Takara Fukushima was born in Osaka, Japan, and began ballet at the age of 8. In 2007, after participating in the Saint Petersburg State Ballet's Japan tour, she committed to pursuing a career in ballet. During her middle and high school years, she received several prestigious awards, including the Special Jury Outstanding Prize from Japan Ballet Association President Kenji Usui at the Kyoto National Ballet Competition in 2011, the Second Prize at the National Ballet Competition in Japan in 2010, and the Excellence Award at the All Japan Ballet Union Competition in 2010.

In 2009, she had the opportunity to study at the Academie de Danse Classique Princess Grace under Marika Bezobrazova in Monaco. In 2011, she earned a scholarship to study at the Central School of Ballet in London, England. Upon graduating from high school in Japan, she received offers from ballet companies in England, Russia, and the US, ultimately deciding to join the Kentucky Ballet Theater (KBT) on a full-year contract in 2013.

At KBT, she was cast as Clara in The Nutcracker during her first year and continued to perform soloist and principal roles until she left the company in 2017. She won the First Prize in the Professional Category at the World Ballet Art Competition in 2015 in Indianapolis and was invited by the Shanghai Municipal Government to participate in the 5th Shanghai International Competition in 2016.

After relocating to Chicago, she continued performing as a guest ballet dancer and taught as a master ballet instructor. In 2021, she began teaching at the award-winning Hinsdale Dance Academy, where she was promoted to Junior Company Director in 2024.

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Awards

The 5th Shanghai International Compettition 2016

(Invited by Shanghai Municipal Government)

First prize in Professional Category at World Ballet Art Competition 2015 in Indianapolis

Special Jury outstanding prize (from Japan Ballet Association President Kenji Usui) at Kyoto National Ballet Competition 2011

Second prize at the National Ballet Competition 2010 in Japan

Excellence Award at All Japan Ballet Union Competition 2010

and Others...

 

 

福島 たから

大阪府出身。
8歳よりバレエを始める。
2007年ロシア国立ミハイロフスキーバレエ団 眠れる森の美女の日本公演に

子役として出演。
2009年モナコ王立プリンセスグレースアカデミーへ留学。
留学中、マリカ・ベゾブラゾバ、ローラン・フォーゲル、エリアンヌ・マゾッティらに師事。
2010年NAMUE全国バレエコンクール 高校生部門にて2位を受賞。
2011年イギリス・セントラルスクールオブバレエに留学。サラ・マシューズに師事。
同年PBK・京都バレエコンクールにて特別審査員賞を日本バレエ協会

第4代会長 薄井憲二より授与される。
2013年アメリカ・ケンタッキー州Kentucky Ballet Theatreに入団。

入団後ソリスト・プリンシパルとして全公演出演。
2015年アメリカ・インディアナポリスで開催された国際コンクール
World Ballet Art Competition Grand Prixプロフェッショナル部門にて

1位を受賞。

2016年、中国上海市より第5回上海国際コンクールに招待を受け参加。

2017年、Kentucky Ballet Theatre退団。
2018年よりアメリカ・シカゴを拠点に国内外共に講師として講習会の開催やゲストダンサーとして活躍。

2021年よりHinsdale Dance Academyマスターインストラクター就任。

2024年、同アカデミー付属ジュニアカンパニーディレクター就任。