MAHO SHIRAGA

Born in Okayama, Japan where she grew up, Maho started rhythmic gymnastics when she was 5  and only turned to ballet later, hoping that it would help her to improve as a gymnast.

However she found herself more attracted to dance so that by the age of 14, she entered the Koike Ballet School in Hiroshima. In 2022 Maho participated in the Prix de Lausanne where she was talent scouted by the Royal Ballet School Antwerp which she joined the same year and graduated two years later.

During her time with the school she had the chance to take part in JBA’s fairytale production of ‘Cinderella’ (2023). This initiation brought home to her the advantages of the JBA program.

Maho: “Everyone at Junior Ballet Antwerp seemed to shine, I thought the teachers’ instructions were very accurate and wonderful so from that moment on, I wanted to join JBA. Now that I am here I want to improve not only my classical technique but also learn neo-classical ballet and contemporary dance, so I can prepare myself fully for future auditions.” 

Maho dreams of joining companies like English National Ballet or the National Ballet of Canada.

Her favourite ballet of all is ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ with choreography by Marius Petipa. The version she loves most is danced by May Nagahisa, a first dancer with the Mariinsky Theatre in Russia.