Houston Ballet principal Yuriko Kajiya appears for about a second in Misty Copeland’s pandemic fund-raising video, “Swans for Relief.” She’s one of 32 ballerinas from 14 countries who performed for the compiled solo of solidarity that was released on social media May 6.
As her part flashed by, I recognized Kajiya’s elegant, minimalist, light-filled living room. She’s been dancing there since late March, posting videos on Instagram to participate in a “music box challenge” that has made the rounds through TikTok. Her excruciating slow, 360-degree turn, with one leg up in an attitude derriere — without a wobble — will make your jaws drop.