Saori Yamashita was born in Japan. She began her ballet studies at Sapporo City Ballet in Hokkaido, Japan. Beginning in 2008 she continued her studies at Kirov Academy of Ballet, Washington, DC and Joffrey Academy of Dance, Chicago, Illinois where she had the opportunity to dance many roles with the Jeffrey Ballet. Saori has competed in the Japan Grand Prix IBC, and International Ballet Competition in Nagoya. Performances include the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, La Bayadere and Sleeping Beauty. Columbia Classical Ballet welcomes Saori for her first season.