Noriko Ohara (大原永子, Ōhara Noriko, born December 8, 1943)[1] is a Japanese artistic director and retired ballet dancer.
[2] She began training in ballet at the age of four years, under Tachibana Akiko [jp].
[2][4] At age 18, she joined the Asami Maki Ballet.
[2] Ohara's roles included Juliet in Romeo and Juliet,[5] Carmen in Carmen,[6] Anna Karenina in Anna Karenina,[7] the Snow Queen in The Nutcracker,[8] Madge in Les Sylphides,[9] and Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
[11][12] In 1997, Ohara was awarded an honorary OBE by the Secretary of State of Scotland, Donald Dewar.