2023 Princess Grace Award
Nominated by: New York City Center
Additional Grants:
2026 Special Project Grant
Naomi Funaki is an award winning tap dance artist from Tokyo, Japan, currently based in New York. She started tap dancing age seven, under the mentorship of Noboru Sato. Since moving to New York in 2016 to pursue her career in tap dance, she has performed at New York City Center, Lincoln Center, Joyce Theater, Radio City Music Hall, MET Gala, Guggenheim Museum (New York City and Spain), Vail Dance Festival, American Repertory Theater, 92nd Street Y, Guild Hall and All Arts TV, Infinity Tokyo
Naomi is a 2023 Princess Grace Award winner, a 2024–2025 Joyce Creative Residency artist, 2025-2026 92nd Street Y and CUNY Dance Initiative creative residency artist, was recognized as one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” in 2024, and was awarded 2025 Jadin Wong Fellowship for dance by Asian American Arts Alliance. She is also an alumni of The School at Jacob’s Pillow for their tap dance program of 2017
She has worked with Ayodele Casel, Caleb Teicher & Company, Music From The Sole, 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”. Currently making a full evening tap dance show “Ikigai” as a choreographer and performer
