Naomi Funaki is an award-winning tap dance artist from Tokyo, Japan, currently living in New York City. Since moving to New York in 2016 to pursue her career in tap dance, she has performed at New York City Center, Lincoln Center, The Joyce Theater, Radio City Music Hall, MET Gala, The Guggenheim Museum (New York City and Spain), Vail Dance Festival, and All Arts TV. Naomi is a 2023 Princess Grace Award winner, a 2024–2025 Joyce Creative Residency artist, the recipient of the 2025 Jadin Wong Fellowship, and was recognized as one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” in 2024. She has worked with Ayodele Casel, Caleb Teicher & Company, Music From The Sole, and Dorrance Dance. Choreography credits include Ayodele Casel’s “Artists at the Center” at New York City Center, associate choreographer of “Diary of a Tap Dancer” at The American Repertory Theatre, assistant choreographer for “Bzzz” at The Joyce Theater, and assistant tap choreographer for New York City Center’s Encores! “Wonderful Town”.
Photo: Ryoko Konami