Debby Kajiyama

Debby Kajiyama’s interests lie in the intersection of cultural studies, social justice, and performance. Influential teachers are Nora Dinzelbacher (Argentine Tango), Hiroyuki “Jimi” Nakagawa (Taiko), and Kira Kirsch & Frey Faust (Axis Syllabus). Since 2001, she has created five full-evening programs and numerous shorter works with NAKA that have been presented nationally and internationally. Debby has also performed with Dandelion Dancetheater, Dance Brigade, ZACCHO Dance Theater, and Somei Yoshino Taiko Ensemble. In 2009 she was an artist-in-residence at the Djerassi Resident Artists Program, and in 2010-2011, she and her longterm collaborator Jose Navarrete were Irvine Fellows at Montalvo Arts Center’s Lucas Artists Residency Program. In 2013, she was the recipient of an Alliance for California Traditional Arts Apprenticeship to study Taiko with master teacher Jimi Nakagawa. Kajiyama is Co-Director of Navarrete x Kajiyama Dance Theater (NAKA)