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MK-O: MARK'S RUSSEL TANOUE BIOGRAPHY

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Mark Kanemura

The magic of music surrounded and embraced Mark from his very early years. At twelve years of age, enthralled by rhythms and movement, Mark launched his classical dance education at Mid Pacific Institute under the tutelage of esteemed dancers Paul Maley, Yuki Shiroma and Sylvia Yamada. He crossed into the threshold of musical theater with the Diamond Head Theatre production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, directed by John Rampage and choreographed by Andrew Sakaguchi.

Totally captivated by this colorful world filled with cadence, Mark landed a dancing a role in the Army Community Theatre’s Grease production, choreographed by Marcelo Pacleb, the mastermind of the highly acclaimed 24-7 Danceforce Productions. There was no turning back from this love affair with dance. Mark transferred to Castle High School where he expanded his repertoire of ballet, modern, and jazz dance styles, adding hip-hop and street. With the support, leadership and encouragement of Marcelo Pacleb, Jared Ake, Ryan Sabado, Tammy Hunter, and Noelle Naone, Mark discovered a deep passion for choreography and teaching, while continuing to perform.

Mark’s journey in dance took him across the ocean for training in California at the L.A. Danceforce Convention under Adam Parson, Jacquelyn Hill, and Rhonda Miller, and then to the other side of the continent to the Broadway Dance Center in New York City, for instruction by Wes Veldink and Rhapsody.

Awards and recognitions from several notable competitions for his dance performances have blessed Mark’s voyage in dance. Mark won a one year scholarship from the Urban Jamm Dance Convention, took 2nd place in the Senior Solo Jazz competition in the Summer Jamm Dance Convention, and selected for a Future Star Award in Dance Spirit Magazine for the Overall Best Performance in the Hawaii International Dance Festival.

As a member of 24-7 Danceforce, Mark has danced on national television. Featured on the national television competition Destination Stardom, Mark and eleven other dancers from 24-7 Danceforce won the $25,000 group grand prize in the Variety Category. Mark danced for the vocal trio Na Leo Pilimehana in the PBS national television broadcast of Songs of Aloha. In local television, Mark has made multiple appearances with 24-7 Danceforce on the Miss Hawaii Scholarship Pageant and has worked alongside Marcelo Pacleb in choreographing for the show.

Mark has danced for the Beverly Hills Polo Club Fashion Show, with Derek Daniels Productions for a McDonald’s contract and with KIKA Inc. in a Verizon-sponsored event. Mark continues to appear Hawaii Ballet Theater’s annual holiday production of The Nutcracker, where he has the opportunity to hone his ballet techniques. Peter Rockford Espiritu invited Mark to join in Tau Dance Theatre’s groundbreaking, world-premiere production of Hanau Ka Moku, providing profound spiritual and cultural additions to Mark’s dance journey.

Dance has taken Mark across the world, to Japan where he was the dance captain with Tokyo Disney Sea’s Mystic Rhythms, to the East and West Coasts as a dancer on the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Spirit, and now as a choreographer for Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of Aloha, Pride of America, and the Mark will be making his second trip to Germany as a choreographer to train the new entertainment crew and bring back NCL’s third ship destined for our islands, the brand new Pride of Hawaii.

Throughout Mark’s ten years of dancing, he has been fortunate to have guidance, mentorship, and training from some of Hawaii’s best known talents in the dance and theatre field. Along his journey he continues to be blessed with positive support and leadership from others who have walked the path before him. While there have been challenges along the way, Mark is inspired and encouraged to continue on his journey. With the love and support of family, friends, and his teachers, all whom have been there every step of the way with him, Mark is determined to keep on dancing and moving as he succumbs to the magic that is music.

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