Education
At the age of 9, he auditioned for the Royal Ballet School Junior Associate programme, he was successful and consequently attended weekly classes in Leeds.
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Matthew Koon
Edit ProfileCareer
Matthew Koon began studying ballet at the age of 2, at the Alison Livesey School of Dance and Drama in Whitefield, Greater Manchester. He also trained at Centre Pointe Dance Studios in Manchester, before taking a full-time place at the English National Ballet School. Koon made his professional stage debut at the age of 12, playing the title role of Billy Elliot in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical.
He auditioned for the role at the Zion Centre, Manchester in February 2005.
He made his first appearance in the role on 1 March 2006, and his final performance on 2 December 2006. He was the first boy from a Chinese background to play the role of Billy.
Following auditions in 2009, in 2010 Koon participated in the inaugural series of Got to Dance, a televised dance competition broadcast on Sky One. He successfully competed in the second semi-final, ultimately finishing joint 3rd in the grand final on 14 February 2010.
Having qualified for the competition in a regional heat, Koon competed against other regional finalists at the Opera House Theatre in the Winter Gardens, Blackpool.
Achievements
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Fonteyn Nureyev Young Dancers Competition - Winner, 2008 Janet Cram Awards - Outstanding Dance Award, 2008 Janet Cram Awards - Boys Cup, 2008 English Dance Championships - Winner, 2009 Marjorie Davies Tap Awards - Senior Class Prize, 2009 International Ballet Championship - Winner, 2009 Young Ballet Dancer of the Year - Winner, 2009 Young British Tap Dancer of the Year - Runner-up, 2009 Dance Master United Kingdom - Winner, 2010.
