Koto Ishihara was born in Nagoya, Japan and trained at the Shiho Kanazawa Ballet School in Japan, The HARID Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida and San Francisco Ballet School. Koto danced with San Francisco Ballet as a Soloist before she joined The National Ballet of Canada as a First Soloist in 2019. In 2021, she was promoted to Principal Dancer.
Most recently, Koto made her debut as Tatiana in John Cranko’s Onegin, Kitri in Carlos Acosta’s North American premiere of Don Quixote and Lotus in William Yong’s world premiere of UtopiVerse. A technically precise artist who excels in both classical and contemporary works, Koto's repertoire with the National Ballet includes the Sugar Plum Fairy and Bee in The Nutcracker. A virtuoso yet nuanced performer, Koto has shone in featured roles in MADDADDAM, Anima Animus, Suite en Blanc, Chaconne, Symphony in C, Etudes, Piano Concerto #1, Chroma, Rubies and Tarantella.
Koto’s repertoire with San Francisco Ballet includes principal roles in Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Cinderella, RAkU, Suite en Blanc, The Kingdom of the Shades, Raymonda, Swimmer, Brahms Quartet, The Chairman Dances – Quartet for Two, Divertimento No.15, The Four Temperaments, Serenade, Within the Golden Hour, Borderlands and Continuum.
In 2010, Koto won first place at Youth America Grand Prix San Francisco and the silver medal at The International Dance Festival TANZOLYMP. She placed third in 2005 at the Japan Grand Prix and in 2004, she placed first at The Ballet Competition for Youth and third at Competition 21.
