Iku Okura
Coryphée
Joined The Sarasota Ballet in 2025 as Coryphée.
Born: Tokyo, Japan
Training: Hungarian Dance University
Favorite quote: “Move with grace, stand with strength.”
Favorite role: Odette and Odile in Swan Lake is definitely my favorite and most unforgettable role in my life. It was my first full-length ballet as a principal role and one I had never expected to be able to perform in my childhood. I am grateful to have experienced this role as a dancer and a human.
Favorite costume: The romantic tutu from La Sylphide is my favorite. When I performed it for a graduation performance in Hungary, I rented the costume from Hungarian National Ballet. It happened to be the one that my favorite dancer had worn in the past. I felt very special on the stage.
Fun Fact: When I was a baby, I didn’t crawl, but I scooted using my legs.
Lead and featured roles in previous companies include: Barte’s The Nutcracker; Gardner’s Cinderella; Petipa’s Don Quixote, Le Corsaire pas d’esclave, Swan Lake