Biography

Boston native Isaac Akiba started dancing in Boston Ballet’s Citydance program at age 9 and began training at Boston Ballet School in 1998. During this time, he studied under Sydney Leonard, Franco De Vita, and Dierdre Miles-Burger.

His Boston Ballet repertoire includes Pino Alosa Paquita  (Pas de Trois), Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella (Jester),  George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream  (Puck), Jewels, The Four Temperaments  (Melancholic), Prodigal Son, Symphony in Three Movements  (Jumping Couple), Symphony in C (Third Movement), Coppélia, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Jeffrey Cirio’s fremd and Of Trial, Florence Clerc’s La Bayadère  (Golden Idol), John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet (Benvolio), Jorma Elo’s Slice to Sharp, Plan to B, Double Evil, Carmen, and Bach Cello Suites, William Forsythe’s The Second Detail  and The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude, Maina Gielgud Giselle (Peasant pas de deux), James Kudelka’s Cinderella, Jiří Kylián’s Wings of Wax and Tar and Feathers, Harald Lander’s Études  (Turning Man), Wayne McGregor’s Chroma, José Martinez’s Resonance, Sabrina Matthews’ Ein von Viel, John Neumeier’s Third Symphony of Gustav Mahler, Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker (Prince, Snow King, Lead Russian) and Swan Lake (Pas de Trois), Rudolf Nureyev’s Don Quixote  (Lead Gypsy), Helen Pickett’s Tabula Rasa, Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free and The Concert (or the Perils of Everybody), and Ninette de Valois’ The Sleeping Beauty (Bluebird).

As a Boston Ballet School trainee, Akiba received the Harry Wilcott scholarship based on his commitment and perseverance as a dancer. In 2006, he participated in the first International Beijing Competition, and in 2007 he was awarded a silver medal at the World Ballet Competition in Orlando, Florida.

Akiba joined Boston Ballet II in 2007. He was promoted to Boston Ballet’s corps in 2009, to second soloist in 2012, and soloist in 2013.