Principal
Osaka, Japan
Joined Boston Ballet in 2003
Misa Kuranaga began her training at the Jinushi Kaoru Ballet School and later continued at the School of American Ballet. Kuranaga has been a member of San Francisco Ballet. Kuranaga joined Boston Ballet in 2003. She was promoted to second soloist in 2005, soloist in 2007 and to principal dancer in 2009.
She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors including a gold medal in the Junior Division of the Ninth Moscow International Ballet Competition and the gold medal in the senior division of the 2006 USA International Ballet Competition.
Her repertoire includes La Fille mal gardée (Lise); Bournonville’s La Sylphide (the Sylph); Maina Gielgud’s production of Giselle (peasant pas de deux); Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty (Princes Aurora, Songbird Fairy and Princess Florine); Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker (Snow Queen, Sugar Plum Fairy and Clara) and Swan Lake (Black Swan pas de deux, pas de trois, pas de cinq); Nureyev’s Don Quixote (Amour/Cupid); James Kudelka’s Cinderella; Cranko’s The Taming of the Shrew and Romeo and Juliet; George Balanchine’s Divertimento No. 15, Serenade (the Russian girl), Rubies, Who Cares?, Concerto Barocco and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (lead butterfly); Mark Morris’ Up and Down; Lucinda Childs’ Ten Part Suite; Boyko Dossev’s Crane; and Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room.
Kuranaga has performed as a frequent guest artist internationally.
Misa Kuranaga by Rosalie O'Connor
