Biography
Ms. Yasuda is an adjunct professor in the Dance Department at Palm Beach Atlantic University, having joined the faculty in 2022. Before relocating to Florida, she dedicated many years to performing, choreographing, teaching, and coaching in the Houston dance community. A former principal dancer and artistic director of the second company Ad Deum Dance Company, under the direction of Randall Flinn, Ms. Yasuda was instrumental in contributing to the company through her dynamic performances and choreography in the contemporary/modern style.
Her professional journey includes receiving the Stunning Performer Award at the Dance Houston City Wide Dance Festival in 2008 and serving as an educator and/or choreographer at institutions such as Houston Ballet Academy Summer Dance Intensive, Belhaven University, Vitacca Ballet, Atlanta Professional Dance Academy, Movement in Time Dance Artistry, and Ad Deum Dance, among others. She was also selected for Houston Choreographers x 6 in 2019.
In addition to her work in performance and choreography, Ms. Yasuda played a key role as an event coordinator and performer for Dancing for Hope, a collaborative concert featuring Houston Ballet, Ad Deum Dance Company, and local dance artists, which raised funds for the victims of Japan’s Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011.
As a coach and choreographer, Ms. Yasuda has helped her students achieve elite awards at renowned competitions, including the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), World Ballet Competition (WBC), Universal Ballet Competition (UBC), and Prix de Lausanne. Notable achievements include:
· 5th-place Ensemble in the 2023 WBC Finals,
· Outstanding Ensemble Award at the 2022 UBC Grand Prix Final,
· Finalist at the 1st Ailian Youth Grand Prix 2022, where her work was performed at the online gala at the National Ballet of China.
Ms. Yasuda is an American Ballet Theatre-certified teacher for Pre-primary through Level 5 and was honored as an ABT Affiliate Teacher in 2018.
Degrees
MFA in Choreography, Jacksonville University | MFA in Fine Arts, |B.A in Human Development and Environment, Kobe University Japan, 1997