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A native of Seattle, WA, Sayoko trained in classical ballet at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School. She then attended the University of Utah where she earned her BFA and MFA in ballet and choreography. While in Utah, she performed ballets by Val Caniporoli, Lauren Edson, Edgar Zendegas, Richard Tjia, Ohad Naharin, Jiri Kylian, Kent Stowell, Jiang Qi, Alex Ketley, George Balanchine, Conrad Ludlow, Bruce Wells, Donald Byrd, Stephanie Saland, and Sonia Dawkins.

As a choreographer, Sayoko has been invited as a guest choreographer for a Gala performance in Tokyo, Japan, with Valentio Bartes Ballet Company. She has also worked with Ballet West Academy’s Summer Intensive, Regional Dance America’s Craft of Choreography Conference, the University of Utah’s resident company-Utah Ballet, the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance’s Choreographic Residency, and Ballet Bellevue. She is also the winner of the YAGP Outstanding Choreographer Award (2014/2010).