Columbus dancer named in ‘Dance Magazine’ list of 25 to watch for 2026

Columbus-born BalletMet Company Member Sumi Ichikawa was named in Dance Magazine’s list of 25 to watch in 2026. The list includes dancers, choreographers, and companies on the brink of skyrocketing. 

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Sumi Ichikawa is in her third season with BalletMet. The 22-year-old has been dancing since the age of six, having started her dance journey at the BalletMet Academy in Columbus. According to a BalletMet Facebook post, Ichikawa rose through the ranks of the company trainee program before joining the main company in 2023. Ichikawa is quoted saying, “I hope that when the audiences see me dance, time freezes for them. It’s how I feel when dancing.”

According to the BalletMet Dance Academy website, the organization is ranked among the nation’s largest studios associated with a professional company. BalletMet Dance Academy offers hundreds of classes every year with students ranging from age 3-84. You can explore their upcoming performances here.

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