Masako Dixon Nishikawa Instructor of the Nishikawa School/ Director of the Nishikawa Foundation/ Traditional Japanese Dancer Masako was born on August 25, 1960. She is the oldest daughter of Ukon Nishikawa, the third Headmaster of the Nishikawa School. She started training as a dancer from the age of two and performed for the first time on stage at the age of three at the 17th Nagoya Odori at Misonoza. Since then she has performed in every one of the Nagoya Odori performances including this year`s 56th performance. She received her license as a Nishikawa Dancer when she was 15. Afterwards she moved toTokyo and studied under her grandfather, Koisaburo Nishikawa II, the second Headmaster of the Nishikawa School. While continuing her dance training she also worked actively in TV dramas, historical plays, and musicals. This experience helped develop her as a performer. In addition she studied Nagauta, Tokiwazu, Kiyomoto, and Narimono (Japanese Traditional Misic) and also took vocal lessons, jazz dance, and pantomime to improve her acting skills PERFORMANCES OVERSEAS 1984　　Participated in the Nishikawa Nagoya Odori Performance in North America. 1985　　Participated in Traditional Japanese Dance presented by the Monaco Kingdom. 1988　　Participated in the Nishikawa Nagoya Odori Performance in the USA. 1991　　Choreographed the performance of "The Blue Ghost" performed at the Crescent Theater in Dallas, Texas, USA. 1991　　Taught Japanese Traditional Dance lesson for elementary, high school and university student in Dallas, Texas, USA. 1995　　Guest instructor for the Children's Theatre Summer Program, Dallas Texas, USA.　Participated in Traditional Japanese Dance presented by the Crescent Theatre, Dallas Texas, USA 1996　　Guest instructor for the Children's Theatre Summer Program, Dallas Texas, USA. 2001　　Performed a Traditional Japanese Dance Workshop in Australia, hosted by the Nishikawa Foundation. 2002　　Performed a Traditional Japanese Dance Workshop in New Zealand, hosted by the Nishikawa Foundation. PERFORMANCES IN JAPAN Masako is instructing several Japanese high schools to introduce traditional dances to the younger generation. She is also an instructor of the Nishikawa Traditional Dance School for foreign beginners. Masako is the instructor of Traditional Dance classes taught in several middle and high schools in the Nagoya area. Her performance of "Miyabi no Utage" has been staged in several major hotels in Japan and is known as an elegant traditional dance performance. AWARDS 1999　　TARG Award 2002　　Toshibunka Shoreisho Prize OTHER POST Part time teacher at Seijo High School Part time teacher at Nagoya Girls University Junior High School Special instructor at Nagoya Music University Board of Directors of Nagoya International School PRIVATE 1989年　　Married to William Keith Dixon, stage artist in Dallas, Texas, USA and currently a teacher at the Nagoya International School. Eldest son, Kirk Shigemasa Dixon born.