Takako Asakawa Richards

Dancer | Educator | Stage Director

A Timeline of Professional Milestones

1938

Ms. Asakawa is born in Tokyo, Japan to Kamenosuke and Chiaki Asakawa.

1962

Ms. Asakawa studies coursework in Tokyo and immigrates to the United States to become the principal soloist at the Martha Graham Dance Company in New York City, New York.

1967

Ms. Asakawa dances with choreographer Pearl Lang.

1968

Ms. Asakawa dances with choreographer Alvin Ailey.

1971

Ms. Asakawa earns the title of principal dancer with Martha Graham Dance Company and choreographs for NHK Television in Tokyo, Japan.

1973

Ms. Asakawa choreographs for Radcliffe College.

1974

Ms. Asakawa dances with choreographer Lar Lubovitch.

1975

Ms. Asakawa choreographs for the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila.

1976

Ms. Asakawa performs and choreographs for Asakawalker Dance Company in New York, where she serves as director and principal soloist. She also choreographs for the U.S. Information Service Lecture Tour of Japan and the Hawaii Dance Theater.

1980

Ms. Asakawa is once again named principal soloist with Martha Graham Dance Company. She also choreographs for the Philadelphia Colleges of the Arts and for Harapa University in Mexico.

1981

Ms. Asakawa choreographs for Mexico University.

1984

Ms. Asakawa performs at the “Gala Performance Celebrating 100 Years of Performing Arts” at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. The gala aired nationally on network television.

1984

Ms. Asakawa performs at “An Evening of Dance and Conversion with Martha Graham,” which was co-produced with Denmark’s Radio and aired on PBS channel 13 and its affiliates.

1986

Ms. Asakawa performs a solo performance for the AGMA 50th Anniversary at the State Theater in New York.

1990

Ms. Asakawa joins the board of directors of the Joyce Theater, serving there for nine years.

1991

Ms. Asakawa choreographs for the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Art and for Oklahoma University.

1995

Ms. Asakawa choreographs for Alvin Ailey II.

1996

Ms. Asakawa joins the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

2000

Ms. Asakawa choreographs for Hiroshima Japan Dance.

2007

Ms. Asakawa becomes a panelist on the New York State Council on Art.

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