Ikue Ueno Dancer Bio

Ikue Ueno — Originally from Japan, Ikue is a multi-disciplinary artist, dancer, performer, choreographer, certified fascial maneuvers coach at Human Garage, and educator. She has been dancing for over 25 years, with extensive experience in both street and classical dance styles, including W*acking, Voguing, Hip Hop, House Dance, Contemporary, Jazz, Modern, Ballet, and more.

Her dance training began in Japan, and since moving to Canada, she has studied at the University of Alberta Orchesis, Harbour Dance Centre, the Source Dance Company, Modus Operandi, Lux Dance Company, Training Society of Vancouver Working Class, Vancouver Circus School, and more. She holds an education degree from Japan and is passionate about sharing her love of art while performing, competing, battling, and teaching students of all ages and levels at various dance studios, schools, special workshops, and events.

Ikue was a semi-finalist at the House dance battle of the Vancouver Street Dance Festival 2017. She is ‘the mother’ of House of La Douche, Vancouver’s premier Voguing and Waacking dance collective. The collective was awarded the title of Vancouver Nightlife Award's Best Performer of the Year in 2011 and was documented in CNN’s Great Big Story - Voguing and Waacking Through Vancouver in 2019.

She has collaborated with numerous artists, events, and organizations including: Visa Card with Simone Biles for the Tokyo Olympics 2020, CNN’s Great Big Story, Lush Cosmetics, K-OS, Aaron Carter, Snow, Zebra Katz, DJ Mike Q, Amanda Lepore, Quanah Style, Victoria Anthony, KO by Katherin Olivos, RUKUS by Yasuhiro Tomita, BESTiE, Small Stage, Vancouver Fashion Week, Vancouver Alternative Fashion Week, Vancouver Art Gallery FUSE, Bass Coast Festival, Vancouver Pride, Strut, Wiggles, Celebrities Nightclub, Aurora fundraiser, Blim, Waacouture, and the Closing Ceremony of the Vancouver Olympics 2010, where she was a featured Hip Hop dancer on the center stage.

Her latest passion is assisting people in reducing stress and trauma in the body by unwinding fascia through a healing modality known as fascial maneuvers, developed by Human Garage. She integrates these fascial movements into her dance coaching, guiding her students to enhance their body movement and extend the longevity of their dance careers.

She is committed to empowering people to liberate and express themselves freely through movement. Her infectious smile and uplifting, friendly presence can help anyone feel safe and seen, tapping into their authentic selves. Overall, she genuinely enjoys teaching and continues to evolve as a dance and movement coach by spreading the love of dance and keeping the culture alive.