Mao Ueda

Born: 2004, Hyogo, Japan, 2004
Education: Royal Conservatoire The Hague
Experience: De Dutch Don’t Dance Division, Introdans (since August 2024)

Mao Ueda started ballet at the age of four. Her mother took her to a local ballet studio in Japan, where Mao soon discovered how much she enjoyed dancing. She particularly loved being on stage and it quickly became her dream to become a professional dancer.

When she was seventeen, Mao moved from Japan to the Netherlands to continue her dance training at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. She began her studies there in August 2022. During her training, she also became familiar with the working methods of Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) through the Young Talent Project. After graduating, Mao began her career as a professional dancer. She interned with the Hague-based company DeDDDD, De Dutch Don’t Dance Division, where she gained her first professional experience. There, she worked among others with Lorenzo Topino, with whom she now also dances at Introdans.

“For me, dance is a form of unlimited emotional expression, where there are no language barriers.” On stage, she experiences all kinds of emotions, from nerves to a strong sense of fulfilment. It is precisely these emotions that make dancing so special to her.

She particularly enjoys the fact that Introdans travels extensively, both within the Netherlands and abroad. Touring gives her the opportunity to share dance with a wide audience and to inspire people around the world with her passion and dedication.

Although Mao now lives and works in the Netherlands, Japan remains her home. Returning to her home country reminded her how special it is to have a place to return to and to be surrounded by so many people who are dear to her. “I am grateful for everything I have and have achieved, and I will continue to work hard.”