Azuki Umeda
Azuki Umeda, born in Tokyo, Japan, raised in San Jose, CA, is a 1st generation Japanese queer artist. She received her BFA in Dance and BA in Integrated Educational Studies at Chapman University and received the Nancy Dickson-Lewis award for Outstanding choreography. She recently graduated from California State University Long Beach to receive her Masters of Fine Arts in Dance. During her time, she received a Graduate Fellowship for her thesis work, “how i became kinder &kinder,” as well as the Distinguished Achievement in Creative Activity award for the work. She currently teaches at her alma mater, Chapman University, emphasizing composition and jazz. In addition, she travels across the country of US, as well as parts of Mexico to share her knowledge of dance through a style of Contemporary Fusion. Azuki has performed with artists such as Twenty-One Pilots and FINNEAS. She has presented work at prestigious dance festivals, such as Capezio ACE Awards, World of Dance, and was recently named one of the Ann & Weston Hicks Choreographic Fellows at Jacob’s Pillow 2023 Program.
Azuki is a founder of her dance company, AU.THENTICITY. The company aims to create a collaborative environment for artistic exploration. With her company, she has created an in-studio company intensive, “AU.THENTIC EXPERIENCE.” Azuki is excited to work with various studios and hopes to share her knowledge across the United States.