Aoi Koenig (née Funakoshi) originally hails from Chiba, Japan, where she started her classical ballet study at the age 7. Recognizing her talents, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music awarded Aoi a scholarship and she graduated Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance in 2000. As an active international performing artist, Aoi danced with classical ballet and contemporary dance companies around the world, appearing in prestigious theaters and international festivals including Joyce Theater, New York City Center, Festival Internacional Cervantino, Palacio de Bellas Artes, and DanceXchange Birmingham to name a few. Her favorite memories of intensive performing years were with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (USA), Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company (USA), Compania de Danza Tania Perez-Salas, Ballet Nacional, and Lalejet Danza (Mexico City, Mexico), as well as Cas Public Production and Les Sortileges (Montreal, Canada). Aoi moved to Colorado Springs with her husband and their first child in the spring of 2011 and has been enjoying a full life with her growing family while serving passionately as dance instructor at Ormao Dance Company and School, Pikes Peak State College as well as performing locally whenever possible.