Mariko Sasaki was born in Tokyo and trained at the Yuriko Kawaguchi Ballet School, winning a scholarship at the 2010 Prix de Lausanne. She graduated into Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2013 before joining The Royal Ballet in 2014 and rising to First Soloist in 2024. Her repertory includes Odette/Odile, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and roles in works by Wayne McGregor and Christopher Wheeldon.
