Ayaka Kamei Cento, originally from Ehime, Japan, is the Interim Director of the School of Dance at 92NY’s Harkness Dance Center, where she has been a faculty member since 2021. She is committed to making the School of Dance a welcoming home where students, families, faculty, staff, and artists can experience joy, nurture creativity, and build a strong community through dance.
A New York–based dancer, educator, choreographer, and producer, Ayaka has taught and presented work throughout the United States and Japan in higher education, conservatories, public schools, and community organizations. Her teaching credits include 92NY, SUNY Purchase, Gibney Dance, Chen Dance Center, and Joffrey Ballet School.
As a performer, Ayaka has appeared on Broadway and on national and international tours of Phantom of the Opera. She has also performed with The Metropolitan Opera, Twyla Tharp Dance, MorDance, and New York Theatre Ballet. Her screen credits include a Nikon commercial, Amazon Prime’s Étoile, and The Show Must Go On on Apple TV+.
Ayaka is a graduate of Northern Ballet School in England and graduated summa cum laude from SUNY Purchase. She is a facilitator with Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) and has presented workshops and lectures at conferences and institutions, including the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) and the New York State Dance Education Association (NYSDEA), as well as other regional, national, and international events.
She is also the Artistic Director of Art Couriers International, an outreach-focused performing arts organization, and co-founder of Dance Education Cafe, which fosters collaboration and dialogue among dance educators in Japan.