Instructors

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Yoshi Amao was born in Osaka, Japan. After studying Kendo (Japanese fencing), Nihon Buyo (Japanese Classical Dance) and acting, he moved to New York in 1990. In 1999, he began assisting Rome Kanda with his Samurai Sword Fighting Workshop and Improvisational Acting Workshops. In 2003, Yoshi opened his own classes and formed the sword fighting performance group, SAMURAI SWORD SOUL. Since then, the company has performed at venues throughout New York, including the Cherry Blossom Festival at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Last Samurai event at Rockefeller Center for NBC’s Today Show, the Anime Festival at the Javits Center, Japan Day at Central Park, and The Soul of Samurai at the Columbia University’s Miller Theater.  The same year, Yoshi hosted the TV series, Samurai Sportsman on OLN (Outdoor Life Network), and participated in events such as bareback riding, bull riding, and steer wrestling.  In 2004, he appeared as a guest on NBC’s Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Most recently he was featured in Deadly She-Wolf Assassin at Armageddon at the Japan Society.  He is the master instructor of samurai sword fighting at The Arts Cure Center. He is also an instructor of The Arts Cure Cultural Classes for Children.

Rie Fukuzawa was born and raised in Japan.  Her choreography has been presented at CRS, Peridance, Joyce SoHo, Movement Research at Judson Church, and various Tokyo venues.In Japan, Ms. Fukuzawa studied at the University of Ochanomizu in Tokyo (M.A. in Dance), and the Bonjin Dance studio directed by Bonjin Atsugi, Tokyo.  In 2003, Ms. Fukuzawa received a grant from the Agency of Cultural Affairs of Japan to come to New York.  Here, she has studied principally at Peridance Center under Igal Perry and  Kenny Larson.In Japan, Ms. Fukuzawa taught children and adults at the Alma Ballet School, E-studio Alma.Rie is currently a member of BinBin Factory (performance project) directed by Satoshi Haga in NYC.  Since September 2009, she has taught Children’s Ballet classes at The Arts Cure Center.

Born in Hyogo, Japan, Sayako trained in ballet technique for fifteen years, then danced with the Sadamatu-Hamada Junior Ballet and its parent company. Since moving to New York in 2007 she has worked with the Sokolow Theatre Project, 277 danceproject, and has presented her own choreography. As well as teaching ballet classes at the Arts Cure Center, she teaches at American Ballet Theatre and at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. Sayako is an ABT Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Currently she is pursuing a Masters of Teaching Dance in Higher Education and Ballet Pedagogy in the ABT pedagogy program at NYU.

Ayano's passion for dance began when she was a child, training in figure skating and gymnastics. She discovered bellydance in Tokyo where she became a member of a bellydance troupe and also danced as a duo. She has performed numerous shows in Tokyo, Japan. After she moved to New York in 2009, she started studying under Kaeshi Chai. She was selected as a member of well-known bellydance professional troupe “Bellyqueen” immediately in 2010. She has performed with world known Arabic singer, Natacha Atlas, at BAM, Webster Hall, Spring Caravan and Rakkasah East Bellydance Festival and many restaurants. Besides bellydance, Ayano learns and performs Polynesian dance (Tahitian dance) as well.

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At age 12, MAHO started training of Jazz dance, Hip-Hop, Ballet and apparatus gymnastics. In 1999, he made his debut in Japanese entertainment world as a backup dancer at "Johnny's Jr. FRESH SPRING CONCERT". Until 2003, he danced behind idle entertainers, and in 2005, left Japan for New York to hone his dancing skills at age 18. From 2005 to 2008, MAHO studied with many world-famous dancers including Brian Green, Rhapsody, Jazzy J, Ejoe, Luam, Jared Grimes, Michele Assaf, Brice Mousset, Germaine Salsberg, Dorit Koppel, and appeared in many showcases. In 2009, selected through highly competitive audition, he participated in Madonna’s “Sticky & Sweet Tour 2009”. MAHO has appeared with Ejoe’s dance troupe, Beyond Phenomenon, and belongs to Jared Grimes Company and Brian Thomas Company, showcasing his varied dance styles and techniques. In 2010, he joined AmountBoyz.

Born and raised in Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan, Eri started her dance training when she was 24 years old. She studied modern dance with Jun Kono and Yoko Miki, and ballet with Star Dancers Ballet School in Tokyo. In 1982, she moved to New York City as a visa student at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. Four years later, she graduated from the school as a member of the Martha Graham Ensemble. Besides modern dance, Eri studied ballet with Finis Jhung and Liane Plane, jazz dance with Joe Lanteri and Richard Pierlon, and tap with Bob Audy. In 1986, she joined the Eleo Pomare Dance Company. Eri founded her organization, Dance Project SEQUENCE, Inc., in 1991, and concentrated on its operation and on the publishing of the bilingual (English/Japanese) New York Dance Fax (later, The Arts Cure). As well as serving as editor in chief, Eri served as reporter, interviewer, writer, translator, and coordinator for the entire publication. Eri created The Arts Cure Classes in 2003 and started dance and cultural courses for the Japanese community. In 2005, she established The Arts Cure Center in Astoria, Queens. In 1996 Eri incorporated Dance Project SEQUENCE, Inc. as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, and has been serving as director, creating and conducting varied cultural programs.

Eriko was raised in Los Angeles, California, and is bilingual in English and Japanese. When she was nine years old, she started ballet, jazz, and tap training at Peninsula School of Performing Arts. Two of her awards include First Place Winner in Solo Ballet and Solo Jazz at the Showstoppers National Finals Competition. Subsequently, she joined South Bay Ballet for her professional ballet training. Eriko attended Regional Dance America Festivals, where she received awards and year-round scholarships to the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Manhattan Youth Ballet. Starting at age 12, she participated in American Ballet Theatre's summer intensives for six years in a row. Having danced with South Bay Ballet for several years, she moved to New York in the summer of 2008, where she began training at the Joffrey Ballet School. She is currently a company member of the Brooklyn Ballet where she performs ballet, contemporary, and modern works, as well as collaborations with hip-hop dancers.

