Mami Hariyama
Ballet Artist | Ballet Educator | Artistic Director | Pianist
Received : Best Teacher Award and Best School Award at the Jewel Festival 2021
Raised and coached dancers that won various international competitions and also became professionals.
Her love is teaching ballet to children and adults of all ages and levels, spreading the joy of dance, and sharing the beauty of the Arts.
Born in Osaka, Japan, in 1982, Mami Hariyama grew up in a family of professional musicians.
Her father was a clarinetist and her mother a piano teacher. Surrounded by music from an early age, she began studying piano and ballet as a young child, developing a lifelong connection to both art forms.
She pursued ballet seriously from her early teens, training in Japan and broadening her artistic horizons through international study. At the age of 15, she traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia, and at 16, participated in a short-term study program in the United States, gaining valuable exposure to different ballet traditions and artistic perspectives.
In 2003, she moved to New York City independently, beginning a new chapter in her artistic career. In 2004, she launched her professional career as a ballet pianist, performing at numerous ballet studios throughout Manhattan. Drawing on her own experience as a dancer, she developed a distinctive musical approach grounded in a deep understanding of ballet technique, movement, and expression.
Her work soon expanded to include collaborations with distinguished figures in the ballet world. She recorded a ballet class CD with renowned ballet teacher David Howard, providing improvised piano accompaniments tailored to the musical and technical demands of each exercise. She also had the opportunity to accompany classes for American Ballet Theatre (ABT), fulfilling a personal artistic ambition that had inspired her since her first visit to the Metropolitan Opera House as a teenager.
Her musical career further includes recording all six titles in Disney's pioneering Ballet Class CD series. She has also been invited to perform at internationally recognized ballet competitions, bringing her musical expertise to dancers and teachers across different countries.
In 2005, while continuing her work as a ballet pianist, Mami founded a Japanese-language ballet school in New York City and began developing her career as a ballet educator. Her return to ballet as a teacher and performer marked an important new chapter, allowing her to combine her experience as a dancer with her musical knowledge and passion for teaching.
In 2010, she established Hariyama Ballet Studio in New York City. As founder and studio owner, she has developed a comprehensive ballet education program for children and adults, encompassing daily instruction, performance production, competition coaching, and international training opportunities.
In 2019, she opened a new studio in a prime location in New York City, further expanding her educational and artistic activities. Over the years, she has welcomed hundreds of Japanese students to New York through her intensive ballet programs, offering not only professional ballet training but also opportunities to experience the city's culture and artistic environment.
What distinguishes Mami's artistic career is her unique perspective as both a ballet artist and a musician. Having experienced ballet through her own body, she understands the physical demands, musicality, and expressive qualities of dance. As a teacher, she guides dancers in developing their technique and artistry, while as a pianist, she brings movement to life through music.
Her approach to ballet accompaniment goes beyond simply keeping time. Through musical sensitivity, improvisation, and an intuitive understanding of movement, she seeks to create a genuine connection between the dancer and the music, allowing each class to become a dynamic artistic experience.
As an educator, she believes that ballet should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age, experience, or background. Her teaching philosophy places equal importance on artistic development, personal growth, discipline, creativity, and the joy of dancing. She is committed to creating an environment where students can discover their potential, develop confidence, and experience the lasting value of the arts.
Since founding her school in 2005, Mami has dedicated two decades to ballet and music in New York City. Whether performing, teaching, accompanying dancers, producing performances, or building an artistic community, she continues to bring together the worlds of dance and music.
Through her multifaceted career, Mami Hariyama has established herself as an artist who bridges ballet and music, bringing together the perspectives of a dancer, educator, pianist, and artistic director.
My Journey into the World of Russian Classical Ballet
My journey into the world of Russian classical ballet began through my mentor, who became the first Japanese student to study at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in St. Petersburg. After returning to Japan, he devoted himself to teaching and passing on the traditions of the Russian ballet school.
Each year, teachers from the Vaganova Academy were also invited to Japan, and I was fortunate to study with these distinguished masters, learning firsthand the traditions and methodology of the Russian classical ballet school.
I first visited St. Petersburg at the age of 15, where I performed in two performances of The Nutcracker. In the years that followed, I returned to St. Petersburg three more times for ballet training, and also had the opportunity to study in Perm and Moscow.
In addition, when teachers from the Vaganova Academy and the Bolshoi Ballet Academy traveled to Japan to conduct summer ballet workshops and educational programs, I had the honor of working alongside them as a ballet pianist, accompanying their teaching activities and travels throughout various regions of Japan.
The opportunity to learn from distinguished Russian ballet teachers, work alongside them, and experience the rich culture of Russian ballet firsthand has become one of the most precious treasures of my life.
This experience continues to inspire me today. I strive to pass on to my students not only sound classical ballet technique, but also musicality, artistic expression, and a deep respect for the traditions of the Russian ballet school.
NY DANCE ARTISTRY – HARIYAMA BALLET SPRING PERFORMANCE 2023
MESSAGE FROM AMBASSADOR MIKIO MORI
In appreciation of NY Dance Artistry’s exuberance and resilience, I offer its
members my warmest wishes for a splendid 15th annual spring performance at the
Riverside Church Theatre.
It will also be the 30th student performance organized by Ms. Mami Hariyama, the
founder and director of NY Dance Artistry. This cross-cultural dance academy has
gracefully evolved with the times since it was created in 2010, offering a variety of
dance forms in innovative settings, including online lessons during the pandemic.
NY Dance Artistry has grown to become a cherished institution in the Japanese
community and has contributed greatly to the cultural diversity of New York City.
Its student performances at the 2
nd Japan Parade on May 13th united the Japanese
and American spectators in delight all along Central Park West.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to NY Dance Artistry’s instructors and supporters
for deepening relations between Japan and New York, and for making dreams
come true for their students. I wish this school many more years of wonderful
lessons and performances in the years to come.
Sincerely,
Mikio Mori
Ambassador and Consul General of Japan in New York