Hinako Sakuraoka was born in Tokyo, Japan, but left to study when she was 11 years old in New York. She graduated from the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC. Since then, she has worked with the Dresden Semperoper, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Poznan Grand Theater, Hagen Ballett, and Musik Theater im Revier as a fixed ensemble member and a guest artist. She has performed in various operettes with Oper am Rhein and Oper Köln, as well as musicals such as “The Phantom of the Opera” in Hamburg, where she served as an ensemble member and covered the role of Meg Giry, and “My Fair Lady” at Staatstheater Karlsruhe. She also performed in Circus Knie’s musical by Rolf Knie in Switzerland. Additionally, she worked as illusionist Julius Frack’s assistant both on and off stage. Currently, Hinako Sakuraoka is working as a dancer in the musical “The Lion King” in Hamburg while also serving as a certified Pilates, Gyrotonic, and Gyrokinesis Master Trainer, teaching clients and leading teacher trainings.