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Yukari Saito

さいとう ゆかり

Saitō Yukari

Pen Names: Yukaryusha（Affectionate nickname used by colleagues and audience）

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1967-07-29 （Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese, Russian
Religion
Russian Orthodox Baptized in 1994 （Baptismal Name: Yulia）
Residence History
Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan → Moscow, Russia

Career

Occupations
ballerina, ballet instructor, choreographer, artistic director, author
Active Years
1987-
Affiliations
The Tokyo Ballet
Influenced By
Ekaterina Maximova, Vladimir Vasiliev, Marina Semyonova, John Neumeier, Maurice Béjart

Education

Kanagawa Prefectural Shimizugaoka High School
Period: 1983 - (在学中に留学等)
Country: Japan
During high school she traveled repeatedly to Russia for study and exchanges; attendance was insufficient but supported by the principal
Moscow State Dance School (graduate program)
Graduate program in ballet pedagogy
Period: 2004 - 2009
Year of Graduation: 2009
Country: Russia
Attended graduate program to obtain ballet teacher/master qualifications; graduated top of class

Awards

Japan Ballet Association Newcomer Award
1984
Work: La Sylphide (pas de deux)
Organization: Japan Ballet Association
Result: 受賞
Geijutsu Sensho (Arts Award) — Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Prize (Dance)
2005
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: 受賞
Yokohama Cultural Award
2011
Organization: City of Yokohama
Result: 受賞
Hattori Chieko Award
2011
Organization: Japan Ballet Association
Result: 受賞
Medal with Purple Ribbon
2012
Organization: Cabinet Office
Result: 受章

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

La Sylphide

1989 Ballet (Romantic ballet)

Performed the full-length Lacotte version; marked her major role debut in Tokyo and became a signature role.

etherealitysense of suspensionromanticism

Giselle

1998 Ballet (Romantic)

Her comeback performance in 1998; emblematic of her recovery and return to the stage, prepared under Maximova's guidance.

resurrectiondevotiontragic love

Anyuta (ballet after Chekhov)

1998 Dramatic ballet

Worked on under Maximova as part of rehabilitation; performed successfully in Chelyabinsk.

human dramarebirth

Onegin (role: Tatyana)

2010 Ballet (narrative)

Her long-cherished dream role of Tatyana, which she performed for The Tokyo Ballet in 2010 and which became one of her signature roles.

maturitylove and regret

Bibliography

  • Yukaryusha: The Ballerina Who Achieved a Miraculous Recovery
  • Yukaryusha: The Ballerina Who Fulfilled Her Dream with an Indomitable Spirit (Bunshun Bunko)

Adaptations

  • Yukaryusha (DVD of the 2005 performance)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
delicate, ethereal expressionmusically driven performance
Recurring Motifs
fey/ethereal motifsrebirth / comebackmaternal devotion

Health

  • Left knee ligament rupture and meniscus injury
    1996-1999（受傷1996年12月、手術・長期リハビリを経て1998年復帰、1999年再手術等）
    Forced prolonged absence from the stage, multiple surgeries and long rehabilitation; major impact on her career, followed by a celebrated comeback

Legacy

Praised for her romantic-ballet expressiveness, international collaborations and a remarkable comeback; influential as a performer, teacher and as artistic director of The Tokyo Ballet.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Ballet Association

Quotes

  • I will just dance my Giselle.
    Source: Interview / remark at time of comeback (1998) (1998)
  • Yukari will certainly dance Tatyana one day.
    Source: Marcia Haydée (comment / mentor) (1991)

Trivia

  • Nickname: 'Yukaryusha'
  • Husband: former Bolshoi principal Nikolai Fedorov
  • Baptized into the Russian Orthodox Church in 1994 with the name 'Yulia'