DANCEWORKS HAWAII

40 YEARS OF DANCE EXCELLENCE

1986-2026

DANCE WORKS Honolulu was the largest jazz, modern dance, and ballet studio in Honolulu for a decade in the 1980-1990s. It offered extensive background in instruction and the performing arts, reflecting the wide range of theatrical experience of co-directors Marie Takazawa and Simeon Den. The large studios accommodated classes of up to 40 students with optimum individualized instruction focused on body alignment, placement, and the joy of movement. Since opening its doors in 1983, Dance Works has created a resident professional dance group, Dance Works and Company, and has staged Hawaii’s most exciting theatrical productions. They exhibited the first performance of contemporary dance at the prestigious 1984 Merrie Monarch festival and produced their own modern dance jazz performance at the Honolulu Community Theater, “Broadway Off 12th Avenue,” in early 1985. Their latest concert, “Hawaii Heat, Hot Feats,” was adapted to a 40-minute program for conventions and specialty groups. In addition, Dance Works offered two other 40-minute performances, their contemporary Hawaii repertoire, “Hawaii Now” and their Broadway Showcase. Each entertainment package was completely costumed and traveled with professional sound and lighting personnel. The directors, Simeon Den and Marie Takazawa also choreographed the Honolulu Performing Arts Company’s West Side Story, numerous industrials, and major local can television spots.

Simeon Den

Simeon Den was fluidity at the helm of modern dance, enchanting audiences from London to Honolulu. Simeon studied with the dynamic Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance.

During his extensive and colorful career, he assisted Jerome Robbins with the Yul Brynner Broadway production of The King and I in 1976 and the National Tour in 1981. He performed in the original production of Pacific Overtures and spent a year on tour performing with Lena Horne. In addition, this talented dancer-choreographer did film production work with Fame and performed on television specials of Cher, John Denver, and Shirley MacLaine.

Simeon has taught jazz and modern dance throughout Europe, as well as New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Since his return to Honolulu, he has choreographed the San Francisco Rag Shop television commercials, all the major Liberty House promotions; andcontinues to create new pieces for the resident-professional Dance Works & Company.

Marie Takazawa

Ms. Takazawa’s professional dance career began in NYC, where she was cast as Eliza in The King & I, starring Yul Brynner, and also performed with a touring company starring Rudolph Nureyev.

Here in Hawaiʻi, she established the dance school Danceworks with partner Simeon Den, which included student showcases, a Broadway song-and-dance review, and the professional dance company Kaimuki Dance Theater. She has choreographed for local dance schools including Ballet Hawaiʻi and Tau Dance Theater, the Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre, and the theater show Sometimes Love, with book and music by Martin Rabbett. Marie currently teaches and choreographs dance and aerial circus arts at Samadhi Hawaiʻi.

Elsie Anderson

Elsie started ballet as a child with Rhonda Kimura at Manoa Japanese School. After stopping for a few years, she fell in love with dancing again when she tried jazz for the first time as a college freshman. She studied ballet with Yasuki Sasa, Alaine Haubert, and Eve Walstrum, and danced jazz and modern with Pam Sandridge, Simeon Den, and Marie Takazawa. She danced and taught at Dance Works in Kaimuki and performed professionally with The Jazz Factory, Express, the Dick Jenson Show at the Hula Hut, and Spatts Passion Dancers.

As many friends left Hawaiʻi to pursue dreams on the continent, Elsie chose a career as a Dept. of Army Civilian, married, and raised a family. After more than 30 years, she returned to Queen Emma Ballet, guided by Anna Mottler and Celia Chun. Since, she has studied ballet with Therese Wendler, Greg Zane, and Kristin Aune while exploring Contemporary with Jose Silva, Broadway Jazz with John Rampage, Tap with Anna Mottler, Street with Mara Bacon Chang, and Hip Hop with Rebecca Madera.

Tribute to Simeon Den

The first time anyone met Simeon, it is not far fetched to think of “Icarus” by Henri Matisse. Something about his presence and energy exuded the bold color, yellow star bursts and the reckless abandon Icarus must have felt when he flew higher to the sun.

He came home from the fabled Big Apple, having lived the dream that so many of us in our generation of dancers yearned for. We were in awe of the authority he acquired having been there, done that, in our field of dreams called Broadway.

The generation of dancers who grew up in the 70’s-80’s were blessed to ride a dance wave that swept through the local dance community. Simeon, along with Luika (Louise) Mita who he taught with at Studio One Dance Studio, and later, Marie Takazawa who co-owned Dance Works with him - trained, mentored, disciplined, and launched careers of so many young artists and dancers. The giant wave that Simeon, Luika, and Marie (along with other great Kumu: Pam Sandridge, Jane Cassell, Betty Jones and Fritz Ludin) fueled an evolution of dance for over a decade. Their brand of dance – a fusion of jazz, theater jazz, jazz funk, commercial jazz, street, Horton, Lymon, Graham, classical and contemporary ballet - showed Hawaii there was more to “dance” than Hula and Ballet.

Dance Works became a home to learn and grow. Dancers came from near and far to take classes with Simeon and Marie and their exceptional faculty. Alaine Haubert and Eve Walstrum provided a solid ballet foundation for all, and inspired tutelage for aspiring ballet dancers. Out of that nurturing place we called Dance Works, true Stars emerged. There are hundreds of storied careers that have their roots with Simeon and Marie and their storied faculty. As in hula lineage, our generation proudly proclaims our dance lineage with these exceptional humans. The studio was a happy, chaotic mixture of bunheads, ponytails, ripped tights, cut shirts, calloused bare feet, resin and sweat…with the scent of white flower oil in the air. Today, our lineages intersect and merge, continuing to grow and touch all who love to dance.

Simeon was not known as the “stern” one - Marie had that crown. But we all quickly learned that he would praise a student giving 100% and blowing it, over someone holding back to be safe. “So what if you make “A”! You get ‘em next time!” Whenever he scolded us, he did it out of love. He would always close the loop after a rough encounter with encouragement and a joke to share a laugh.

As the years passed, some of us left to pursue dreams with Simeon and Marie’s abundant blessings. Some of us stayed, got married and started families. The studio became a day care with toddler boys and girls playing in the office area while mommies took class and rehearsed. Simeon loved our children and they called him “Uncle Dingo.” He took them on outings while the mommies danced. He got them candy and icee, the red or blue stained teeth and face were the tell-tale signs.

The dancers who stayed in Hawaii were on the path to become teachers, choreographers, and built successful local dance and non-dance careers made possible by the lessons taught to us by Simeon in that mirrored room. Dance Works is where a young Cathy (Watson) Izumi started her dance journey and founded the Honolulu Gurlz Dance Company. Her journey would continue after Dance Works closed, forging her own legacy at Honolulu Dance Studio. She continues to inspire generations of young dancers just as Simeon and Marie did.

We are all fruit from Simeon’s tree. His generous spirit, heart, wisdom, and wit touched so many lives and left a lasting impact. His time in Hawaii earned him the nick name “da bolo head man” - the MASTER of improv, and “make any kine.” And that is how he lived.

Google Sites

Report abuse