San Diego Ballet

Zoe Marinello-Kohn

Zoe received her ballet training at the San Francisco Ballet School and the Academy of Ballet in San Francisco. Since then, Zoe has worked professionally with the San Diego Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Twin Cities Ballet of Minnesota, Elle Vie Dance Company and the Osage Ballet. Zoe joined the San Diego Ballet in 2011 and is currently a company member often performing in Principal and Soloist roles. During her time with the San Diego Ballet.

Zoe has been featured in such roles as the Snow Queen in the Nutcracker, Lady Capulet in Romeo et Juliet, Queen Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Kaa the Snake in the Jungle Book, the Dying Swan in the Carnival of the Animals and the Lead Princess in The Firebird. Zoe also performed in the Salute to Vienna at the Walt Disney Concert Hall for the 2023 New Year’s concert and in the West Coast premier of SirRobert Cohan’s Stabat Mater. In 2018 she choreographed on the company, premieringHysteria, a work focused on the shared experiences of women in society. During her time with the Twin Cities Ballet of Minnesota, Zoe was featured in the principal roles of Lucy in Narnia: The Ballet and Princess Clara in the Nutcracker. Zoeis also an original cast member of Wazhazhe: an Osage Ballet and Principal Dancerwith the Osage Ballet. Since 2012, she has toured extensively with the company, including to the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian, the Sesquicentennial Celebration in Pawhuska, Oklahoma and at the Festival of Families in honor of Pope Francis at his visit to the United States in 2015.

Zoe is an accomplished choreographer, creating works locally and internationally. Her Screendance film “Ash” made the official selection at the Wicklow Screendance Laboratory Festival in Ireland in 2022. In 2023 Zoe created Mind. Body. Connections. an evening of dance dedicated to Synesthesia in partnership with Journey.

Through the Senses. Zoe currently serves as the Education and Outreach Programs Manager for the San Diego Ballet. She is energized to pass on her more than 15 years of professional experience to her students and works to provide opportunities to young dancers to fulfill their potential. She is excited to return to San Diego Ballet for her 11th season.

  • What ignited your passion for dance?

I was always dancing as a child and making my family watch me! I just loved music and playing with movement.

  • What inspired you to pursue a professional career in dance?

I was inspired to become a professional ballet dancer when I realized that dance could be my career.  The idea that I could do what I loved all day and make that my life was motivation to train hard to make it to a professional level.

  • What is your favorite thing about being a dancer?

I love being a dancer because it pushes me to improve myself every day.  I enjoy finding creative ways to communicate through dance and there is always something new and exciting to work with.