Kaitlyn Cao ‘29

Kaitlyn Cao is a first year at Harvard College, planning on concentrating in Neuroscience and Applied Math.  She grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah where she began her ballet training at the age of nine at SLC Ballet. Kaitlyn later trained pre-professionally at MOGA Conservatory of Dance under Misa Oga. At MOGA, she performed lead roles, such as The Queen of Dryads and Bridesmaids in Don Quixote, and participated in several international ballet competitions. In 2023, Kaitlyn was selected as a candidate to participate in the XII USA International Ballet Competition, one of the most prestigious ballet competitions in the world, as 1 of 26 dancers chosen to represent the United States. At Youth America Grand Prix regional semifinals, she has received Top 12 awards 5x and 3rd and 2nd place awards in the Classical Category. Kaitlyn was invited to YAGP Finals four times (2022 - 2025), and in both 2024 and 2025, she was selected to perform in the Senior Women Final Rounds as one of the top performing dancers. She has also received Top 12 awards 2x in the Small Ensemble Category at Finals. At finals, Kaitlyn received many scholarships to prestigious schools such The European School of Ballet,  the John Cranko School, and Kansas City Ballet School. She was also offered a trainee position with the Oklahoma City Ballet. Kaitlyn is excited to continue her academic and ballet studies at Harvard and with HBC!