Only a select number of Jedi knew the Dark Woman's real name. Jedi Master An'ya Kuro was widely known as the Dark Woman for her unorthodox training techniques and the way she provoked her students, inciting them to the point of anger where she could present the real lessons. As a young woman, An'ya Kuro traveled the galaxy searching for beings strong in the Force in order that they be trained in the ways of the Jedi. One of her travels took her to the planet of Cerea where she discovered a young Ki-Adi-Mundi.

Although he was much older than the traditional age at which students were admitted to the Jedi academy, the Dark Woman convinced Ki's parents as well as the Council to permit him to train. The Dark Woman's instincts were correct as Ki-Adi-Mundi eventually rose to the status of Jedi Master and even attained a position on the Jedi Council. However, no Jedi is perfect and one of An'ya Kuro's instincts proved to be very detrimental to the Jedi Order. The Dark Woman discovered Aurra Sing as a baby on the Smuggler's Moon, Nar Shadda, born to a spice addict. Rescuing Aurra from the cruel life she was born into, An'ya took Aurra to Coruscant to be trained as a Jedi.

For seven years, Aurra trained to become a Jedi and even eventually becoming an apprentice to the very woman who saved her. However, at the age of nine, Aurra was kidnapped from the Dark Woman by the Sennex Pirates and sold into slavery. The pirates told Aurra that the Dark Woman had sold Aurra to them as she was not strong enough in the Force and thus not worthy of being her apprentice. Despite An'ya Kuro's best efforts, Aurra Sing could not escape the cruel life that seemed to be her destiny. Over the next few years, Aurra Sing was sold to a number of different owners and trained to be a deadly assassin, even by the ancient Anzati. These events harbored in Aurra a deep hatred for the Jedi Order and especially the Dark Woman, and she vowed her revenge.