Biography

Patrick Yocum began his ballet training in his home state of Pennsylvania. After graduating high school, he continued his training with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School before joining Boston Ballet’s Trainee Program as its Sydney Leonard scholar. Yocum joined Boston Ballet II in 2009. BBII provided him many performance opportunities, including the works of August Bournonville (Napoli Pas de Six, Le Conservatoire) and Jorma Elo (Pointe Off, Carmen/Illusions and Plan to B).

He has appeared in leading roles in classical repertoire including Giselle (Albrecht), Frederick Ashton’s Sleeping Beauty (Prince Desire), August Bournonville’s La Sylphide (James), John Cranko’s Onegin (Vladimir Lensky) and Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio), Ivan Liska’s Le Corsair (Konrad), and Mikko Nissinen’s Swan Lake (Siegfried) and The Nutcracker.

He has especially enjoyed leading roles in neoclassical and contemporary works from esteemed choreographers including George Balanchine, Val Caniparoli, Merce Cunningham, Alexander Eckman, Jorma Elo, William Forsythe, Jiri Kylian, Wayne Macgregor, John Neumeier, Justin Peck, Helen Pickett, Jerome Robbins, and Leonid Yakobson. He has created roles in works, such as Karole Armitage’s Bitches Brew, Jorma Elo’s Fifth Symphony of Jean Sibelius, William Forsythe’s Playlist (EP), and Jose Martinez’ Resonance.

He has performed internationally in Spain, the U.K., Canada, France, Finland, South Korea, and in many cities in the United States.

Yocum joined Boston Ballet’s corps de ballet in 2011, was promoted to the rank of soloist in 2015, and became a principal dancer in 2017.