Edward Taketa

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Eddie Taketa began dancing professionally in 1982 with the Robert Small Dance Company. From 1983-1990 he was a member of the Murray Louis Dance Company and Nikolais-Louis Dance, touring the repertories of Louis and Alwin Nikolais, including the production In Concert with The Dave Brubeck Quartet and Murray Louis. Concurrently, Taketa maintained a performing and creative collaboration with Janis Brenner (1985-1998). He was a member of the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company (1990-1992), and the Jacob's Pillow's Men Dancers: The Ted Shawn Legacy (1992-1993). He has also performed with: DancesWeDance, Betty Jones and Fritz Ludin, Artistic Directors; Ballet Hawaii; Luise Wykell &CO.; The Kevin Wynn Collection; Peridance Company, Igal Perry, Artistic Director; Maida Withers Dance Construction Company; Trisler Danscompany, Regina Larkin and Harry Rubenstein, Artistic Directors; Gina Gibney Dance; Sung Soo Ahn & Dancers; and Adams Company Dance, Mitzi Adams, Artistic Director. He has performed Off-Broadway with the New York Shakespeare Festival, and danced for television with such artists as Michael Moschen, and Tandy Beal and Bobby McFerrin.

In 1994, Taketa joined Doug Varone and Dancers. As a member of the Varone Company for the last two decades, he has been an original cast member in twenty-seven of Varone’s works, and nine operas and plays directed/choreographed by Varone for companies across the country including the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. He has been the company’s Rehearsal Director since 2001, and served as its Education Program Director for two years. He is a principal teacher in the company’s workshops and intensives, and has staged Varone’s works on over thirty companies and university programs.

Taketa taught and choreographed as Guest Artist in Dance at Connecticut College for ten years (1996-2006). He was Guest Artist in Residence at the University of Iowa (1997) and University of the Arts, Philadelphia (1995-1997). He has taught on the faculties of the Bates Dance Festival, SUMMERDANCE Santa Barbara, and Glenwood Springs Dance Festival, and has conducted workshops and master classes at universities and studios throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

Born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, Taketa began his dance training at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, from which he holds a BFA in Dance Theater, and received a Certificate of Merit in Dance, Outstanding Dancer. In 1998, he became a recipient of a New York Dance and Performance Award (Bessie) for Sustained Achievement in Dancing.