Miki Orihara is best known for her work as a principal dancer in the Martha Graham Dance Company, which she joined in 1987. In addition to performing the Graham repertory, she has worked closely with the renowned Japanese-American dancer, choreographer and director, Yuriko, preserving her unique approach to Graham Technique.
Orihara has performed in the Broadway production of The King and I, with the Elisa Monte Dance Troupe, PierGroupDance, Lotuslotus, Twyla Tharp, Martha Clarke, Anne Bogart (SITI Company), Theatre of Yugen (SF,CA) and Robert Wilson. She has presented her own choreography in New York and in Tokyo as a guest artist for Japan’s New National Theater.
Her teaching credentials include numerous workshops in Japan, Art International in Moscow, Peridance, the Ailey School, New York University, Florida State University, Henny Jurriëns Stichting ( Netherlands), Les Etés de la Danse in Paris and New National Theater Ballet School. She is on a faculty at the Graham School, The Hartt School (University of Hartford) and Barnard College (Columbia University). As a Regissuer on Martha Graham’s work, she has been setting works worldwide, including Diana Vashineva’s “Dialogue” and for Wendy Whelan of New York City Ballet.
mishmash＊Miki Orihara launched in 2013. As a Casting Producer / Dance Director, she created two music videos which released in June, 2014. Orihara served as a Movement designer for Jen Silverman’s “Crane Story” directed by Katherine Kovner. Orihara is in process of making Martha Graham technique DVD, collaboration with Dance Spotlight and Martha Graham Center. Orihara was featured in the Inaugural performance of “Peace is…” at the United Nations as a part of the Permanent Mission of Japan in April, 2017. She produced a benefit concert " Dancing for JAPAN 2014" and “Dancing for JAPAN 2017”. Orihara premiered her first solo concert "Resonance" at the La MaMa theater in New York in May, 2014, dancing works of Martha Graham, Jose Limon, Martha Clarke, Adam Barruch and Orihara. The second “Resonance II” premiered in NY in April 2017, featuring works by Marhta Graham, Merce Cunningham, Lar Lubovitch, Tanroh Ishida/ Orihara and Charlotte Griffin.
In 2010 she was awarded the prestigious Bessie Award for Sustained Achievement in Dance