Irene Yacoub

Irene grew up in Cairo, Egypt, where she trained at the Cairo Opera Ballet before joining its corps de ballet at the age of 16. She holds a BSc in Biochemistry from McGill University and performed with companies across Canada before turning her focus to dance education. She holds a Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies from the Royal Academy of Dance and is fully certified in all levels of the ABT National Training Curriculum®.

Irene has taught at Goh Ballet Academy in Toronto, the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, and Pacific Festival Ballet in Los Angeles. She currently teaches at Westside School of Ballet, The Debbie Allen Middle School and Dance Academy. She prepares students for both RAD and ABT examinations and is dedicated to nurturing strong, versatile, and well-rounded dancers.

Irene also holds a Pilates certification through the Equinox Pilates Institute and teaches Pilates throughout Los Angeles. She is currently completing her Level 1 GYROTONIC® certification and is a National Visiting Fellow at the School of American Ballet (SAB) for the 2026–27 year, continuing to deepen her knowledge of movement, pedagogy, and classical ballet.