Kayoko was born in Japan, where she grew up in Osaka and Saitama. When she was 8 years old, She began taking class at the Haruta Ballet School in Osaka. She studied ballet and jazz with Yasuyo Haruta, Miyoko Wariyama, and Masako Higuchi. She went to Tokyo and became a company member of the Kaitani Ballet in 1981. During her time with Kaitani, she became interested in teaching dance as well as performing. She left Tokyo and returned to her home studio at the Haruta Ballet School where she taught adult jazz classes and ballet for children. In 1988, she flew to Los Angeles and began her new dance life at Westside Ballet. In California, she married and decided to stay in America and to continue her contact with the dance world by designing and creating costumes and props for the Peninsula School of Performing Arts and Dance Peninsula Ballet. She came to the East Coast in 2088 and now resides in New Jersey with her family.

From a very young age, Minako received training in jazz dance, modern dance, and ballet. In junior high school, Minako concentrated on jazz dance and studied with acclaimed Japanese jazz dance choreographers Eri Kono, Kayoko Nakura, and Hiroshi Ieki. While dancing as principal in the Eri Kono Dance World, Minako appeared in festivals produced by the Jazz Dance Art Association of Japan. After graduating from senior high, Minako enrolled in the music dept. of Butai Geijutsu Gakuin or Bugei (Theater Arts Academy). At the same time, she passed the audition of Toho Entertainment to become a professional dancer. Minako then appeared in numerous concerts and TV shows in Japan. Graduating from Bugei, Minako established her own musical theater company, Gosenshi, and served as dance instructor, director, choreographer, and performer. Minako moved to New York City in 2003 to expand her skill in theater for use in her own company.

Born in Tokyo, Noriko Naraoka studied ballet with Tatsue Sata. She studied at the San Francisco Ballet School, when she was sixteen. She was awarded a prize at the 17th Prix de Lausanne competition, and with the scholarship, came to New York to study at the School of American Ballet. Since then, she has performed as a guest artist with many ballet companies. In 1996, she joined the Dance Theater of Harlem, while served as an instructor in several of the ballet videos made by Finis Jhung. She currently serves as Artistic Director of the Faune Dance Troupe supporting Executive Director, EL Kamata.

Originally from Japan, RIE began dancing in 2000. She came to New York in 2004 to learn more about the culture that developed Hip Hop, Jazz, and Modern dance. In New York she also became interested in "Wu-shu" (Chinese martial arts), traditional African dance, and Salsa.
A highlight of RIE's dance career came in 2006 when, with the dance team “Kabuki,” she won a championship at the New York Hip-Hop Dance Convention. RIE is also leader of the dance team "Yamato Damashi," which has performed at many dance shows including Showtime at the Apollo.
In 2008, RIE worked as assistant to choreographer Alicia Keys, and started teaching at the Association to Benefit Children. That same year she performed at the Cotton Club in Harlem. RIE has also created a workshop, “E-hip hop” (Educational Hip Hop), in which she uses only music that has positive lyrics. She taught “E-hip hop” in Japan from 2008 to 2010. In 2010 she also taught traditional Japanese folk dance style, Yosakoi, at Horace Mann School Upper Division (in the Bronx). RIE has also taught at the United Nation’s International School, the College of Staten Island High School, and Bridge for Dance. She is a member of the Harlem Arts Alliance and the Asian American Arts Alliance.

Born and trained in Japan, Motoko was a soloist with the Michiko Nomura Ballet Academy. After performing in numerous dance festivals in Japan, she moved to New York City for further training and performing experience. Working with various modern dance choreographers, she has appeared in concerts and international dance festivals. Currently she performs with Japan Performing Arts, a contemporary Japanese traditional dance company. Mokoto is also a lead dancer with choreographer Antonia Katrandjieva’s Overground Dance Company, which she joined in 2006.

Takahiro is winner of championship at Apollo Theater Amateur Night for nine times for his unique yet sophisticated solo performances.
Aside from his own choreography, he has performed with many New York based groups. Takahiro was chosen to perform with Madonna’s Sticky and Sweet Europe tour in 2009. He also organized a 200-person flash mob in Tokyo for the Japanese Premiere.
Takahiro focuses on mid-level movement, influenced by street and mime elements. His class is intended to improve your skill as a dancer, but, more importantly, as a performer and entertainer. His underlying theme is engaging and communicating with the audience. After stretching, dancers focus on skills and techniques, then learn Takahiro’s original choreography.

Artists International presented Japanese soprano Yuko Tsuda in her New York solo recital debut at Weill Recital Hall in 2006, as a member of their Winners’ Series.  Ms. Tsuda presented her second solo recital in Nara, Japan in November of 2008. Yomiuri News said, “Ms Tsuda has a rich and broad voice….Her passion attracted a packed audience.” Yuko Tsuda has performed opera roles in Japan and the U.S.A.  Her repertoire includes Pamina in The Magic Flute; Susanna and Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro;Mimi and Musetta in La Boheme: Manon in Massenet’s Manon; Rodelinda in Handel’s Rodelinda and Gulietta in I Capuleti e I Montecchi. Ms. Tsuda received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees with a scholarship from Osaka University of the Arts. Since coming to New York, she has studied voice and opera at the Mannes College of Music where she works with Elaine Bonazzi, Marian Thompson, David Holkabor, and Ted Taylar.