Marisa Hamamoto
 | This article reads like a press release or a news article and may be largely based on routine coverage. (September 2020) |
Marisa Hamamoto | |
|---|---|
| Born | Japan |
| Education | Kirov Academy of Ballet, Idyllwild Arts Academy, Keio University[1] |
| Occupation(s) | Speaker, dancer, social entrepreneur |
| Organization | Infinite Flow |
| Website | www |
Marisa Hamamoto is a Japanese-American professional dancer and social entrepreneur based in California, United States. She is the founder and artistic director of Infinite Flow, a Los Angeles–based nonprofit and professional dance company composed of dancers with and without disabilities.[2][3][4]
Biography
[edit]Early life
[edit]Hamamoto was born in Aichi Prefecture, Japan,[5] and raised in Irvine, California.[6] She received her dance training from Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C., and the Idyllwild Arts Academy.[7] Later, she graduated from Keio University in Tokyo, Japan, with a BA in 2007 and MA in 2009.
In 2010, she received an apprenticeship at a ballroom dance school in Japan and returned to Southern California in 2011.[1] While taking a dance class in 2006, she was paralyzed from the neck down due to a disease called spinal cord infarction.[8] She recovered most of her mobility and walked out of the hospital two months after the diagnosis.[9] In 2014, she witnessed wheelchair dancing at the Abilities Expo in Los Angeles and became interested in the area of dance and disability. She is also a graduate of Red Bull Amphiko, a program by Red Bull supporting social entrepreneurs.[10]
Career
[edit]Hamamoto is an inclusion speaker, choreographer, and professional dancer. She has worked as an instructor and actress in Los Angeles.[5] In March 2015, she founded Infinite Flow – An Inclusive Dance Company. It is a nonprofit and professional wheelchair ballroom dance company composed of dancers with and without disabilities.[11][8] The company uses dance to inspire social inclusion and innovation.[2][1]
For dance events and shows, Hamamoto partners with Adelfo Cerame Jr., a paraplegic bodybuilder[12][13] and Piotr Iwanicki, a wheelchair dancesport world champion.[14]
Recognition
[edit]Hamamoto was recognized in 2019 by Dance-Teacher magazine for her commitment and service in the field of dance.[15] She was also a recipient of San Fernando Valley Business Journal's Women in Business Awards.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Luhar, Monica (25 November 2016). "This Wheelchair Dance Company Is 'Redefining Disability and Reinventing Inclusion'". NBC. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ a b Radford, Morgan. "Meet the woman helping wheelchair-bound people dance". Today NBC. NBC News.
- ^ "Meet the new leaders of sports business". Fast Company. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ Greenberg, Annie (12 April 2016). "You've GOT To See These Dancers In Action". Refinery29. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ a b Nakamura, Ryoko (20 May 2015). "Marisa Hamamoto, once paralyzed from the neck down, founded America's first professional wheelchair ballroom dance company". Rafu - Los Angeles Japanese Daily News.
- ^ "Wheelchair dance company to conduct workshop at UC Irvine". The Orange County Register. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ "Marisa Hamamoto". www.idyllwildartsalumni.org. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ a b Li, Johanna (7 September 2017). "Woman Opens Dance Company Where Wheelchairs Take Center Stage, Inspired by Her Own Paralysis Journey". Inside Edition. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ "An Inclusive Dance Performance You Have To See". Youtube. Strahan Sara and Keke.
- ^ Aziz, Afdhel. "The Power Of Purpose: How Red Bull Is Giving Social Entrepreneurs Wings". Forbes. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ Suh, Suzie (10 January 2019). "People making a difference". KCAL9 CBS Los Angeles. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ Corbley, McKinley (6 August 2017). "Dance Company Includes People in Wheelchairs and Busts a Beautiful Move". Good News Network. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ Traiger, Lisa. "We Will Never Stop Dancing: Physically Integrated Choreographers Speak". Dance Icons, Inc. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ "This 'wheelchair dance' company asks, 'Where's the disability?'". www.boingboing.net. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ Caldwell, Rachel. "2019 Dance Teacher Awards" (PDF). Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ "Women in Business 2015" (PDF). San Fernando Valley Business Journal. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- Living people
- People from Aichi Prefecture
- Japanese emigrants to the United States
- American people of Japanese descent
- Japanese-American culture in California
- Keio University alumni
- People from Irvine, California
- American women choreographers
- American choreographers
- Japanese choreographers
- Businesspeople from California
- Dancers from California
- American dancers of Asian descent
- American female dancers
- Japanese female dancers
- Japanese women choreographers
- 21st-century American women