Biography

Patrick Yocum has loved theatre since a young age. He spent his childhood performing in musicals and plays, and continues to have a passion for performance that is rarely satiated. Beginning his classical dance training in his hometown as a teenager, he left home after high school to attend the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Graduate Program. In 2009, he joined Boston Ballet School as a trainee, sponsored by Sydney Leonard. After one year, he was invited to join Boston Ballet II, the second company.

As an apprentice, Yocum frequently performed in company productions, and joined the corps de ballet in 2011. He was promoted to soloist in 2015 and principal dancer in 2017. He has performed leading roles in classical, neoclassical, and contemporary works, and has enjoyed touring with Boston Ballet to many locations in the U.S. and Europe, including Spain, Helsinki, London, New York City, and Washington D.C.

Yocum has enjoyed leading roles in a diverse range of ballets, including Jiří Kylián's Symphony of Psalms and Wings of Wax, John Cranko's Onegin, Viktor Plotinkov's Swan Lake, José Martinez' Resonance, Mikko Nissinen's Swan Lake, Marius Petipa's The Sleeping Beauty, George Balanchine's Donizetti Variations and Kammermusik No. 2, and William Forsythe's Artifact.

Repertoire

Rudolph Nureyev, Don Quixote; Sir Frederick Ashton, The Sleeping Beauty (Puss in Boots), Cinderella (Cavaliers); Florence Clerc, La Bayadère; Mikko Nissinen, The Nutcracker (Cavalier, Snow King), Swan Lake (Siegfried, Pas de Cinq); Harald Lander, Études; John Cranko, Romeo and Juliet (Lord Capulet, Carnival King), Onegin (Vladimir Lensky); George Balanchine, Coppélia, Theme and Variations (Demi-soloist), Symphony in C (Demi-soloist), Symphony in Three Movements, Kammermusik No. 2 (Principal Man), Jewels (Rubies, Diamonds Demi- Soloist), Episodes; Jiří Kylián, Symphony of Psalms; William Forsythe, The Second Detail, The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude; Jorma Elo, The Elo Experience; Helen Pickett, Eventide; Jeffrey Cirio, fremd; Alexander Ekman, Cacti; Jerome Robbins, The Concert (or the Perils of Everybody) (First Man); Karole Armitage, Bitches Brew; Lila York, Celts; Léonid Massine, Gaîté Parisienne; John Neumeier, The Third Symphony of Gustav Mahler (Posthorn Man); José Martinez, Resonance; Norbert Vesak, Belong (Pas de Deux); Boston Ballet II: August Bournonville, Le Conservatoire (Principal Man), Napoli Pas De Six; Jorma Elo, Pointe Off, Brake the Eyes, Carmen/Illusions; Jeffrey Cirio, From Zero 2 Five in 43. Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity: George Balanchine, Raymonda Variations; Hans van Manen, Grosse Fuge; Heather Meyers, Dedications; Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston: Merce Cunningham, How to Pass, Kick, Fall and Run

Training

George Thomson, Doylestown, PA (2004-2007); Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, Pittsburg, PA (2007-2008); Boston Ballet School, Boston, MA (2008-2009)

Career

Boston Ballet (Boston, MA): Boston Ballet School Trainee (2008); Boston Ballet II (2009); Corps de Ballet (2011); Soloist (2015); Principal Dancer (2017)