Yuko Shimoji, born in 1999, is a dance artist and director/choreographer. With a professional career in classical ballet ,Martha Graham techniques and Noh is acclaimed for its expression that incorporates the soul of her Japanese heritage. She spent her early childhood in Washington D.C. She trained at Tachibana Ballet School and Tokyo Ballet School, then continued her studies under Yuji Matsushita and Mika Yamaguchi. At 15, she was awarded a full scholarship to the School of Alberta Ballet in Canada. After returning to Japan, she enrolled in the Philosophy Department at Sophia Universitys Faculty of Literature. Starting July 2017, she pursued her career as a professional ballet dancer at Rudra Béjart School Lausanne in Switzerland. In 2019, she joined the NY Martha Graham Contemporary Dance Company, America's oldest contemporary dance company, to further develop her skills. In September 2020, a piece she choreographed during the pandemic lockdown was performed at Ground Zero for the 9/11 memorial service and was broadcast nationwide in the U.S., marking her expansion into choreography. By the end of 2021, she shifted her base to Japan. Between 2021 and 2022, she provided choreography to 16 dance companies, mainly in Israel and France. During the International Suicide Prevention Week event at the Rosella Hightower in Cannes, a video of her work was featured as the key visual. In June 2023, she became the first Japanese participant in a choreography competition hosted by Teatro alla Scala at the ORSOLINA28 contemporary dance festival in Italy. In November 2023, she performed a piece using a Kyoto mon-tsuki mourning dress at the main stage of Japan Expo in Dubai. Additionally, she expanded her repertoire by creating choreography for the Dior New York Holiday Season Opening show 2023.