Tamako Akiyama

Tamako AKIYAMA was born in Asahikawa, Japan. She started her study of ballet at the Uchiyama Ballet Studio, and continued her training at the Academie de Danse Classique Princess Grace with Marika Besobrasova as director. In 1986, Akiyama won the Second Prize at the Prix de Lausanne and two years later, the Fourth Prize in Varna International Ballet Competition (Bulgaria).

She joined the Stuttgarter Ballet in 1989 with Marcia Haydée as director, performing the works of renowned choreographers such as George Balanchine, John Cranko, John Neumeier, Marius Petipa, Maurice Béjart, Jirí Kylián, Nacho Duato, William Forsythe, and many others. In 1996, she joined the Deutsche Oper Ballet in Berlin as a soloist at the invitation of its director Richard Cragun, and rose to become its principal dancer, working with Kenneth MacMillan, Glen Tetley, Hans Van Manem, Heinz Spoerli, amongst others.

Akiyama joined the Compañía Nacional de Danza in September 1999 under the direction of Artistic Director Nacho Duato, and is currently Principal Dancer with the company. She has taken on key roles in Duato’s repertory, as well as works from Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin, Wim Vandekeybus, and many others. Akiyama has also participated in international events such as the Festival Madrid en Danza 2011, performing S.O.S by choreographers Dimo Kirilov and Gentian Doda.