Rieko Hatato began her ballet training at the age of five in Japan under the renowned Yoko Tsukamoto at Theater de Ballet Academy in Nagoya. She won numerous medals in prestigious ballet competitions in Japan, earned a bronze medal at the Moscow International Ballet Competition, and was twice a finalist in the USA International Ballet Competition. She guest-starred with the Russian Ballet Theater in Cyprus before joining Arts Ballet Theater of Florida in 2017 and subsequently moving to the USA.

Now a soloist at Texas Ballet Theater, Hatato's performance highlights include Violin Concerto by Tim O’Keefe and many principal roles in ballets choreographed by Ben Stevenson such as Cinderella in Cinderella, Svetlana in Dracula, Sugar Plum and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, Tiger Lily in Alice in Wonderland, and pas de deuxs from Stevenson’s Sylvia and Esmeralda. Her neo-classical work extends to the lead role of Wendy in Tre Macintyre’s Peter Pan and performances of George Balanchine’s Rubies and Serenade. Hatato has also worked with voices in the contemporary and modern space such as Shibuya Blues by Anabelle Ochoa Lopez where she performed the solo woman, Imbue by Garret Smith, Without Borders by Val Caniparoli, Maple Leaf Rag by Martha Graham, and many others.

In June 2024, Hatato was an original cast member of Pointeworks, performing Press Play by Caili Quan and Off Beat by Reka Gyulai in the inaugural performance. For Season 2, she not only danced but also choreographed her work Amour de Jeunesse, a romantic pas de deux embodying young love and danced to music by Beethoven which debuted to sold-out audiences in New York City.

Hatato continues to be an integral member of Pointeworks, her mastery of technique and artistry speaks to her dancing and her kind energy in the studio brings joy to all around her.