KAZUKO Yasunobu

🪔 About

Kazuko Yasunobu is a prominent Japanese figure in Indian classical dance, recognized for her significant contributions to popularizing Odissi in Japan. She is the founder and organizer of Studio Odissi, an Indian Classical Dance Institute, established on April 1, 2003. Through her studio, she provides Odissi lessons in Tokyo, Kumamoto, and Fukuoka. Yasunobu is known for expressing "pleasure and gratitude of life" through her dance. Her dedication to Odissi has earned her recognition in India, and she is considered a pioneer in spreading this Eastern Indian classical dance form in Japan. Yasunobu's dance troupe is acclaimed for its beautiful choreography and direction, effectively passing on the skills and spirit inherited from her guru to her many students. She has performed at notable cultural events, including staging "Sakura Vasant Pallavi" on World Day for Cultural Diversity in 2020, a collaboration with the Vivekananda Cultural Centre and the Indian Embassy in Japan. In 2021, she was featured in the Digital Dance Series presented by the Embassy of India, Tokyo, performing "Sarasvati-Sakura Mangalacharan," a piece originally choreographed by Padmabibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, with her own concept for Japan-India exchange and Abhinaya. Yasunobu's journey in Odissi began by attending classes in Japan, and she, along with other dancers, furthered her studies in India under various luminaries.