NAOMI
FUNAKI:
IKIGAI

Naomi develops an in-process work Ikigai, an evening-length work exploring the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, tsunami, and Fukushima nuclear disaster through tap dance, live music, and storytelling. Drawing inspiration from her personal experience and that of her family and friends, Funaki reflects on themes of resilience, loss, and connection. The performance is a rhythm-driven exploration of the emotional and cultural impact of one of Japan’s most devastating tragedies. This presentation brings together a diverse cast of tap dancers, movement artists, and vocalists, underscoring tap’s power as a medium for storytelling and cross-cultural dialogue around cultural resilience in the face of catastrophic events.

Ikigai was commissioned and created, in part, with the support of Works & Process Residency Tino & Rajika Puri Creative Residency and The Joyce Theater Foundation’s Creative Residencies Program made possible by lead funding from TD Charitable Foundation. Additional support provided through residencies at 92NY, CUNY Dance Initiative at Hunter College, Guild Hall of East Hampton, and an Asian American Arts Alliance Jadin Wong Fellowship.

Meet the Company

Upcoming Performances

  • Works & Process: Uptown Rhythm Dance Festival

    Sunday March 8th, 7:00-8:15PM

    Guggenheim New York

    more info
  • Four performers dancing and singing on stage with a purple gradient backdrop, with a keyboard player in the background wearing a red and green hat.
  • A young woman standing on stage during a performance, wearing a striped shirt and loose, polka-dot pants, with a band playing instruments behind her.
  • Person playing Yamaha keyboard on stage with vibrant pink background, wearing a colorful knit hat and casual clothing.
  • Two performers on stage, one man with glasses, curly hair, and a colorful shirt giving a thumbs up, and one woman with long dark hair, wearing striped shirt and polka dot pants, standing with arms raised. Two musicians are in the background playing instruments.
  • A man performing a breakdancing move on a dark stage with colorful purple and blue lighting.
  • Person with blonde hair, black glasses, wearing a black sheer top and baggy cargo pants, performing on a stage with a purple background, surrounded by shredded paper on the floor.
  • A person with glasses and curly hair stands on stage under pink and purple lighting, wearing a sequined shirt, black pants, and white shoes, with two musicians playing instruments in the background.
  • A young girl smiling and laughing, wearing a pink and white striped shirt and white pants with red polka dots, against a purple background.
  • A group of five people on stage, four kneeling or standing and one sitting behind musical instruments, with two people at the keyboard and drum set on the right, a person with a red hat playing keyboard, and the others in patterned clothing, possibly rehearsing or performing.