Miyako Yoshida Announces Retirement From The Royal Ballet

The Royal Ballet’s guest principal Miyako Yoshida has announced she will retire from the company at the end of this season. The much-admired dancer will appear in her scheduled performances of The Nutcracker this month, followed by Cinderella next April and Romeo and Juliet on the company’s tour to Japan next June.

Yoshida trained in her home country, followed by a year at the Royal Ballet School. She joined Birmingham Royal Ballet in 1984 and The Royal Ballet in 1995. Her repertory includes all the main roles in the classical repertory where her rare combination of flawless technique, modesty and charm were ideally suited. She was made an OBE for services to dance in 2007.

Director of The Royal Ballet Dame Monica Mason said: “I first saw Miyako when she was a student at the Royal Ballet school and her special gifts and talents were obvious from the outset. Her brilliant musicality, ideal classical line, speed and lightness, and her unfaltering professionalism. She has selflessly devoted virtually her entire career to the Royal Ballet companies and she will be very much missed.”

Yoshida said: “I have had a wonderful time in the great family of The Royal Ballet and will take many precious memories with me.”