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Yoko Ichino looks on thoughtfully during Cinderella rehearsals

Yoko Ichino

Academy Associate Director & Classical Ballet Teacher

Born in Los Angeles, Yoko studied with renowned ballerina Mia Slavenska and began her professional career in 1972 when she joined Joffrey Ballet II as an Apprentice. What followed was a career that spanned three decades. Yoko has danced with the Joffrey Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, National Ballet of Canada and Ballett der Deutsche Oper Berlin, as well as appearing as a Guest Artist for over 22 companies across the world. She has partnered some of ballet’s greatest dancers including the world famous Rudolph Nureyev.

Yoko began teaching as a teenager and has since then continued to develop her gift for teaching with dance companies across the world including Ballet de Monte Carlo, Stuttgart Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater. From 1995 to 2001 Yoko worked with her husband David Nixon to set up BalletMet Dance Academy in Ohio.

Header photo by Justin Slee