SHOJI YAMASAKI is a transdisciplinary creative from the unceded ancestral land of Gabrielino-Tongva, recently known as Los Angeles. Attending both American and Japanese school simultaneously, his bilingual upbringing has informed his current works that bridges between Japanese and American culture. He creates site-responsive and immersive works that explores the history, architecture, and the community within the spacetime continuum. His continual desire for expansion as an artist and experimental ideas has allowed him to take on roles of a choreographer, dancer, performance artist, director, writer, and filmmaker. 

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He holds his B.A. Degree in World Arts and Cultures (Dance Concentration) and a minor in Spanish from UCLA in 2011 and his M.F.A. Degree in Choreography from California Institute of the Arts in 2023. Throughout his career, he has worked with choreographers such as Dimitri Chamblas, Heidi Duckler, Keith Glassman, Victoria Marks, Carol McDowell, Matthew Rushing, and Rebbecca Pappas. In addition, he collaborates with the photographer, Mimi Haddon and celebrity hairstylist, Peter Savic. His works have been presented at locations such as the Jerry Moss Plaza at the Music Center, REDCAT (Roy Edna Disney/CalArts Theater), Odyssey Theater, Gibney Dance (New York), and Conservatorio de Danza México (Mexico). Additionally, he has been a returning guest choreographer for North Torrance High School’s Dance Department.

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In volunteer work, Shoji has dedicated in rescuing and caring for abled and disabled rabbits for 15 years and has rescued 30+ rabbits over the years. His first rabbit, a hind-leg paralyzed rabbit named Roger, was dumped in front of his lawn by a stranger and his rescue efforts were featured in ASPCA Kid’s book, Kids Making a Difference, in 2009. Through this experience, he has developed Lagomorph Technique (AKA Bunny Jazz), a dance technique that incorporates rabbit body language that rabbits use in communicating with each other. Shoji utilizes Lagomorph Technique to communicate with the audience through choreographic rabbit movements. Bunny ears and tails are a REQUIREMENT when performing Lagomorph Technique.

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CV