Welcome Ichiro and Mari!

We are excited and honoured to welcome two new teachers to Dance First.

Ichiro Harada is teaching our intermediate adult ballet students on Thursday evenings at 630pm.   Ichiro is native of Nara, Japan.  He graduated from Boston Conservatory with BFA in Dance in 1994.  His choreography has been performed by members of Boston Ballet, Orlando Ballet and Berlin State Ballet.  Ichiro has taught in Japan, Australia and New Zealand (including guest teaching for Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker Japan tour) and is currently a dance teacher at Saint Kentigern College as well as teaching at various studios in the Auckland area.  Ichiro received one of New Zealand's most inspiring teacher awards, in November 2011.  

Mari Yamazaki is teaching an adult ballet class on Wednesday mornings at 11am.  Raised in Tokyo, Japan, Mari began her ballet training at the age of 9 in her hometown at Kinuko Yamazaki Ballet Studio. She moved to the US to study at the University of Utah Ballet Department and obtained a bachelor’s degree in ballet performance and teaching and a minor degree in nutrition. She also attended summer intensive programs at Boston Ballet School and American Ballet Theatre. She has performed with Festival Ballet Providence and Ajkun Ballet Theatre in the US as well as Setagaya Classical Ballet Association and Dance Teatro 21 in Japan. 
Mari has taught at various dance studios and arts college in Japan before she moved to New Zealand in 2017 and continues to enjoy teaching and sharing her passion for dance with people here.