Zoe Marinello-Kohn is a professional ballet dancer, teacher, choreographer, actor and artist. 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 throughout her more than 13 years with the company performed mainly in Principal roles. During her time with the San Diego Ballet Zoe has been featured in such roles as the Sugar Plum Fairy and 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 Princess in The Firebird. Zoe also performed in the Salute to Vienna at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and in the West Coast premier of Sir Robert Cohan’s Stabat Mater.
During her time with the Twin Cities Ballet of Minnesota Zoe originated the principal roles of Lucy in Narnia: The Ballet and Princess Clara in the Nutcracker. Zoe is also an original cast member of Wazhazhe: an Osage Ballet and Principal Dancer with 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’s choreography has been commissioned by ballet and modern companies, featured at dance festivals and her dance films have gained recognition internationally.
As a seasoned actor she was a company member of the American Immersion Theater for five years. Other acting credits include live, immersive activations of House of the Dragon, Carnival Row and NBC’s The Voice.
As a Poly Synesthete, Zoe cares deeply about spreading awareness and acceptance for neuro-divergent people. She uses her art as a platform to inspire others and to promote dialogue. She has worked internationally with the non profit Journey Through the Senses, creating dance based performances highlighting Synesthesia.
Zoe’s art work has been sold at various art shows and displayed in galleries in several major cities around the United States. She enjoys working with patrons to create one of a kind commissions, working predominantly with acrylic or oil on canvas.
Zoe is an experienced dance educator and private coach. She is also the San Diego Ballet Co Director of the Pre-Professional Summer Intensive which is a rigorous training program designed to hone the skills of pre professional dancers and prepare them for a career in ballet. Many company members of the San Diego Ballet are alumni of the Summer Intensive and Zoe is passionate about working closely with the next generation of professional dancers. In addition, Zoe serves as the Education and Outreach Programs Manager where she is committed to providing quality dance education to the diverse communities throughout San Diego.