Meet The Team

Ms. Iku (Ikuko) was born in Kyoto, Japan. She began her dance training at the age of 9 in

modern dance and a year later in classical ballet at the Kyoto Ballet Academy (KBA). At the age

of 13, she began performing with KBA, and at 15 traveled overseas for the first time with them

to perform in three cities in France. Iku graduated from KBA in 1991. That same year, she also

completed her university degree in English Literature at Doshisha Women’s College in Kyoto,

and received certification to be an English teacher in Japan. Upon graduation, she began

teaching both ballet and English at Kyoto Ballet Academy.

Iku went abroad to study at Royal Ballet School in London in 1992, completing the Teacher’s

Training Course there in 1993. She opened her own studio in Nagaokakyo (Kyoto) Japan in

1994, and for the next 15 years built the studio, teaching almost all classes and coordinating all

performances. She worked closely with individual students in preparing them for dance

competitions and for auditions for ballet schools and companies, both in Japan and abroad.

Iku has danced soloist roles in Japan in The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Giselle,

and many other ballets from the classical repertoire. She has also performed modern pieces

and danced in contemporary productions of several dance companies in Japan. In addition to

performing, Iku has produced and choreographed full productions and “digests” of individual

pieces from classical ballets.

In 2008 Iku and her family moved to the U.S. She and her family relocated to Colorado Springs

in December 2016. Iku has taught at ballet studios in Idaho, Arizona, and now Colorado Springs

since moving to the U.S. She opened her own studio “Studio Iku” in 2020 in Colorado Springs.

Her mission with Studio Iku is to promote strong foundational dance skills and an appreciation

and love of the beautiful art form of classical ballet.

Lara was born in Madrid, Spain, and began training at Zamuel Ballet School in Colorado Springs when she moved to the States at the age of four. With the intention of pursuing a professional career, she intensively studied ballet, contemporary, character, acrobatics, and choreography, and was invited to begin teaching and choreographing for others at 14 years old. She went on to dance with Pandora Ballet Company in NYC, Roanoke Ballet Theatre in Virginia, and Evolve Dance Project in Pueblo, CO. After suffering from chronic foot injuries for many years, Lara is now turning her focus to teaching, with a passion for encouraging younger generations to pursue excellence from a place of physical and mental health.

Marissa Baker grew up dancing in Colorado Springs, CO. She has received excellent training from dance studios across the state in styles such as tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, musical theater, and jazz dance. Marissa is a nationally awarded performer and has been part of many dance companies, including Speaking in Taps, Moore Rhythm Co., and is currently a part of Tap Speaks. She is also an ACE for Amplified Productions and an apprentice under Tap into the Network. Marissa began teaching at 13 and immediately embraced the joys of teaching. She loves sharing her passion for dance and is excited to pass on what she’s learned in her dance journey.