Masako Ono

Masako started dancing at the age of 4 under MASAKO YOKOI, the only Japanese modern dance graduate from the Martha Graham Dance School, USA. She additionally trained in western classical ballet at the MATSUYAMA BALLET, Tokyo; jazz and hip hop at the K-BROADWAY DANCE CENTER, Tokyo.

In 1996, Masako joined NRITYAGRAM, the dance village started by the noted Odissi dancer, late PROTIMA GAURI BEDI, and won a scholarship for her studies. She received training in Odissi from SURUPA SEN and BIJAYINI SATPATHY and attended classes in Yoga, Kalaripayattu and Mayurbhanj Chhau. She also participated in workshops held at Nrityagram by WOLFGANG THEATRE, PAUL TAYLOR 2 COMPANY, THE EXPRESSIONS, ASHA COORLAWALA and ROBERT WILLIAMS.

Subsequently she has been living in Orissa where she received further training in Odissi from GURU KELUCHARAN MOHAPATRA, GURU RAMANI RANJANJENA, and GURU NABA KISHORE MISHRA.

She has performed and given lecture-demonstrations and workshops in India, Japan, USA, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. She has performed for the former Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Junichiro Koizumi in 2005 and the present Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe in 2006.

Professional Milestones

Rajgir Mahotsav (Bihar, India) 2006
Namaste India (Tokyo, Japan) 2006
INDA CENTER (guest of honor; HE Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister) (Tokyo, Japan) 2006
Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Kamani Auditorium (Delhi) 2006
Embassy of Japan and Embassy of India, JICC (Washington DC, USA) 2006
Manhattan Center Studios (New York, NY, USA) 2006
Oakland Asian Community Center (Oakland, CA, USA) 2006
Mission City Center for Performing Arts (Santa Clara, CA, USA) 2006
Tamil Nadu Foundation, Ford Performing Arts Center (Dearborn, MI, USA) 2006
Rotary Club of Rockville, Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center (Rockville, MD, USA) 2006
SUZUKI, Ashoka Hotel (Delhi) 2006
Exxon Mobil, Taj Mahal Hotel (Delhi) 2006
Toshiba, Taj Palace (Delhi) 2006
Japan Cultural Month, Ambassador’s Residence, Embassy of Japan (Delhi) 2005
Between Earth and Sky, Sutra Dance Theatre (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) 2005
Leading Hotels of the World, Taj Mahal Hotel (Delhi) 2005
Delhi Tourism, POORVA SANSKRITIK KENDRA (Delhi) 2005
Parul's Kathak Dance Academy, Town Hall (Jodhpur, Rajasthan) 2005
Neemrana fort-palace, Village Neemrana (District Alwar, Rajasthan) 2005
Independence Day, Governer Raj Bhavan (Bhubaneswar, Orissa) 2005
Independence Day, Waltair Club (Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh) 2005
Independence Day, Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (Andhra Pradesh) 2005
Ramgarh Mahotsav (Chattisgarh) 2005
Water Resource Day, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, (Koraput, Orissa) 2005
The Corporate People Annual Festival (Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh) 2005
HE Mr. Shuzen Tanigawa, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs gathering
(General Consulate of Japan, Kolkata,) 2005
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited conference (Koraput, Orissa) 2005
HE Junichiro Koizumi, P.M. of Japan gathering (Taj Mahal Hotel, Delhi) 2005
Sugar Technologists Association Conference (Taj Exotica, Goa) 2005
India International Centre (Delhi, India) 2005
Bharati Nivas (Auroville) 2005
ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE (Pondhicherry) 2005
Kharavela Festival (Khandagiri, Orissa) 2005
Rashtriya Lalit Kala Kendra Lecture Demonstion (Bhubaneswar, Orissa) 2005
Bio-Technologists Conference (Institute of Physics, Orissa) 2005
Lok Mahotsav (Sambarpur, Orissa) 2005
Eastern Railway Program (Kolkata) 2004
German Red Cross Bhavan (Orissa) 2004
Sugar Technologists Association Conference (Chandigarh) 2004
Bhubaneswar Music Circle Program (Bhubaneswar) 2004
Kharvera Festival (Khandagiri) 2004
Kite Festival (Hyderabad) 2004
Sanskrutika Utsav (Rayagada) 2003
Dynamic Fusion (Mumbai) 2003
Dharani (Kochi) 2003
Habitat Centre (New Delhi) 2003
ASBESTO KAN (Tokyo, Japan) 2001
Mask Dance Performance (Sri Lanka) 2000
Lucknow Mahotsav 1999
Vasantahabba (Bangalore, Nrityagram) 1997 & 1999
Shinagawa Prince Hotel (Tokyo, Japan) 1997
Housei University (Tokyo, Japan) 1996

Qualification:

1996   B.A. from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
          (INDO-PAAKISTAAN department)
2001  graduate from Nrityagram (Indian classical dance
          ODISSI basic course)
2003 Complete advanced course in Odissi dance from
         Orissa Dance Academy
2003 Certified as Yoga teacher from Satyananda Yoga Vidyalay