Global Regional Jury Biography

Sarawanee Tanatanit

Fueled by her passion for dance.

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Sarawanee's journey in the performing arts began early in her life. At the tender age of 13, her talent and dedication led her to join the Rhythmic Gymnastic National team of Thailand. As part of this team, she achieved remarkable success, securing gold medals in both Junior Championship and Southeast Asian Game competitions. Recognizing her potential, the Sports Authority of Thailand awarded her a scholarship to further her gymnastic training in Vancouver, Canada. This move to Canada not only allowed her to refine her gymnastic skills but also opened doors for her to explore her passion for dance.

 

Her exceptional talent and hard work did not go unnoticed. In 2001, she won the prestigious Prix de Lausanne, a significant achievement that marked a turning point in her career. This recognition led to offers to join the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, and a year later, the American Ballet Theatre company itself. During her seven-year tenure with the American Ballet Theatre, she earned critical acclaim, being named “Critic's Choice” by Point Magazine in 2003 and one of Dance Magazine’s “Top 25 to Watch” in 2008.

 

In 2008, Sarawanee embarked on a new chapter in her career, moving to Europe to join the Ballet du Grand Theatre de Geneve. There, she took on leading roles in renowned productions such as Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, and Tristan and Isolde. Her performance in Tristan and Isolde was particularly noteworthy, contributing to the production receiving the “le Grand Prix 2016 de la critique” for the best show of the season.

 

Following her time in Geneva, she spent a few seasons with the Danish Dance Theatre in Copenhagen. Alongside her performance commitments, she also shared her knowledge and expertise as a guest teacher in various schools across Europe and Asia. Her reputation as a respected figure in the dance world led to invitations to serve as a jury member for prestigious competitions, including the Prix de Lausanne in 2021 and the Asian Grand Prix in 2019. In recognition of her significant contributions to the performing arts, she received the Silpathorn Performing Artist Award in 2022.

 

Driven by her passion for dance and her commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent, Sarawanee launched her own project, the “HOSTBKK Performing Arts Center.” This center aims to support higher dance education and foster collaboration between various art forms. Through this initiative, she continues to shape the landscape of performing arts, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.