Tian Shuai
Close-Up
Tian Shuai joined The Joffrey Ballet in August 2005. Born and raised in Qingdao, China, he began studying ballet at age 15 at Guangzhou Ballet Academy. Mr. Shuai later became a member of the Guangzhou Ballet, where he continued dancing until moving to New York City in 2001. There he trained on a full scholarship at the Joffrey Ballet School for one year before joining and performing with Atlanta Ballet for three years.
Mr. Shuai performed classical roles in several different ballets with Guangzhao Ballet in China. Some of his repertoire there includes Swan Lake, Romeo & Juliet, Giselle and Nutcracker, among others. With Atlanta Ballet, Mr. Shuai has performed such works as Michael Pink’s Romeo & Juliet (Benvolio), Dracula (Quincey), Stanton Welch’s A Dance in the Garden of Mirth (male solo), Eldar Aliev’s 1001 Nights (Sinbad), and John McFall’s Nutcracker (Prince). He also has been featured in George Balanchine’s Allegro Brilliante, Septime Weber’s Carmen, Margo Sappington’s Shed Your Skin, Julia Adam’s If a Rose Falls, and Lila York’s Rapture.