Ayaka Azechi

Ayaka Azechi was born in 1983 in Tokyo, Japan. She started taking dancing lessons from Miyako Kato at an early age and took part in one of Kato’s projects in Brazil. In 2001/02 she studied Dance at the Asagaya College of Art and Design, where she choreographed her solo »Ashi« (»Leg«). From 2002 until 2005 she was a member of the company Kim Itoh + the Glorious Future and danced in all their productions. In 2006 she performed in Akira Kasai's »Fuyu no tabi« (»Winter Journey«). In 2006/07 she studied in Kasai's Butoh School in Japan, where she participated in the graduation performance. In 2007, Ayaka Azechi was awarded the second prize in the Saitama National Dance Competition, Japan, for her solo »Eine Kleine Nachtmusik: Mozart and a Sleepless Night«. Further, from 2008 until 2010 she received an artist grant from the Japanese Government to study abroad. With Fumiyo Ikeda she developed and staged the choreography »cross grip« at ARCHITANZ studio in Toyko in 2014. Since 2009 Ayaka Azechi has danced with Sasha Waltz & Guests.