ABOUT | KEN DANCE COMPANY
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MISSION STATEMENT:
Our dance expresses a delicate Japanese aesthetic to classic dance technique and training. We strive to expand the range of expression, harmonize East and West, to bring to audiences an openness and unity that will brighten their experience and inspire people and cultures to come closer together. We love to inspire dancers and dance lovers in the magic of live dance, which moves the spirit and the soul. We also seek to bring a love and an awareness of the beauty of dance to children and aspiring dancers of all ages. ABOUT KENJI YAMAGUCHI: Japan-born and CalArts-trained Kenji Yamaguchi has been a longtime fixture on the local dance scene and throughout the United States. He started his own company in 2006. Since then he has created his original style of dance and choreography which has captivated audiences and drawn them into the story. At the respected Palm Desert Choreography Festival the duet, "Asura," was a standout for the evocative choreography and exploratory expression of loss and reunion in Yamaguchi's astonishing performance with Kana Miyamoto. |
KDC FOUNDERS | BIOS
Kenji Yamaguchi / Founder, Artistic Director
Kenji was born in Japan and received his initial training in Tokyo at the Studio Ichibangai, The Performing Dance Center and the Japan Broadway Dance Center. He danced professionally throughout Asia for several years while additionally becoming proficient in gymnastics. Kenji earned his B.F.A. from California Institute of The Arts. He has performed locally in Dance Kaleidoscope, Jazz Dance LA, Dance Spectrum and Praxis Projects. He placed first at the Japan National Jazz Society Competition, and first and second place at the Palm Desert Dance Under the Stars Competition. As a dancer in Kin Dance Company at the Linhart Theatre in New York City, the dance legend, Gus Solomons, Jr., described him as "a slight dancer with huge flexibility, who’s every move looked studied for perfection of line." Lewis Segal refers to his choreography as "earthy and danced brilliantly." He was recently awarded Pas De Deux at the Ninth Annual Dance Under The Stars Choreography Festival in Palm Desert, California.
Kenji started his own company, Ken Dance Company (KDC) in 2005. KDC’s first show and performance, “Spirited Astray,” premiered at the El Portal Theatre in the NoHo Arts District in April 2007. He later adapted and restaged this performance for three dancers to tour New York City at the Theatre For The New City, the Atelier Fontaine in Tokyo, and the Secret Rose Theatre in the NoHo Arts District in Los Angeles in 2008 and 2009. In 2011, Kenji choreographed and presented, “3.5 Dimension World,” at Kitazawa Town Hall in Japan. For this production, he auditioned and cast local dancers from all the prefectures in Japan.
Kenji teaches ballet, jazz and modern dance at USC’s Kaufman School of Dance, Hama Dance Center and Millennium Dance Complex.
Kenji was born in Japan and received his initial training in Tokyo at the Studio Ichibangai, The Performing Dance Center and the Japan Broadway Dance Center. He danced professionally throughout Asia for several years while additionally becoming proficient in gymnastics. Kenji earned his B.F.A. from California Institute of The Arts. He has performed locally in Dance Kaleidoscope, Jazz Dance LA, Dance Spectrum and Praxis Projects. He placed first at the Japan National Jazz Society Competition, and first and second place at the Palm Desert Dance Under the Stars Competition. As a dancer in Kin Dance Company at the Linhart Theatre in New York City, the dance legend, Gus Solomons, Jr., described him as "a slight dancer with huge flexibility, who’s every move looked studied for perfection of line." Lewis Segal refers to his choreography as "earthy and danced brilliantly." He was recently awarded Pas De Deux at the Ninth Annual Dance Under The Stars Choreography Festival in Palm Desert, California.
