Master Classes
2026 Master Classes with Yuriko Kajiya and Lauren Anderson
Yuriko Kajiya, born in Aichi, Japan, began her training at the age of eight. At ten, she moved to China and became one of the first foreign students to study with and graduate from the Shanghai Ballet School on scholarship. Kajiya joined American Ballet Theatre's Studio Company in September 2001 and was promoted to the main Company as an apprentice in 2002. She performed with ABT for fifteen years, seven of those as a Soloist. In 2014, she joined Houston Ballet as a First Soloist and was quickly promoted to Principal in November 2014 following her performance as the Sugar Plum Fairy in Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker.
Learn more about Yuriko Kajiya at https://www.houstonballet.org/explore/dancers/principal/yuriko-kajiya/
Lauren Anderson is a native Houstonian and a global icon, Lauren Anderson made history in 1990 as the first African-American to be promoted to principal dancer at Houston Ballet. Over a storied 23-year stage career, she earned international acclaim for her powerhouse performances in classical and contemporary masterpieces, most notably creating the title role in Ben Stevenson’s Cleopatra. Beyond her technical brilliance, Anderson’s legacy is enshrined in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame. Today, she continues to inspire the next generation as a dedicated educator and lecturer within Houston Ballet’s education department, championing the art form she helped redefine.
Learn more about Lauren Anderson at https://www.laurenandersonofficial.com/about
How to prepare:
1. Register online for your class with Yuriko Kajia]ya and/or Lauren Anderson.
2. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before class to check-in and get settled.
3. Come already dressed in classical ballet attire (pointe shoes are not required)
4. You may bring your personal water bottle into the studio with you.