Dancer/Choreographer, Kota Yamazaki was born in Niigata and graduated from Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo, Japan.
In 1977, Yamazaki was introduced to butoh through the teaching of Akira Kasai; then in 1981 started studying classical ballet under the late Hirofumi Inoue. In 1989, Yamazaki was invited to work with Daniel Larrieu at CNDC in Angers, France; then became a finalist in The Platform of Bognolet Competition in France in 1994. He was also invited to join in the TAP (Triangle Arts Program) artist exchange program in 1997. Since the establishment of his first company "Rosy co." in 1996, Kota has presented a number of works including: What's Wrong (Bunkamura Theater Cocoon, Tokyo, 1996); Picnic (Spiral Hall, Tokyo, 1997); Chinoise Flower (Bunkamura Theater Cocoon,1999); FoisGras (La Foret Museum Roppongi, Tokyo, 2000); Cholon (Bunkamura Theater Cocoon, 2001).
"Rosy co." has also performed internationally at Indonesian Dance Festival, Place Theater in London, Biennale Nationale de Danse Val-de Marine in France, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Arizona State University, Bates Dance Festival, Buena Center for the Arts, Chicago Columbia College Dance Center, University of Massachusetts/Amherst and Yorkshire Dance Festival amongst others.
In 2002, Yamazaki founded his new company "Kota Yamazaki Fluid hug-hug". The company was established on the policy of "Traveling, Exchanging and Exploring". and the company has presented original full-evening works at Chicago Columbia College Dance Center, Global Dance Festival, Arizona State University, PICA; TBA Festival, University of Riverside, The NUS for the Arts, SPAC, Bank Art, Melbourne International Arts Festival, Dance Theater Workshop, Painted Bride Art Center, 92nd Street Y Harkness Dance Festival among others. He also has created new works for national/international dance companies in Unites States, Japan, Korea, Australia, Canada and Senegal. During these years, Yamazaki received supports from the England Foundation, the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Japan Foundation, the Saison Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, The National Dance Project and Arts International.
Through the residencies in Senegal, during 2003/2004, Yamazaki created FAGAALA in collaboration with Germaine Acogny and her company Jant-bi. FAGAALA was received around the world as a masterpiece and was reviewed that "they have done things what seemed impossible..." (Dance Magazine). Yamazaki with Acogny received New York Dance and Performance Award (The Bessie Award) in 2007 for its choreography. Throughout these years, Yamazaki has taught at various universities and dance/art centers such as National University of Arts (Seoul, Korea), Arizona State University, UC Riverside, Chicago Columbia College, International Summer School (Tokyo), PAS (Tokyo), Yotsuya Art Stadium (Tokyo), Architanz (Tokyo), Bennington College and Kyoto University of Art and Design. In 2008, a new art organization, Body-Art Laboratory (BAL), was launched by Yamazaki and fellow artists in Tokyo with a support from TOYOTA Art Management KAIZEN Project. BAL supports performing-artists in contemporary Japanese society and organizes “When Where Festival.” (www.bodyartslabo.net)
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