Actress Ryoko Yonekura announced Saturday she will appear in the Tani Momoko Ballet Company's new production of "CINDERELLA" [1].

The move marks a rare instance of a high-profile non-dancer joining a professional ballet company for a modern production. Yonekura's return to the stage highlights the production's goal of incorporating high entertainment value and new directorial approaches into classical ballet [1, 2].

Yonekura studied ballet for 10 years, from age five to 15 [1]. Despite this training, she said she had never regretted leaving the discipline because of its difficulty [1]. This return to the stage comes approximately 30 years after her previous involvement with ballet [1].

During a press conference in Tokyo, Yonekura said the decision was not an immediate cause for celebration. She said she felt a sense of contradiction regarding a non-dancer standing on the same stage as professional dancers. She said her initial reaction was filled with anxiety and doubt [1].

"I felt it was strange beyond words," Yonekura said. "I had a sense of incongruity about a person who is not a dancer standing on the boards together in a ballet company's show. I couldn't feel immediate joy. It was only anxiety and questions" [1].

To prepare for the role, Yonekura said she is currently studying the ballet company's YouTube channel daily. She said she intends to work desperately to meet the demands of the performance [1].

The Tani Momoko Ballet Company aims to broaden the reach of the art form by blending traditional technique, star power, and accessibility of a well-known actress [1, 2].

“"I had a sense of incongruity about a person who is not a dancer standing on the boards together."”

Yonekura's casting suggests a strategic shift by the Tani Momoko Ballet Company to attract wider audiences by bridging the gap between elite classical art and mainstream entertainment. By casting a celebrity with foundational training rather than a professional dancer, the production leverages public curiosity and the narrative of a personal challenge to increase ticket demand.