KAORI HIGASHIYAMA

Member of CDP since 2015 (founding member)

The multi-talented Ms. Higashiyama gathers much of her choreographic & artistic inspiration from her home in Shiga, Japan. She started taking dance lessons at Kitamura Ballet Studios in Japan & later completed her advanced ballet training at the famous Royal Ballet School in London, England, where upon graduation she had the memorable opportunity to perform at The Royal Opera House. Alongside her impressive performance resume, which includes works by Ron Cunningham, George Balanchine, Gabrielle Lamb, Darrell Grand Moultrie & Christopher D’Amboise – Kaori has herself delved into the choreographic realm; creating new works for the Sacramento Ballet’s ‘Beer & Ballet’ program including: Ko-yo (Autumn Colors) & Matsuri (Festival) 2017.  Ms. Higashiyama premiered her work Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) for the inaugural Capital Dance Project performance.  She has collaborated with Franceska Gamez to create Yuki geshou (Snow scape) in 2016, with the Maruyama Bonsai Nursery/Bonsai Sekiyu Kai for Eternal Green in 2017 & with Mr. Raphael Delgado on her highly energetic Ninja Ballet in 2018.

​Kaori’s dancewear/costume design & construction has been celebrated by local dancers & emerging choreographers (David Fernandez, Julia Feldman, Ron Cunningham).  In 2019 she was commissioned nationally to design/develop costumes for a ballet by Rex Wheeler for The Richmond Ballet, the State ballet of Virginia & for a piece by Amy Seiwert for Smuin Contemporary Ballet in San Francisco. Ms. Higashiyama’s work continues to be a popular aesthetic amongst the artists of CDP.