Kazuha Ikeda’s journey as a professional dancer, that resulted in her taking the lead role in Cirque du Soleil’s latest production ‘Kurios’, is one characterised by dedication and determination. Originally from Tokyo, Kazuha moved to Los Angeles in 2003 to study dance, and subsequently appeared as a dancer in live performances and music videos, both in Japan and North America. These included the 2015 Billboard Music Awards, as well as dance and promotional performances in videos for the Pussycat Dolls, Mariah Carey, and Britney Spears.
But Kazuha’s passion for the theatre of dancing as we know it from the acrobatic and abstract dance productions featured in the iconic shows of Cirque du Soleil, was sparked in 2005, when she watched a performance of “O” in Las Vegas. Deeply impressed and overwhelmed by the show’s concept, Kazuha set herself the goal to someday perform on stage for Cirque du Soleil. And that is exactly what she achieved. In 2012, Kazuha attended a Cirque du Soleil general audition and was entered into the artist database, finally landing her the lead role of Klara in Cirque du Soleil’s latest production ‘Kurios’, in 2017. And she has certainly embraced her role, with all the skills and processes that come with it, and that she has picked up along the way – such as doing her own make-up for the production which after much practise, she can complete in as ‘little’ as an hour and a half.
Kazuha Ikeda’s love for and dedication to, the creative art of dancing, is surely one of the main reasons why ‘Kurios’ has been so incredibly well-received across the globe, with the Brisbane season of the show already having to be extended before it has even begun, due to the high demand for tickets – a testament to Kazuha’s and the corps’ exceptional talents. The Brisbane season of Kurios runs from january 10 to February 9 2020.
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