HIROTO SAITO

Stories & Testimonials

HIROTO SAITO

Toronto, ON
Ballet, Contemporary
Career Pathway: Dance Education

Hiroto Saito started dancing in Japan at age seven and trained at the English National Ballet School in London. After graduating, he joined Hong Kong Ballet and later Ballet Jörgen in 2007, where he performed principal roles. Since 2017, he’s been Ballet Master at Ballet Jörgen, while also teaching and choreographing globally. In 2024, he enrolled in the Teacher Training Program at Canada’s National Ballet School to deepen his study of dance education.

HIROTO’S STORY

“After 24 incredible years as a professional ballet dancer, I took a bold step back to ballet school to learn how to teach – a transition that would’ve been impossible without DTRC’s support. I saw fellow dancers move on to new careers like wedding dress designers or even pilots, thanks to DTRC, and I knew one day I’d need to plan my future beyond the stage. Luckily, I had a long and rewarding career, with opportunities to teach along the way, and when the time came, DTRC’s guidance and Career Counselling helped me secure the Retraining and FTS-I Grants. This September, I leaped from life on tour and stage to life as a student. Without DTRC, navigating this change would have been overwhelming.

Without the DTRC, I believe my career would have ended much sooner. In 2017, when I was injured and had to take about three months off work, they provided me with free counselling. As I transitioned away from professional dancing to pursue my interest in Dance Education, their support was invaluable, both financially and emotionally. I am truly grateful to DTRC for their assistance during that challenging time.”

DTRC’S SUPPORT

Counselling
Skill Grants
Retraining (Study) Grant
FTS-I Subsistence (Post-Performance Pathway) Grant

National Office

The Lynda Hamilton Centre
Suite 303
1000 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4W 2K2

Phone: 416-595-5655

nationaloffice@dtrc.ca

Office Hours:
By Appointment Only – Please contact nationaloffice@dtrc.ca

*Wheelchair accessible

BC Office

The BC office runs as a virtual office and is open on a part-time basis, according to a variable schedule.

bcoffice@dtrc.ca

Regional Reps

British Columbia
Mika Manning
bcrep@dtrc.ca

Alberta
abrep@dtrc.ca

Manitoba
Eugene “GeNie” Baffoe
mbrep@dtrc.ca

Atlantic
Sydney Ewert
atlantic@dtrc.ca

Toll-free: 1-800-667-0851

Territory Acknowledgment

We acknowledge the lands, waterways, languages, and Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island – First Nations, Inuit and Métis – who have been living on these lands since time immemorial. As we carry out our work, digitally and in person across many distinct territories, we offer our recognition and respect to all the peoples and places that are connected through our engagement together. We, at the Dancer Transition Resource Centre, commit to the ongoing work and learning required of all of us to address past and persistent harms. We continue to deepen our understanding and we welcome dialogue as we strive to move into better relations with Indigenous peoples and with the land.