Kenji started his own company, Ken Dance Company (KDC) in 2005. KDC’s first show and performance, “Spirited Astray,” premiered at the El Portal Theatre in the NoHo Arts District in April 2007. He later adapted and restaged this performance for three dancers to tour New York City at the Theatre For The New City, the Atelier Fontaine in Tokyo, and the Secret Rose Theatre in the NoHo Arts District in Los Angeles in 2008 and 2009. In 2011, Kenji choreographed and presented, “3.5 Dimension World,” at Kitazawa Town Hall in Japan. For this production, he auditioned and cast local dancers from all the prefectures in Japan.
Kenji teaches ballet, jazz and modern dance at USC’s Kaufman School of Dance, Hama Dance Center and Millennium Dance Complex.
Kana Miyamoto / Assistant Director
Kana began her dance training at age three in Japan, studying at the Mayumi Minokami Ballet Studio. She performed in their productions of Swan Lake, Coppέlia, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, La Sylphide, Raymonda and more. While in Japan, she studied jazz dance with Kanako Fukuoka and Rei Aoo. Though she loved ballet, she was drawn as a performer to jazz and contemporary dance. She moved to America in 1997, continuing her dance career with KIN Dance Company, AnNamx Dance Production, Vox Lumiere, and most recently, Ken Dance Company (KDC) as a dancer and assistant director with founder and artistic director, Kenji Yamaguchi. As a dancer in Kenji’s works, she was described by the Los Angeles Times as “elegantly tethered to an earthbound sorrow.” Her solo work has also been called “gripping and soul-searching.”
Kana also works as a choreographer/dancer for J’s Hair Studio & Academy Inc., for their ISSE, IBS shows and Japan tour of 2014. She recently organized a ballet and jazz workshop tour to Avex Artist Academy in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka and other local studios in Japan. She teaches ballet in the Los Angeles area at Edge Performing Arts Center, Hama Dance Center and Millennium Dance Complex.
Kana began her dance training at age three in Japan, studying at the Mayumi Minokami Ballet Studio. She performed in their productions of Swan Lake, Coppέlia, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, La Sylphide, Raymonda and more. While in Japan, she studied jazz dance with Kanako Fukuoka and Rei Aoo. Though she loved ballet, she was drawn as a performer to jazz and contemporary dance. She moved to America in 1997, continuing her dance career with KIN Dance Company, AnNamx Dance Production, Vox Lumiere, and most recently, Ken Dance Company (KDC) as a dancer and assistant director with founder and artistic director, Kenji Yamaguchi. As a dancer in Kenji’s works, she was described by the Los Angeles Times as “elegantly tethered to an earthbound sorrow.” Her solo work has also been called “gripping and soul-searching.”
Kana also works as a choreographer/dancer for J’s Hair Studio & Academy Inc., for their ISSE, IBS shows and Japan tour of 2014. She recently organized a ballet and jazz workshop tour to Avex Artist Academy in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka and other local studios in Japan. She teaches ballet in the Los Angeles area at Edge Performing Arts Center, Hama Dance Center and Millennium Dance Complex.
Takeshi “Hama” Hamagaki / Producing Director
Takeshi Hamagaki, fondly known by his dance students and the dance community as “Hama,” has danced and performed on Broadway with many prestigious performers and choreographers throughout the world--from New York City, to Las Vegas, to Miami, to Puerto Rico. He began his dance career with the Toho Theater in Tokyo, which produced film and stage productions and numerous variety shows. At Toho, Hama studied all forms of dance with the leading dance masters of the time and was the company’s principal dancer.
Moving to the United States in 1964, Hama studied many types of dance in New York City and performed at Carnegie Hall. He taught at the Harkness Ballet Company and was an assistant to renowned jazz dance master and artist, Luigi, at Luigi’s Dance Center in Manhattan. As a protégé of Luigi, Hama developed his personal dance skill, talent and artistry as a master teacher and choreographer in the “Luigi-style,” then continued on in developing his own unique signature style.
After moving to the West Coast in 1971, he taught at many leading dance studios in Hollywood and performed as a lead dancer in shows in Lake Tahoe, Miami Beach, Puerto Rico and Las Vegas. Through the 1970’s and 80’s, Hama performed in countless TV and movie projects with celebrities such as Lucille Ball, Shirley McLaine, Mary Tyler Moore, Don Knotts and Debbie Reynolds.
