By Shelley A. Sackett

Growing up in Jerusalem, Yuval Cohen always loved to dance. He started at age six with the Mehola Dance Company, focusing on folk and modern dance, and then joined the Jerusalem Ballet School in 2017, after receiving an excellence scholarship from the American-Israel Cultural Foundation.

But it was not until 2018, at age 15, when he won the gold medal at Russia’s Nutcracker International Ballet Competition and received an invitation to the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg, that he realized dancing was more than his passion; it was his destiny.

“It felt so natural to be in a huge theater, performing with an orchestra, even though I’d never seen these kinds of opera houses or even listened to a live orchestra,” Cohen recalled.

After graduation, he continued his meteoric path, first with the Bolshoi Theatre and then with the Philadelphia Ballet, where he was promoted quickly from apprentice to company and soloist. He made history in 2023 when he won the bronze medal at the Jackson International Ballet Competition, the first Israeli dancer to both reach the final round and receive a medal.

Cohen joined the Boston Ballet as an artist of the company in 2026, and the 23-year-old couldn’t be more excited about his move, both professionally and personally. “I love that Boston is super clean, with historic buildings alongside gorgeous skyscrapers, parks and greenery. It’s so relaxing and peaceful,” he said, noting that, when he misses home, he goes to one of the many Israeli/Jewish-owned restaurants.

He will dance in the season opener, “Fall Experiences” in the second piece, “Vertical Road [Reimagined],” a ballet set to an evocative score and driven by rhythmic, elemental movement that explores humanity’s search for meaning. “It’s so intense and so hard on the body, but has such a powerful energy and connection to God and humans collectively,” Cohen explained.

Although he has lived far from Israel for most of his career, Cohen retains deep connections to both his homeland and his Jewish heritage no matter where he resides. Surprisingly, his years in Russia were no exception.

Russia and Israel had better relations from 2018-2021, the years Cohen was there, than they do today. He spent a lot of time at the Chabad synagogue in Saint Petersburg. “It made me feel very close to home and kept me connected to the traditions that I grew up with in Israel,” he said.

The Russian appreciation for the art of ballet was equally surprising, unlike anything he had experienced anywhere else. “Being an artist in Russia is like being a Hollywood star in America,” he said, recounting the time a taxi driver asked him for his autograph when he heard he was a ballet dancer.

After the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, Cohen became very active and vocal in his support of Israel. By coincidence, he was scheduled to perform his first featured role with the Philadelphia Ballet – Escamillo in “Carmen” – that very night. He dedicated his performance to Israel and the hostages. “It was my way of serving Israel, like my brothers and our soldiers, but in my field,” he said.

With the hostages back, he is happier and relieved, but is still scared to look at what news he has awakened to. He is aware of the international damage the war has caused, and he remains committed to continuing to help however he can, whether by performing at fundraisers or by showing up at simple talks and gatherings. “The Jewish and Israeli communities have to keep supporting each other and Israel,” he said.

He was raised in Israel during times of war and uncertainty in a family that included Holocaust survivors. “This makes you see life differently,” Cohen said. “Jews and the Israelis are, in general, optimistic.” He credits this optimism with keeping him focused and able to push his body and mind forward to continue to break new ceilings in his career.

“I believe everything is a journey. No matter how hard and difficult life is, you must still work and grow. You might not see the light at the end of a dark path today, but it will happen,” he said.

In July 2024, Cohen was selected by Dance Magazine for their “25 to Watch” list of up-and-coming dancers. He performed an excerpt from William Forsythe’s “In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated” for the magazine’s “25 to Watch Live Event.” (Forsythe is an American choreographer who transformed classical ballet into a dynamic 21st-century art form by pushing classical technique to extreme physical and conceptual limits).

Cohen has been fortunate to work with different choreographers and stagers across many repertoire genres, from classical and traditional to modern and contemporary. The Forsythe work is one of his favorites to perform because it “shapes your body and mind in a most interesting way,” he said. Nonetheless, he is always ready to prepare for a classical, full-length ballet because he thinks “it’s most satisfying for the dancers and audience to follow a story and characters on stage in a ballet journey.”

To prepare for his roles, he works with his trusted teacher, Nadya Timofeyeva, the artistic director of the Jerusalem Ballet). First, they read about the character he will perform, looking at paintings, for example, to see their style and how they carry themselves. After gathering this information, the two begin investigating the choreography and what Cohen can do to make himself more in character. “I will be forever grateful that I have her help and guidance with every production,” he said.

Cohen is excited to join the Boston Ballet and the Boston community. “I hope I can bring over beautiful traditions, culture and Jewish Israeli spice to any stage and platform. Being together gives us strength to spread love and happiness to the world,” he declared. Θ