Born and raised in Ehime, Japan, Ayaka Kamei Cento is a New York City-based dancer, educator, and arts leader whose career spans ballet, Broadway, opera, education, and arts programming. She currently serves as Interim Director of the School at 92NY Dance and Artistic Director of Art Couriers International, while continuing an active performing career with The Metropolitan Opera Ballet and The Phantom of the Opera North American Tour.

Ayaka’s performance career has taken her from Broadway to stages around the world. Her credits include The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and international and North American tours, The Metropolitan Opera, Twyla Tharp Dance, MorDance, New York Theatre Ballet, and other dance organizations. Throughout her career, she has performed works by celebrated choreographers including George Balanchine, Merce Cunningham, Antony Tudor, Aszure Barton, Jessica Lang, Alexei Ratmansky, John Heginbotham, and many others.

Originally trained at Tatewaki Hiroko Ballet School in Japan, Ayaka went on to graduate from Northern Ballet School in England and SUNY Purchase, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and received the President’s Award for Achievement in the Conservatory of Dance. Her international training also includes Codarts in the Netherlands and Springboard Danse Montréal.

Education and community have become an equally important part of Ayaka’s career. She has taught ballet, contemporary dance, jazz, and movement at organizations including 92NY, SUNY Purchase, Gibney, Joffrey Ballet School, Chen Dance Center, Musashino University, and Tatewaki Hiroko Ballet School. Her work reflects a deep belief in making dance accessible, meaningful, and connected to the communities it serves.

Ayaka’s relationship with AK Dancewear goes back to the very beginning. Long before AK became the brand and community it is today, Ayaka and AK founder Alina Khoo met while attending Finis Jhung’s teachers workshop in New York City. Their shared love of ballet, teaching, and the dance community grew into a lasting friendship.

Ayaka has been a friend and supporter of AK since our early days in 2018, and over the years that relationship has grown into her role as an AK Artist. She has shared her experience with our dancers through education, conversation, and special community events, including joining us as the masterclass teacher for the 2025 AK Dancers Event in Austin, Texas.

As Ayaka’s own career continues to evolve from dancer and teacher to arts leader and director, we are incredibly proud that she remains part of the AK story. Her versatility, generosity as an educator, and commitment to creating meaningful experiences through dance represent exactly what the AK Artist community is about: accomplished artists who continue to inspire and give back to the next generation.