A&M Ballet Studio

Discover the Difference

World-class training from international dance professionals right here in Tokyo

Welcome to A&M Ballet Studio

Welcome to A&M Ballet Studio in Tokyo, Japan, where we bring over 30 years of combined professional experience to our students. Our extensive dance network spans across America, Canada, Europe, and Japan, allowing us to offer a truly global perspective on the art of dance. We are fluent in English, French, German, and Japanese, providing classes in both English and Japanese to cater to our diverse clientele. At our studio, we offer ballet and contemporary classes suitable for all ages, as well as private lessons for those seeking individualized attention. Additionally, we provide professional consulting for aspiring dancers and assist groups of students in studying abroad, enabling them to broaden their dance experiences beyond Japan. Join us at A&M Ballet Studio and take your dance journey to new heights!

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About us

Teachers

Arthur Stashak

Marie Stashak (Shimada)

Born in Tokyo, she embarked on her ballet journey at just six years old, training at the prestigious Sakurayama Ballet School. After successfully graduating from Sakurayama Girls' High School, her passion led her to study abroad at the renowned Antoinette Ballet School in Belgium at the age of 16. Following her high school graduation, she continued her studies at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in the Netherlands. Her dedication paid off when she joined a company directed by Nicolas Le Riche, a former étoile of the Paris Opera Ballet, and Paula Canterpole, a former principal of the Monaco Ballet. Throughout her graduate studies, she graced the stage in numerous performances of "Jules" at the Nice Opera Ballet. During a captivating performance with the renowned Jules, she was recruited by the Ballet de l'Europe, a prestigious company based in Marseille, where she took on major roles that showcased her talent. Soon after, she signed a guest contract with the Marseille National Ballet, but her desire for new experiences led her to Germany at the age of 27. There, she joined the Oldenburg Ballet under the direction of Antoinette Julie, staying for four enriching years. Following this, she moved to the Schleswig-Holstein State Ballet, led by Martin Schläpfer, where she continued to perform significant roles. In 2019, her career reached another highlight as she danced the role of the Swan Queen in "Swan Lake" during the Ballet am Rhein's performances in Tokyo and Osaka, further solidifying her reputation in the world of ballet.

After retiring in 2024, she returned to Japan and has been working as a ballet instructor, mainly at A&M Ballet Studio.

Originally from Chicago, Arthur started his ballet training at the age of 6. By the age of 13 he entered the Youth American Grand Prix dance competition in Chicago where he received 1st place in both classical and contemporary categories and made it as a top 12 finalists in the grand finals in New York City. From there he was offered a full scholarship to Canada's National Ballet School in Toronto at the age of 14. There, Arthur trained with some of the top ballet and contemporary teachers in the world for 4 years until he graduated in 2012. To continue his ballet training, Arthur then joined the world renown John Neumeier's Hamburg Ballett School in Germany for one year. At the age of 21, he received his first job in Poland at the classical ballet company Grand Theater Lodz dancing many roles in ballets such as Don Quixote, Coppelia, Giselle, Martha Graham's Sacre de Printemps, and many more. After dancing for two years in Poland he went back to Germany where he danced as a Soloist in Düsseldorf's Ballet am Rhein under the direction of Martin Schläpfer. From 2016-2020 Arthur danced in roles from choreographers such as George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Hans van Manen, William Forsythe, Martin Schläpfer, Robert Binet, Marco Goecke, Ohad Naharin and many more. After Covid hit in 2020 Arthur decided to explore more the contemporary side of dance for one year in Theatre Osnabrück in Germany and then 2 years as a freelance dancer. There he collaborated with many different independent artists and explored various styles of movement. During his time as a freelance dancer he also taught Ballet and Contemporary in the school attached to the Ballet am Rhein. Currently, Arthur is living in Japan and working as a ballet instructor at A&M Ballet Studio