Ayako Nakano (中野綾子, Nakano Ayako, born in 1977) is a Japanese ballerina.

• 3rd Prize in the Junior Class at the 1991 Asian Pacific International Ballet Competition.
• Won the Scholarship prize of Prix de Lausanne (the International dance competition in Lausanne) in 1992.
• Studied at the Royal Ballet School in England from 1992.
• Joined Zürcher Ballett in 1994.
• Joined Tanz-Forum Köln as a soloist in 1996.
• Joined Euregio Tanz-Forum as a soloist in 1998.
• Joined Staatstheater Saarbrücken as a soloist in 1999.
• Joined Berlin Ballett as a soloist in 2000.
• Joined Theater Basel as a soloist in 2001.

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• Ayako Nakano > Prix de Lausanne
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• Prima ballerina Ayako Nakano 2014 on YouTube