MIYAKO YOSHIDA

Just once in a lifetime one is perhaps fortunate to see real greatness in the making. And so it was with my first meeting in 1995 with Miyako Yoshida.

There was little outwardly to suggest her quite outstanding ability to dance. Physically she was petit almost fragile-looking and her quiet, polite even slightly shy demeanour showed a Japanese correctness that belied her phenomenal stage presence. Her technique was absolutely pure and correct, her pirouettes and jumps seemed effortless and her apparent shyness evaporated to reveal the chosen role, a swan, a princess, a child or just gaiety incarnate.

These magical encounters took place within the rehearsal rooms of Birmingham's Royal Ballet and inspired the body of work 'Miyako Yoshida in Rehearsal' and 'Miyako and Piano from which published works were later prepared.

Early in 1996 Miyako joined The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden