Yuka Oba

Company Member
Grand Rapids Ballet
Brilliant Tenacity

Currently in her ninth year with Grand Rapids Ballet, Yuka has overcome injuries, personal losses, language barriers, culture shock and professional disappointments to become the prima ballerina of Michigan's only professional ballet company. Despite challenges she initially faced, she persisted, using dance as a way to connect across these barriers. In recent years Yuka dealt with the death of two close family members, making the long trip home to Japan to pay her respects. Never one to rest on her laurels, she finds ways to push herself by expanding her steps, finding new coaching for her roles, taking on new responsibilities like choreographing and teaching, and always searching for the route to further improvement.