Yoshihisa Arai

Yoshihisa Arai joined The Joffrey Ballet in 2012.

Born in Hiroshima, Japan, Mr. Arai began his ballet training when he was ten years old with the International Ballet Academy under Mika Tamaru. In 2005, he went on to train with The Royal Ballet School where he danced roles in Coppélia, Le Corsaire, La Sylphide, Gallantries by David Bintley and Unwritten by Natalie Weir. He graduated with honors and received The Royal Ballet School Achievement Award. He also performed with The Royal Ballet for The Rite of Spring, George Balanchine’s Jewels, and many more throughout the continuation of his training.

In 2008, Mr. Arai joined Northern Ballet under the direction of David Nixon. During his time there, he danced in many acclaimed roles in ballets including The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, Dracula, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Madame Butterfly, Giselle, Dangerous Liaisons, and Cleopatra.

In 2011, he joined Tulsa Ballet as a Demi-Soloist, where he worked with internationally acclaimed choreographers and performed in pieces including The Merry Widow, In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, Six Dances, Nine Sinatra Songs, Romeo and Juliet and Le Spectre de la Rose.

In 2002, he placed second in the Kobe International Ballet Competition, and third at the Fukuoka Ballet Competition in 2004. In 2006, he was awarded the RAD International Summer School in International Scholarship. He was a Prix de Lausanne finalist in 2007.

Mr. Arai also performs in Japan as a guest dancer and teaches at Japanese ballet schools as a guest teacher.