Maria Sascha Khan is a former principal dancer, artistic director and master teacher with an extensive background in producing, directing and coaching. She is the Director of Artistic Development for Ballet Nights SE Asia, Director of Ballet for the Canggu Studio and working with the visionary Nuanu City. She holds a Master’s Degree with Distinction from the University of the Arts Central Saint Martins, London, in Arts & Cultural Enterprise, and is the co-founder and former Artistic Director of the Yellowstone International Arts Festival. Maria Sascha began her pre-professional ballet journey at prestigious institutions like the Kirov Academy of Ballet, under the tutelage of Luidmila Morkovina, the Royal Ballet in London, Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and on full scholarship at the Académie de Danse Classique de Princesse Grace, Monte Carlo under the personal mentorship of its director Marika Besobrasova, coach to Nureyev and Fonteyn.

Graduating with honours from the Académie, she was invited by Vladimir Malakhov to join the Staatsballett Berlin. Excelling in both classical and contemporary ballet her repertoire includes works by Neumeier, Forsythe, Kylian, Macmillan, Cranko, Balanchine, Petipa, Cunningham, Prejlocaj and more. Her journey continued with the Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich, the English National Ballet of London and as Principal dancer of the Ekaterinburg State Ballet, Russia.

A cultural ambassador and advocate for the Arts, Maria Sascha had her first business at the age of 12, and has been organizing and producing galas, fundraisers and cultural events since the age of 19. Alongside her international performing career Maria Sascha worked for the past five years as the Artistic Director and co-founder of the Yellowstone International Arts Festival. Additionally, she has held the position of Artistic Director for Les Danses de L’Amour international ballet galas and Artistic Advisor to the Ballet Icons Gala, London. She is a respected jury member for international ballet competitions, runs masterclass programs, and privately mentors and coaches artists on a regular basis through her online coaching business Bespoke Ballet.

Maria Sascha has featured as a World Economic Forum “Global Shapers” keynote speaker, panel speaker for the Mansfield Center, and champions the role of the arts in bridging cultural divides. She is a contributor for the US Embassy’s @america center in Jakarta, Indonesia, a former UK is GREAT cultural ambassador and member of the International Dance Council.

In her capacity as producer, she created and produced the short ballet “Warrior of Light” in partnership with Swarovski, which had its world premiere at the London Coliseum in London, worked as Production Director for the weeklong “Heaven on Earth Ballet Week – Maldives”, and produced the online video series called “Inspiring Artists”, along with numerous gala and fundraising events. She is an ambassador for London based wildlife organization Save Wild Tigers and volunteers her time to support non-profit arts organizations.