Sachiyo Ito (Artistic Director) is an artist, choreographer, and educator whose career spans over five decades of bridging cultures through the art of Japanese dance. Born in Tokyo and based in New York City, she has dedicated her life to sharing the elegance and depth of classical, traditional, and contemporary Japanese dance with diverse audiences across the globe.

Her commitment to cultural exchange began with her U.S. debut at the 1972 American Dance Festival, followed by graduate studies in Masters’ degree and Ph. D. in Dance at NYU.  She was an adjunct professor at NYU and the Juilliard School, as well as a visiting professor at many colleges across the U.S.

In 1981, she founded Sachiyo Ito and Company, a nonprofit organization devoted to education, performance, and community engagement. Through this platform, she has nurtured generations of dancers and brought Japanese dance into schools, museums, and underserved communities.

In 2008, she received the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Award in recognition of her work to bridge peoples of the USA and Japan, and in 2011, she received a Proclamation from NYC Mayor Bloomberg on the 30th  anniversary of her Company and for her years of community services to New York City.

Extensive performance credits include American Dance Festival, Alice Tully Hall and Performing Arts Library at Lincoln Center, Japan Society, Asia Society, New York City Center, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC, a South American tour sponsored by the Japan Foundation, the Bonn International Dance Workshop, Congreso Mundial in Spain/UNESCO, the Dublin Theatre Festival, numerous appearances on television including NYC Channels 1, 4, 11, 13, and at universities throughout the United States.