Note: Ryoma Asada’s final show as Billy in the Japanese production of Billy Elliot the Musical (BETM) in Tokyo and Osaka was on November 22, 2024.
Debut: July 27, 2024 (Tokyo, Japan)
Total Performances as Billy: 34 (No partial shows)
Ryoma Asada was 12 years old (born May 2012) when he debuted as Billy in the 2024 Japan production of BETM at the Brillia Theatre in Tokyo.
Ryoma started ballet when he was just two years old with his parents, who are both ballet dancers. Highlights of his ballet training so far include winning 1st place in the pre-competitive division of the Youth Grand Prix 2024 Japan Preliminary and participating in the Royal Ballet School Summer School in London on a scholarship in 2023.
Ryoma was inspired to audition for BETM as other students from his ballet class were chosen to play the role of Billy in both the premiere and revival of the Japanese production. So Ryoma says that he applied with the thought, “I want to be Billy next.”
At the audition, Ryoma was able to improve his tap dancing and gymnastics, which he had no prior experience with.
When he heard that he had got the role of Billy, Ryoma says “I was flying with joy.” He wants to be a Billy that moves the audience and makes them feel like, “I want to be like Billy!” In particular, he wants to work hard to express his emotions in “Angry Dance”.
Here is Ryoma displaying his ballet skills in a press performance of ‘Solidarity’:
Credit: Video by ホリプロステージ Horipro Stage
With his debut performance as Billy on 27-Jul-2024, Ryoma becomes the 10th Billy in Japan and the 358th worldwide to perform in a professional, regional or community theatre production of BETM.
For more information about Ryoma visit:
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