After many years teaching hundreds of students in LA’s best dance schools and studios, Hama opened his own studio, Hama’s Dance Center, in Glendale, CA, in 1991 through 2000, and in 1998, opened his studio in Studio City, where he continues to teach.
Hama founded Jazz Dance LA Foundation (JDLA), a non-profit organization in 1994, and together with Claude Thompson, a former principal dancer of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, produced an annual show featuring the best jazz dance choreographers and dancers of the Los Angeles area, providing a stage to showcase concert quality jazz dance.
In 1995, Hama was honored with the prestigious Lehman Award, which recognizes the revered greats and pioneers of dance. He was also an honorary dance instructor at USC for over ten years.
Takeshi Hamagaki, fondly known by his dance students and the dance community as “Hama,” has danced and performed on Broadway with many prestigious performers and choreographers throughout the world--from New York City, to Las Vegas, to Miami, to Puerto Rico. He began his dance career with the Toho Theater in Tokyo, which produced film and stage productions and numerous variety shows. At Toho, Hama studied all forms of dance with the leading dance masters of the time and was the company’s principal dancer.
Moving to the United States in 1964, Hama studied many types of dance in New York City and performed at Carnegie Hall. He taught at the Harkness Ballet Company and was an assistant to renowned jazz dance master and artist, Luigi, at Luigi’s Dance Center in Manhattan. As a protégé of Luigi, Hama developed his personal dance skill, talent and artistry as a master teacher and choreographer in the “Luigi-style,” then continued on in developing his own unique signature style.
After moving to the West Coast in 1971, he taught at many leading dance studios in Hollywood and performed as a lead dancer in shows in Lake Tahoe, Miami Beach, Puerto Rico and Las Vegas. Through the 1970’s and 80’s, Hama performed in countless TV and movie projects with celebrities such as Lucille Ball, Shirley McLaine, Mary Tyler Moore, Don Knotts and Debbie Reynolds.
After many years teaching hundreds of students in LA’s best dance schools and studios, Hama opened his own studio, Hama’s Dance Center, in Glendale, CA, in 1991 through 2000, and in 1998, opened his studio in Studio City, where he continues to teach.
Hama founded Jazz Dance LA Foundation (JDLA), a non-profit organization in 1994, and together with Claude Thompson, a former principal dancer of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, produced an annual show featuring the best jazz dance choreographers and dancers of the Los Angeles area, providing a stage to showcase concert quality jazz dance.
In 1995, Hama was honored with the prestigious Lehman Award, which recognizes the revered greats and pioneers of dance. He was also an honorary dance instructor at USC for over ten years.
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES IN 2017
GENESIS of YAMATO
FEBRUARY 3, 2017 - 8:00pm - James R. Armstrong Theatre
3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance, CA 90503
FEBRUARY 3, 2017 - 8:00pm - James R. Armstrong Theatre
3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance, CA 90503
PAST PERFORMANCES
Hyakki Yako
NOVEMBER 29, 2015 - 6:00pm - Glendale Community College Theater
1500 N Verdugo Rd., Glendale, CA 91208
MARCH 1, 2015 - Alva’s Showroom
1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro, CA 90732
MARCH 29, 2015 – Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, Ebony Repertory Theatre
4718 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90016
AUGUST 2015 – Aratani/Japan America Theatre
244 S. San Pedro St., Downtown Los Angeles, CA 90012
NOVEMBER 29, 2015 - 6:00pm - Glendale Community College Theater
1500 N Verdugo Rd., Glendale, CA 91208
MARCH 1, 2015 - Alva’s Showroom
1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro, CA 90732
MARCH 29, 2015 – Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, Ebony Repertory Theatre
4718 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90016
AUGUST 2015 – Aratani/Japan America Theatre
244 S. San Pedro St., Downtown Los Angeles, CA 90012