Yoshito Sakuraba is the artistic director of Abarukas and an acclaimed award-winning choreographer. Hailing originally from Japan, Yoshito embarked on his artistic journey in New York City, igniting a career and spanned the globe with the presentation of his work in Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, Israel, Mexico, and the United States.

Yoshito has had the privilege of presenting his work at stages worldwide, including the Joyce Theater, BAM Fisher, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jacob's Pillow, Kaatsbaan, and the McCallum Theater, where he had the opportunity to participate in the Palm Desert Choreography Festival. His dedication to his craft led him to numerous accolades, including the Best Choreography Award at the FINI Dance Festival in Italy and the Audience Award at the Masdanza International Contemporary Dance Festival in Spain. Notably, he was honored as a winner of NW Dance Project's Pretty Creatives and Whim W'Him's Shindig.

Beyond his own company's repertoire, Yoshito has been entrusted with commissions from institutions and companies around the world. His innovative choreography has graced the stages of renowned organizations such as NW Dance Project, Whim W’Him, the Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich, DAF in Rome, Lamondance in Vancouver, Louisville Ballet, Ballet Arkansas, Ballet Des Moines II, Newport Contemporary Ballet, Litvak Dance, Pony Box Dance Theater, Nimbus Dance, Peridance Contemporary Dance Company, Graham II, Houston Contemporary Dance Company, Salt Contemporary Dance’s Link Festival, the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, and Jamaica Performing Arts Center.

Yoshito's passion extends to nurturing the artistic expressions of emerging talents, and he has been invited to inspire and instruct at institutions such as the Joffrey Ballet School, Martha Graham School, Paul Taylor School, Alvin Ailey/Fordham University, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Peabody at Johns Hopkins University, Marymount Manhattan College, Barnard College, Vassar College, Reed College, DLNY, MOVE l NYC, and Steps on Broadway Conservatory.