About

Hanayagi Sukekatsumi 花柳輔佳津美 (Michiko Kurata) has been performing traditional Japanese dance since 1981. She studied “Kabuki buyo,” a popular dance form derived from Kabuki, under Hanayagi Sukesaburo, a renowned master of traditional Japanese dance. Ms. Kurata placed first in the junior division of the prestigious National Dance Contest at the age of 15.  The same year, she attained the “natori” status and earned her professional name. She has performed solo at major theaters such as the National Theatre and the Kabukiza Theatre in Tokyo before coming to the US. Since then she has performed at cultural events at Brown University, her alma mater, and numerous other institutions. She has a Masters in Teaching degree from Tufts University and has been teaching high school world history, while also giving lectures on traditional Japanese dance and music at Boston area universities. In recent years she has been working on choreographing dances based on traditional Japanese dance and music. She is the choreographer and dancer for Bamboo and Cherry Blossoms (http://bamboocherry.com), a group that performs koto and shakuhachi music. For more information please visit http://michikokurata.com

花柳輔佳津美(はなやぎすけかつみ)
本名 倉田美智子 (くらたみちこ)

神奈川県横浜市に生まれる。3歳で日本舞踊、初舞台。80年より花柳佳津志郎に師事、91年より花柳流理事長の花柳輔三朗に師事。93年に東京新聞社主催、全国舞踊コンクール日本舞踊部にて優勝。同年花柳輔佳津美の名を許される。国内で国立劇場や歌舞伎座などで数多くの公演をした後96年に渡米。99年にブラウン大学卒業、2004年にはタフツ大学大学院教育学部卒業。以来公立高校で世界史の教師として勤める。渡米以来文化祭やチャリティコンサートなどあらゆる場で日本舞踊を公演。ボストン近辺の高校、大学で日本舞踊のワークショップなども行う。近年にはバンブーアンドチェリーブロッサムというグループで振付師・舞踊家として活動。琴と尺八の音楽に合わせ古典舞踊の美しさを大切にしながら創作舞踊にも取り組む。http://michikokurata.com

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