Samuel Akins
Corps de Ballet

Samuel Akins
(He/Him)
Samuel Akins began ballet training at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, Alabama. At 13, Akins was named a National Training Scholar with the American Ballet Theatre, and at 14, moved to New York City to continue training at the School of American Ballet.
During his time at the School of American Ballet, Akins was featured in productions both at the school and with the New York City Ballet.
Upon graduating, Akins danced with the Los Angeles Ballet for four seasons before joining the Alabama Ballet to dance principal and soloist roles. In 2021, Akins made history by becoming the first African-American to dance with the Paris Opera Ballet, where he has performed for the past four years. Akins’ extensive repertoire includes renowned works by Marius Petipa, George Balanchine, Rudolf Nureyev, August Bournonville, and Crystal Pite. Additionally, Akins has performed works by Wayne McGregor, Alexander Ekman, and William Forsythe, working in the studio with these esteemed choreographers.
Akins joined The Australian Ballet in 2025 and is excited to continue expanding his artistic voice in Australia and is eager to share his passion for dance and storytelling with Australian audiences.
Repertoire highlights
- Alexander Ekman’s « PLAY »
- Crystal Pite’s Season’s Canon
- The Cavalier in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
- Bluebird in The Sleeping Beauty
- 5 Boys in George Balanchine’s Who Cares?
- Original cast member in Gay Guerrilla
Professional accolades
- National Training Scholar: American Ballet Theatre (2009)
- Professional Children’s School Legacy Award (2022)
You may not know:
Samuel speaks French and has lived in five cities around the world.