Yoshiaki Nakano

Principal

Social Media
Instagram: @yoshiaknakano
Facebook: Yoshiaki Nakano

Horoscope
Libra

Hometown
Osaka, Japan
Training
Elite Ballet Studio
San Francisco Ballet School
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Graduate Program

PBT
Joined PBT as an Apprentice in 2010
Promoted to Corps de Ballet in 2012
Promoted to Soloist in 2014
Promoted to Principal in 2015

  • Agon (George Balanchine)
  • Alice in Wonderland (Derek Deane – “White Rabbit”)
  • Divertimento No.15 (George Balanchine ©The George BalanchineTrust)
  • Don Quixote (Marius Petipa – “Basilio”)
  • Giselle (Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot – “Albrecht”)
  • In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated (William Forsythe)
  • In the Night (Jerome Robbins)
  • In the Upper Room (Twyla Tharp)
  • La Bayadère (Marius Petipa – “Solor” “The Golden Idol”)
  • Le Corsaire (Marius Petipa – “Conrad” “Ali”)
  • Nine Sinatra Songs (Twyla Tharp)
  • The Nutcracker (Terrance S. Orr – “Sugar Plum Cavalier”)
  • Petite Mort (Jiří Kylián)
  • Romeo and Juliet (Derek Deane – “Romeo” “Mercutio”)
  • Rubies (George Balanchine ©The George BalanchineTrust)
  • Sinfonietta (Jiří Kylián)
  • The Sleeping Beauty (Marius Petipa – “Prince Desiré” “Blue Bird”)
  • Swan Lake (Susan Jaffe – “Prince Siegfried”)
  • Western Symphony (George Balanchine ©The George BalanchineTrust)
  • West Side Story Suite (Jerome Robbins -“Tony”)

  • Silver medal at the 2010 World Ballet Competition in Orlando, Florida
  • Gold medal at the 2013 Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition in China
  • Dance Magazine’s top “25 Dancers to Watch” in 2014

  • Participated in multiple Ballet Galas in Japan, including “Orchard Ballet Gala” under Director Tetsuya Kuamaka, “Ballet Asteras” curated by New National Ballet Theatre of Tokyo, “World Dream Ballet Gala” as curated by Nakano in Osaka Japan.
  • Choreographed more than 50 works, including pieces for PBT, Point Park University and multiple schools and companies in Japan.
  • PBT Choreographer-in-Residence, 2023-2025

  • Married PBT soloist Jessica McCann in 2019
  • Two British shorthair cats, Yuzu and Tofu

Q&A

What has your favorite role been? Why?
“Mercutio” in Romeo and Juliet. He is like me goofing around people and making people laugh!

Do you have a favorite vacation spot?
Anywhere tropical with a beautiful beach or hot spring! Maldives, where we went for our honeymoon and Okinawa, Japan for their beautiful beaches. The hot spring in Hakone Japan is amazing!

I love Pittsburgh because…
Historic architecture, buildings and good restaurants

Performance Gallery