Houston Ballet principal dancer Quickly Youn Cho has introduced her retirement, after 13 years with the corporate.
For greater than a decade, she has captivated audiences along with her class, emotional authenticity, and technical brilliance. Audiences have seen her in roles corresponding to Aurora in The Sleeping Magnificence, Kitri in Don Quixote, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, and Suzuki in Madame Butterfly, amongst many others.
Cho’s retirement follows a interval of restoration from spinal surgical procedure prompted by continual again points that intensified throughout and after her being pregnant.
“This choice was not made frivolously, however with an excessive amount of reflection and acceptance over the previous yr,” stated Cho. “Since I first started ballet on the age of 4, it has been the best love of my life. Even via ache and damage, I felt pleasure and objective in each second. I gave my greatest to each step alongside the best way, and I now depart the stage with a peaceable coronary heart and deep gratitude.”
Cho additional stated that even earlier than turning into pregnant, she had been managing continual again points all through her profession.
“With dedication, cautious conditioning, and the unwavering help of these round me, I used to be in a position to proceed dancing for a few years,” she stated. “Regardless of my greatest efforts to get well, I’ve come to the tough realization that I received’t have the ability to return to dancing on the degree I as soon as did. With a heavy however full coronary heart, I’ve determined to retire from the stage.”
Born in Korea and educated there, in addition to in Canada and Germany, Cho danced with Opera Leipzig Ballet in Leipzig, Germany and the Tulsa Ballet in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the place she was promoted to principal in 2010. She joined the Houston Ballet in 2012 as a demi soloist. She rapidly rose via the ranks, promoted to soloist in 2014, then first soloist in 2016. In 2018, she grew to become the Houston Ballet’s first Korean principal.
Upon reaching the designation, she stated, “I really feel like I’ve made an necessary mark in historical past, together with different nice dancers, for my individuals in such a fantastic firm.”
Cho’s roles onstage mirrored her extensive inventive vary and dedication to storytelling via dance. Her Houston Ballet colleagues and audiences admire and reward the fervour and sincerity she introduced to each efficiency. A kind of, Cho’s portrayal of Suzuki in Madame Butterfly, is very near her coronary heart, not just for its emotional depth however for the lifelong friendship it sparked with fellow principal Yuriko Kajiya.
“Turning into a part of this Firm and dealing alongside such extraordinary individuals has been one of many best blessings and privileges of my life. I shut this chapter with a full coronary heart and immense appreciation for the artwork, the audiences, and the individuals who made all of it so significant.”
Cho stated that whereas she doesn’t but know what’s going to come subsequent, she departs the corporate crammed with gratitude.
“Wanting again, I really feel nothing however gratitude,” she stated. “Gratitude for the unbelievable colleagues and mentors I’ve shared the studio with. Gratitude for the audiences who supported us efficiency after efficiency. And gratitude for the artwork type itself — so demanding, so stunning, and so deeply rewarding. I depart the stage with peace in my coronary heart. As a result of I gave all the pieces I needed to this journey, I can transfer ahead with out remorse.”
