Philadelphia Ballet is proud to announce a series of dancer promotions, led by the elevation of So Jung Shin to Principal Dancer. After her stunning performance as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Shin was promoted to Principal Dancer onstage by The Ruth and A. Morris Williams, Jr. Artistic Director Angel Corella.
In addition to Shin’s promotion, Philadelphia Ballet is thrilled to announce the promotions of Austin Eyler and Thays Golz to First Soloist.
So Jung Shin | The Sarah and Brad Marshall Principal Dancer
“So Jung is an exceptional artist whose dedication, artistry and technical brilliance have made her a standout in our company,” said Artistic Director Angel Corella. “Her ability to bring depth and nuance to every role is extraordinary, and this promotion is well deserved. We are thrilled to see her continue to grow as a principal dancer.”
So Jung joined Philadelphia Ballet for the 2016/17 Season as a member of the Corps de Ballet and was promoted to Demi Soloist for the 2019/20 Season. She was promoted to Soloist prior to the Company’s 2021 performances of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, and promoted to First Soloist in 2024.
Shin’s repertoire with Philadelphia Ballet includes Principal roles such as Cinderella in Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, Nikiya in La Bayadère, the Sugarplum Fairy in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, and Odette/Odile in Swan Lake. In recent seasons, she has also performed Principal roles in Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, Christopher Wheeldon’s Polyphonia, and Juliano Nunes’ Encounters. Additionally, she has been featured in the world premieres of works by Matthew Neenan, Andrea Miller, Yin Yue and Juliano Nunes.
Austin Eyler | The Joan C. Mazzotti and Michael C. Kelly First Soloist
Austin Eyler joined Philadelphia Ballet as a member of Philadelphia Ballet II for their 2016/17 Season. He was promoted to Apprentice in 2017, to Corps de Ballet in 2018, and in early 2022 he was promoted to Demi Soloist. Austin was promoted to Soloist for the start of the 2022/23 Season. In March 2025, he was promoted to First Soloist.
Since joining the company, Austin has performed leading roles in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, Don Quixote, Kenneth Macmillan’s Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, and Giselle. Austin has also performed in Alexander Ekman’s Episode 31 and the world premiere of Juliano Nunes’ Connection.
Thays Golz | The Fan Favorite First Soloist
Thays joined Philadelphia Ballet for the 2018/19 season and was promoted to Demi Soloist for the 2019/20 season and then to Soloist for the 2020/21 season. In March 2025, she was promoted to First Soloist.
She has performed in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, La Bayadère, Giselle, Swan Lake, Apollo, and Petite Mort, as well as the world premieres of Yin Yue’s A Trace of Inevitability and Juliano Nunes’ Connection. In 2019, Thays performed at the Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition’s Opening Gala.
Featured Image: So Jung Shin with Artists of Philadelphia Ballet. Photo by Helm Creative Studio.
Image 1: So Jung Shin of Philadelphia Ballet in Sleeping Beauty, choreography by The Ruth and A. Morris Williams, Jr. Artistic Director Angel Corella. Photo by Alexander Iziliaev.
Image 2: Austin Eyler of Philadelphia Ballet in Grosse Fuge, choreography by Hans van Manen. Photo by Alexander Iziliaev.
Image 3: Thays Golz of Philadelphia Ballet in Swan Lake, choreography by The Ruth and A. Morris Williams, Jr. Artistic Director Angel Corella. Photo by Arian Molina Soca.
