Company

Name: Nina Yoshida-Webster

Company Position: Company Artist

Joined Ballet RI:  Joined Ballet RI in 2021 as a Company Artist.

Hometown: Madison, NJ

Training/Education: Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, B.A. in Dance Performance, St. Mary’s College of California’s LEAP (Liberal Education for Arts Professionals) program.

Favorite Quote: “The dance goes on forever. So shall I. So shall we.” ~ Gelsey Kirkland

Favorite Role or Ballet & Why: 

It’s so hard to pick just one since they are all so different! I loved the acting and technical challenges in performing Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. The challenges this role presented forced me to grow into Aurora’s character in the process. I also got to work on footwork and musical playfulness when I performed the Jumping Girl in George Balanchine’s Who Cares? Last but not least, my hands-down favorite acting role, which had some pretty challenging dancing in it too, was the younger stepsister in Cinderella. It was my first experience playing with comedy on stage. Getting to hear the audience’s laughter and reactions in real time was one of the most rewarding performance experiences I’ve had!

Accomplishment you are most proud of: 

Choreographing my first piece last February for Ballet RI’s Made on Hope!

Fun Fact about yourself: 

My husband and I have walked every single block of Manhattan together and have a map to prove it. I also love to garden and take on more crafting projects than I can keep up with, including knitting and sewing my own clothes, needlepointing, drawing, painting, and most recently, weaving Nantucket Baskets!

Follow Nina on Instagram @ninaballerina98