Yamasaki, who took ballet lessons when she was a child. “Your expression is also wonderful.”

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