Born in Tokyo, Japan, Yuko Katsumi began her ballet training in Berlin, West Germany. She continued training in Japan and Zimbabwe where she received Honors in the Advanced Cecchetti Examination, after which she went to London and graduated from the Royal Ballet School. She danced professionally with Matsuyama Ballet in Tokyo, Tampa Ballet, and Colorado Ballet where she was a Principal Dancer. Her repertoire included leading roles in Giselle, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker, Don Quixote, La Bayadére, Raymonda, Cinderella and Romeo and Juliet and works by various choreographers such as Ashton, Balanchine, Fokine, Dolin, Massine, Ishida, Fredman, and Loring. While dancing, Ms. Katsumi was able to work with amazing coaches as Marina Stavitskaya (Kirov Ballet), Larisa Sklyanskaya (Bolshoi Ballet), Andris Liepa (Bolshoi), Kaleria Fedicheva (Kirov Ballet), all of whom had a profound influence on her as a dancer and teacher. Since retiring from her professional dancing career, Ms. Katsumi has developed into a well-respected teacher and coach of ballet. In 2011, Ms. Katsumi joined the faculty of San Francisco Ballet School where she has taught all levels. She has also taught extensively at Marin Ballet, Berkeley Ballet Theatre, Smuin Ballet, and City Ballet in S.F. She has been invited to be a Juror for California Dance Classics Competition, the RAD Solo Seal Exam in S.F, and at the Tokyo City Ballet Competition in Japan. The Harid Conservatory and Colorado Ballet has invited Ms. Katsumi to teach the Tour Audition class in S.F. Ms. Katsumi also teaches extensively nationally and internationally.