Born September 18, 1954 in Vancouver, Canada, Kawahara is of Japanese ancestry and lives in California. Her father is Hideo Kawahara (1920/1921-2011).[1] She married actor Jamie Alcroft. They have three children together: Alysse Alcroft, Hayley Kiyoko Alcroft and Thatcher Alcroft.[2]
Career
Kawahara was coached by Osborne Colson.[3] She joined the Ice Capades at age 17 and skated with them for seven years. In 1997, she became the first skater to win the Best Choreography Emmy Award, receiving the award for Scott Hamilton Upside Down. She won her second Emmy in 2002 for choreographing the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Kawahara has choreographed for numerous competitive skaters, including synchronized skaters.[4] She was a coach and choreographer for the film I, Tonya[5][6] and for the television series Spinning Out.[7]
