Nicholas Sakai, born in Colorado, began dancing at the Colorado Conservatory of Dance under the tutelage of Julia Wilkinson Manley. He trained at the Houston Ballet Academy for three years under the guidance of Claudio Muñoz and Andrew Murphy. He performed in Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. He began his career at Dayton Ballet under current Artistic Director Karen Russo Burke, later joining Eugene Ballet under current Artistic Director Toni Pimble. Next year, he is excited to start his first season with Oregon Ballet Theatre. This is his first year with NCI.