Arika Yamada was born in Detroit, Michigan, USA in 1987 to her parents who moved to Detroit from Japan in the mid 80’s.
She received her early training from The Joffrey Ballet School, Nutmeg Conservatory and EDGE Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. In her teens she’s was represented by Bloc Agency and appeared in a European Coca-Cola Commercial. Her mentor and coach Elena Tchernichova privately trained her in NY and brought her to St. Petersburg Russia at the age of 15 where she was invited to train at The Vaganova School.
In 2009 Arika received her BFA from The Juilliard School under the directorship of Lawrence Rhodes. Upon graduation she joined Gallim Dance in NY and originated roles in multiple works with Andrea Miller such as ‘Wonderland’ which she has received recognitions for in The New York Times. In 2012 she also performed with Company XIV, a 28 show run at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
In 2013 Arika crossed the pond to Holland to join Spenser Theberge at Korzo Theater (Den Haag) where he created ‘I Saw, She Saw’ which they performed as a part the production ’ Here We Live and Now.’
Arika was invited to audition for GöteborgsOperan Danskompani which she joined during season 2013/2014 under Adolphe Binder, and in the present with director, Katrin Hall.
In Göteborg Arika originated roles in creation with choreographers such as Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Damien Jalet, Alan Lucien Oyen, Marina Mascarell, Marcos Morau, Michael Keegan Dolan, Wang/Ramirez, and Alexander Ekman. She has also reinterpreted repertoires of Ohad Naharin, Sharon Eyal, and Crystal Pite. She has performed Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s ‘Noetic’ 100+ through Europe.
As a creator Arika has been commissioned by GöteborgsOperan to co-create ‘Many Much More’ with Spenser Theberge, and ‘Try not to spill’ with Dorotea Saykaly. in 2015 Open Look Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia commissioned Arika and her partner Jim De Block to make ‘Digressing from the 4 Tons of Grey.’ In 2016 Arika, Jim, and co-creator Oleg Stepanov were invited to create a full length, site specific work by Chalmers University of Technology at their 3 day festival hosted by the Department of Architecture and the Department of Physics. Since 2016 Arika and Jim has been curating a creative platform called If We, Then which gathers artists with varied mediums to share space and process together.
In 2020 Arika founded the AHA room, a coaching practice that works with High Performers, Artistic Leaders, and Creative Minds. Identifying, cultivating and nurturing one’s unique identity in order to perform at their best.
New York Times (2010) with Wonderland by Andrea Miller
with Bobbie
Image: Jim De Block
1991
Jim and I
The Big Noise by Michael Keegan Dolan | Image: Mats Backer
SKID by Damien Jalet | Image: Mats Bäcker
Image by Franziska Strauss