What does the dx Choreography award mean to you and how will you use your time at dx?

Receiving DX Choreography Award means a lot to me as I have been working in Birmingham as a dancer for the last 5 years or so and to be supported by DX on my early stage of choreographic career makes me feel cared as an artist.

Through this opportunity, I would like to extend and challenge my artistic practice which I haven’t done before such as working with a composer and being outside of my work. I am also keen to refine my artistic vision with the guidance of a mentor.

Tell us about you and your company

Yukiko is a Tokyo-born dancer, choreographer and rehearsal director. Her background is in Hip-hop and Latin as well as Contemporary Dance (MA from Trinity Laban).

As a dancer, she has worked for a wide range of projects and companies. And she rehearsal directs/assists for Jose Agudo and Impact Dance Theatre Company on international projects.

As a choreographer, her debut solo “Unbox” was premiered at Resolutions! 2015 at The Place, London and received glowing reviews – “a performance that makes you sit up and pay unwavering attention (…) a riveting solo that deserves wider exposure” (Sanjoy Roy, The Guardian). The following year she returned to The Place with the quartet “It Takes Two Too”, which was funded by Arts Council England and toured UK throughout 2016 including IDFB, Swingamajig, Wilderness Festival and Sampled. She was also commissioned to make a dance theatre piece on Performing Arts students at Cumbria University.

Dream Collaboration?

Roy Assaf and Shlohmo

What was your first dance experience?

Copying a Japanese Boy band’s dance from video

Favourite dance video of all time?

Yukiko’s Socials: yukikomasui.com / @yukikomasui