Mariko is an alumna of Virginia Ballet Company and School and danced with the school for 7 years. As a student, she performed roles such as Lilac Fairy from Sleeping Beauty and Alice from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. She incorporates experiences from her profession as a high school history teacher and her Master’s degree in Secondary Education from George Mason University to cultivate a positive learning space. She has completed Boston Ballet’s Adaptive Dance Teacher Training Program and has taught at VBC since 2021.