Meet Saori Yamashita | Professional Ballerina

We had the good fortune of connecting with Saori Yamashita and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Saori, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
Dancing makes me happy! I can’t imagine how empty my life would be without Ballet. When I’m moving, listening to music, jumping, bouncing and pirouetting, I have a feeling of completeness.
For me, dancing is a great way to overcome negative feelings. It is my medicine and therapy.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I left Japan when I was 14 to pursue my dream to be a ballerina. I think I’m a late bloomer because I became professional at the age of 22. Most of my friends from ballet school got their first job after high school so I was scared and panicked. I wasn’t sure if I should keep going or not. No words can express how grateful I am to my family for keep pushing me and supporting me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Santa Barbara is so beautiful! I would take my best friend to the beach first and then my favorite coffee shop “Caje”. If I have a show, I’d love them to come see me dance at the Granada Theatre.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
State Street Ballet! Ballet company I dance with in Santa Barbara, CA.
If you are ever around, come see us perform!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saopime/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/saopime

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/saopime

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@saori.yamashita

Image Credits
Tony Murrietta