Miyako Yoshida named as UNESCO Artist for Peace

29 Jul 04

Koichiro Matsuura presents Miyako Yoshida with her certificate

Japanese ballerina Miyako Yoshida has been appointed UNESCO Artist for Peace by the Organization's Director-General, Koichiro Matsuura, "in recognition of her outstanding contribution to classical dance and for her devotion to the cause of the Organization's goals and aims, in the field of its programme for arts education". The ceremony took place in UNESCO's Garden of Peace on July 21.

Born in Japan, Miyako Yoshida began studying dance at the age of nine. After training in Tokyo, she moved to London in 1983 to study at the Royal Ballet School after winning the prestigious Prix de Lausanne. Promoted in 1988 to the rank of principal dancer at the Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet (now the Birmingham Royal Ballet), Miyako Yoshida joined the Royal Ballet in 1995. During the course of her career, she has won various prizes and honours including 'Dancer of the Year' in 1991. She has displayed her immense talent in starring roles in the world's great ballets including Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Giselle, Cinderella, Don Quixote and Coppelia.

Along with her artistic work, Miyako Yoshida teaches classical dance and would like to support UNESCO's programme for arts education and the training of professional artists. In her acceptance speech she commented, "Without a peaceful environment people cannot feel beautiful things as beautiful...If all the people who love art and are touched by art can express themselves, I believe this will be a very important way to contribute to world peace."

Mr Matsuura referred to Ms Yoshida as "a model of professional dedication and achievement" and said that she "will be an ardent advocate of dance," expressing the hope that she will "conceive of this advocacy in its broadest educational sense, as a way to raise awareness of dance and the arts as a vehicle of humankind's highest aspirations and dreams".

The Director-General then called on Ms Yoshida to make the purpose of enhancing peace, tolerance and mutual understanding an inspiration with and for UNESCO. He added: "as a UNESCO Artist for Peace, you can perform on another stage where your commitment to promoting peace can be communicated far and wide."

UNESCO's Artists for Peace, like its Goodwill Ambassadors, are personalities who - thanks to their influence, charisma and fame - help to promote UNESCO's message.

Full text of Miyako Yoshida's speech

Miyako Yoshida starring in Coppelia, 1997

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