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Hi! I am Lex Ishimoto and I am 17 years old, born and raised in Irvine, California. This is my journey from where I started in the beginning to where I am now. I was intrigued by this art of dance when I saw my sister dancing, as my eyes were peeled through the glass windows that separated where I longed to be. I knew in my heart that I wanted to do this. And so I did and went for it.
I trained vigorously in dance for 11 years in Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Hip-Hop, Ballet, and Contemporary. People think I was born a natural to this artistry but the reality was that I was born with a clubbed foot with no sort of flexibility that my sister was blessed with. I had to work to where I am now which included physical therapy, stretching before school, practicing after school, and so it continues.
Now with great achievements which includes being nominated as ‘Outstanding Lead Actor’ for the Helen Hayes Award for Billy Elliot the Musical, winning Grand Prix at the Youth America Grand Prix L.A. regional, and touring with the most prestigious dance conventions in the nation such as NUVO, 24 Seven, Jump, and The Pulse on Tour. I also earned the title, ‘Teen Male Best Dancer of the Year 2014’ at the Dance Awards, toured America as an ‘Elite Protégé’ on The Pulse On Tour, and was a grand prize finalist for the non-classical dance division for the Spotlight Awards.
Updating to where I am today, these past few years I have been attending Boston Ballet’s Summer program. And this coming year, I was offered a full tuition year-round for the trainee program from the company. It was a difficult decision for my family and I to make but I decided to take this opportunity and will be officially moving out to Boston. Although they have granted me a full tuition scholarship, unfortunately Boston Ballet does not support the housing finances. It had to come down to using every last bit of the prize money from the Spotlight Awards. The prize money will get me through 6 months of rent and living in a big name city can be pricey but I am willing to take a risk because I know in the end, the experience will be priceless. I will be seeking other jobs there to pay for my food and other expenses. The trainee program is two years and I am hoping to get through it all. If you could help me achieve another dream of mine, I would really appreciate it. This is another chapter of my life unfolding in front of me and all I could say is that I am eternally greatful. Thank you for reading this and following my journey.
I trained vigorously in dance for 11 years in Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Hip-Hop, Ballet, and Contemporary. People think I was born a natural to this artistry but the reality was that I was born with a clubbed foot with no sort of flexibility that my sister was blessed with. I had to work to where I am now which included physical therapy, stretching before school, practicing after school, and so it continues.
Now with great achievements which includes being nominated as ‘Outstanding Lead Actor’ for the Helen Hayes Award for Billy Elliot the Musical, winning Grand Prix at the Youth America Grand Prix L.A. regional, and touring with the most prestigious dance conventions in the nation such as NUVO, 24 Seven, Jump, and The Pulse on Tour. I also earned the title, ‘Teen Male Best Dancer of the Year 2014’ at the Dance Awards, toured America as an ‘Elite Protégé’ on The Pulse On Tour, and was a grand prize finalist for the non-classical dance division for the Spotlight Awards.
Updating to where I am today, these past few years I have been attending Boston Ballet’s Summer program. And this coming year, I was offered a full tuition year-round for the trainee program from the company. It was a difficult decision for my family and I to make but I decided to take this opportunity and will be officially moving out to Boston. Although they have granted me a full tuition scholarship, unfortunately Boston Ballet does not support the housing finances. It had to come down to using every last bit of the prize money from the Spotlight Awards. The prize money will get me through 6 months of rent and living in a big name city can be pricey but I am willing to take a risk because I know in the end, the experience will be priceless. I will be seeking other jobs there to pay for my food and other expenses. The trainee program is two years and I am hoping to get through it all. If you could help me achieve another dream of mine, I would really appreciate it. This is another chapter of my life unfolding in front of me and all I could say is that I am eternally greatful. Thank you for reading this and following my journey.
Organizer
Lex Ishimoto
Organizer
Irvine, CA
