Mikko Nissinen

Boston - Artistic Director at Boston Ballet

Hailing from Finland, world renowned ballet dancer Mikko Nissinen now resides in Boston where he is the Artistic Director at one of the most premier ballet companies in the world, Boston Ballet. Nissinen’s rhythmic soul has led him to the position that he has been in for the past 17 years. If Nissinen isn’t tending to his garden or reeling in his next catch, he is enjoying his favorite part of his job, working in an extremely diverse environment where he has the ability to “affect change in the art world and give people new experiences.”

Q&A:

Hometown?

Helsinki, Finland.

Place you call home now (neighborhood etc)?

Boston and Kennebunk Maine.

Any notes on your education?

Kirov Ballet School, during Soviet era in what was then Leningrad, now St. Petersburg.

Favorite sport to watch?

Formula One.

Favorite sport to play?

Tennis.

Best vacation ever?

My next one!

Dream trip destination?

Japan, but not for work.

Favorite dessert?

Berries.

Underrated food?

Octopus and squid.

Dish you’re best at cooking?

Gravlax.

Best meal you've had at a restaurant?

Omakase at Nobu in New York City.

Road trip -- three in the car with you. Living or dead. Who are they? Why?

David Bowie, Charlie Chaplin, Katherine Hepburn.

Favorite movies?

Pink Panther
Talk to Her
Like Water for Chocolate
Being There

Favorite actress and or actor?

Leslie Caron.

Favorite bands?

Rolling Stones
Queen
Bowie
Louis Armstrong

Most impressive live performance you ever saw?

Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Car you drive now?

BMW.

Car you’d like to drive?

Ferrari.

Best car you've owned?

Toyota Tundra Truck.

Wear a watch?

For events only.

Got a favorite watch?

Cartier.

Got a dream watch?

Bigger Cartier.

Summer drink of choice?

Champagne.

Winter drink of choice?

Champagne.

Bourbon or Scotch?

Scotch.

Vodka or gin?

Vodka.

Cologne?

Jean Paul Gaultier.

Go-to red on a wine list?

Brunello di Montalcino.

Go-to white?

Chablis.

Favorite beach?

Parson’s Beach, Kennebunk, ME.

On a Saturday, your favorite errand to run is?

Shop for dinner.

Otherwise, you’ll be busy doing what?

Obsessing over the garden.

Best work advice you ever got?

Don’t worry about things you cannot affect, worry about the things you can.

Best thing about your career?

I work in such a multi-cultural world

What do you do now for work? Tell us something about your work and career path.

Artistic Director for one of the premiere ballet companies in the world. I get to affect change in the art world and give people new experiences.

Do you have any philanthropic interests/endeavirs?

Save oceans.

Add anything else about yourself here that you would like the world to know about you.

I am:
A high end audio aficionado
A huge music buff
An aspiring chef
Crazy about fishing
And I collect too many things