Korean Ballerina Kim Dan-bi Promoted to Principal at Houston Ballet, Hopes to Lead First Korea Tour
Creatrip Team
a month ago
Kim Dan-bi (26), a Korean-born ballerina who left school for homeschooling to focus on dance, was promoted to principal dancer at the prestigious Houston Ballet on June 21 after debuting the title role in Giselle. She joined the company’s academy as a scholarship student after success at international competitions and rose quickly through the ranks—joining the corps in 2019, becoming a soloist after standout performances in works by choreographer John Neumeier (including The Little Mermaid and A Midsummer Night’s Dream), and then advancing to first soloist and now principal. Kim credits a pivotal casting by Neumeier and strong partner support for accelerating her career. She left formal schooling in middle school to pursue intensive training via homeschooling (home education) and moved to Houston at 16, overcoming injuries and cultural adjustment. Houston Ballet—founded in 1969 with about 61 dancers and a large budget—tours internationally but has never performed in Korea. Kim hopes the company’s newly appointed administrative director, Sonja Kostic, who is of Korean descent, will help bring Houston Ballet’s first-ever Korea performances, with Kim as a lead in the 2026–27 season opening role of Manon by Kenneth MacMillan.
