Kanako began her ballet training in Fukuoka, Japan, and later joined the Reiko Matsuoka Ballet Institute, where she toured extensively in Russia, China, and Japan. Awarded a prestigious scholarship to train in Paris, Kanako's further studies took her to the Beijing Ballet School, Joffrey Ballet School, City Ballet School in California, and under Maria Vegh in Petaluma, California. Her professional career includes performances with Peninsula Ballet Theatre, Idaho Ballet, Alaska's North Star Ballet, Ballet Hawaii, Tau Dance Theatre, and Reiko Matsuoka Ballet.
Since joining Ballet Arizona in 2001, Kanako has originated featured roles in Ib Andersen’s Indigo Rhapsody, Elevations, Mosaik, Preludes and Fugues, Play, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hippolyta). Her principal roles include Myrtha in Giselle, the Sugar Plum Fairy in Ib Andersen’s The Nutcracker, Mercedes and Queen of the Dryads in Don Quixote, and prominent roles in George Balanchine’s Apollo (Polyhymnia), La Sonnambula (Coquette), Divertimento No. 15, Serenade (Dark Angel), Allegro Brillante, and Rubies from Jewels. Kanako has also performed soloist roles in Swan Lake, Coppélia, Les Sylphides, Ib Andersen’s Romeo and Juliet (Lady Montague), and Balanchine’s Theme and Variations and La Valse.
In addition to her work with Ballet Arizona, Kanako frequently travels to Japan as a guest artist and dance coach, continuing to share her expertise and passion for ballet with the next generation of dancers.
