Biography

Patrick Yocum began his ballet training in his home state of Pennsylvania. His training continued 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 and Jorma Elo.

He has appeared in leading roles in classical repertoire including Giselle (Albrecht), Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella (The Prince), The 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 Corsaire (Konrad), and Mikko Nissinen’s Swan Lake (Prince Siegfried) and The Nutcracker.

He has especially enjoyed leading roles in neoclassical and contemporary works from esteemed choreographers including Val Caniparoli, Merce Cunningham, Alexander Eckman, Jorma Elo, William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Wayne McGregor, John Neumeier, Justin Peck, Tiler Peck, Helen Pickett, Jerome Robbins, Hans Van Manen, and Leonid Yakobson. He has created roles in new works including Karole Armitage’s Bitches Brew, Jorma Elo’s Fifth Symphony of Jean Sibelius, William Forsythe’s Playlist (EP), Jose Martinez’ Resonance, and Ken Ossola’s The Space Between.

He has been frequently featured in the works of George Balanchine, enjoying principal roles in ballets including Chaconne, Serenade, Agon, Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2, Allegro Brilliante, Stravinsky Violin Concerto, Donizetti Variations, and Apollo.

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 as artist of the Company in 2011, was promoted to soloist in 2015, and to principal dancer in 2017.