Jin Yao

Born in Jilin, Jin Yao graduated from Beijing Dance Academy in 1997 and joined the National Ballet of China in the same year. She was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2003, and was later ranked China National Grade 1 Actor. Jin Yao joined The Hong Kong Ballet as a Senior Soloist in 2004 and was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2005. She was awarded Hong Kong Dance Award by Hong Kong Dance Alliance in 2007 for her superb performance and received the award of “Best Artist of the Year” (dance category) from the Hong Kong Arts Development Awards 2010. She has danced principal roles in numerous productions of the Company including Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, The Merry Widow, Spartacus and Madama Butterfly. She has also danced the lead roles in Balanchine's ballets Theme and Variations and Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux under the direct coaching of Merrill Ashley. More recently, she represented the Company at Youth America Grand Prix Gala "Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow" in New York, U.S.A., the 4th International Ballet Festival in Cali, Colombia and at the International Ballettgala XI in Dortmund, Germany.