Emiko Nakagawa
Tap dance artist
Height: 5’5”, Eyes: Dark Brown, Hair: Brown
Emiko Nakagawa (she/her) is a professional tap dance artist currently based in NYC. Her early training in Jazz, Tap, and Street Style began at IVY Art Square led by Miyoko Tsuta and SEIYU at the age of 4. Since the young age of 8 she was mentored by Yukiko “Smilie” Misumi, a prominent tap dance educator in Tokyo, Japan. Emiko studied at Smilie’s internationally known school, ARTN TAPDANCE STUDIO, and received superb training that focused on tap dance history, foundations, and master routines.
Through Smilie’s mentorship, Emiko was offered countless opportunities to further develop her tap dance artistry. she served as dance captain on various stages, including of ARTN Company’s solo “Legends of Tap” series 2015-2020 in Japan.
Before coming to NY, she achieved international recognition through being selected the 8th class of the Japan Tap Dance Scholarship Program in 2014, and performing at the stage “JUBA!” as one of the Japanese representatives in 2015, and also performing at The Big Apple Tap Festival 2017 in NY.
Additionally, she studied with American artists such as Dianne Walker, Michelle Dorrance, Derick K Grant, and Jared Grimes.
Emiko has had success at many international tap dance festivals. She was a winner of the cutting contest at Woodshed Experience and LA Tap Fest in 2019. In the tap dance contest “KAWASAKI TAP FESTIVAL” that she participated in from the Kids category in 2009, she won six prizes and was the champion in 2017.
After coming to NY in 2021, Emiko enrolled at Broadway Dance Center in New York City and eventually being awarded Outstanding Student in 2022. Her choreographies and performances have been shown at Vail Dance Festival, The Joyce Theater, Symphony Space and more.
Emiko is an alumnus of The School at Jacob’s Pillow 2023 and is deeply grateful to work with legendary artists: Dorrance Dance directed by Michelle Dorrance, Caleb Teicher & Company directed by Caleb Teicher, NY Tap Ensemble directed by Derick K Grant.
Stage Performances
2024
- Gold Coast Dance Festival Solo Performance (New York, U.S.)
- Vail Dance Festival Scholar in Residence Artist (Colorado. U.S.)
- Dorrance Dance “SHIFT.” at The Joyce Theater (New York. U.S.)
- Orlando Tap Festival Faculty (Orlando, U.S.)
- POP SINGS at 54 Below (New York, U.S.)
- Solo Performance at CUPA Dance Showcase (New York, U.S.)
2023
- Serene Powers Real Estate Client Appreciation Party (New York, U.S.)
- Judge Showcase at REIGN OR SHINE XV led by Eric Delgado (New York, U.S.)
- CUPA Dance Showcase (New York, U.S.)
- Sakura Spring Party (New York, U.S.)
- NY Tap Ensemble Show (New York, U.S.)
- Pianoga Pano Recital (New York, U.S.)
- Japan fes in Brooklyn (New York, U.S.)
2022
- CARNIVAL (New York, U.S.)
- X’mas Party 2022 Japan→NYC (New York, U.S.)
2021
- K-pop Festival (New York, U.S.)
- CARNIVAL (New York, U.S.)
- Douglaston Winter Festival (New York, U.S.)
- K-pop Festival Solo performance (New York, U.S.)
2020
- Legends of Tap “LOVE, SHARE & RESPECT” (Tokyo, Japan)
- Tokyo International Tap Festival (Tokyo, Japan)
- Tap dance Live ~Hideaki Anada with Friends~ (Tokyo, Japan)
2019
- Tokyo International Tap Festival (Tokyo, Japan)
2018
- Participation in “Sound of Wood ~Ki no ne” (Chiba, Japan)
- National Tap Day (Tokyo, Japan)
- Tokyo International Tap Festival (Tokyo, Japan)
- SDGs Business Events Beyond Showcase “Shinwa” (Tokyo, Japan)
- 30 STEPS MONOLOGUE (Tokyo, Japan)
- KAWASAKI TAP FESTIVAL (Kanagawa, Japan)
2017
- National Tap Day (Tokyo, Japan)
- JTSP (Japan Tapdance Scholarship Program) Thanks Live (Tokyo, Japan)
- The Big Apple Tap Festival (NY, U.S.)
- GTR Presents ~Hypnotism~ (Kanagawa, Japan)
2016
- Tokyo International Tap Festival (Tokyo, Japan)
- Legends of Tap -Passing on- (Shizuoka, Japan)
2015
- Legends of Tap ”FOOTPRINTS” (Tokyo, Japan)
- JUBA at Chicago Tap Festival (Chicago, U.S.)
Film /Commercial
2020
- Appeared A delivery drama ”SPEC Saga” (Tokyo, Japan)
- Participated in LA TAP FEST as a scholarship student (LA, U.S.)
2014
- Participated in Chicago Tap Festival as a scholarship student (Chicago, U.S.)
Commercial / Film
2020
- Appeared A delivery drama ”SPEC Saga” (Tokyo, Japan)
2018
- Participated in the commercial film for Tokyo Shoe Commerce LTD (Tokyo, Japan)
Awards and Honors
2023
- Tap Dance Performance Ensemble at Jacob’s Pillow
2022
- Broadway Dance Center New York City Outstanding Student
2019
- Champion − Cutting Contest at Woodshed Experience in Denver
- Champion − Cutting Contest at LA Tap Festival in LA
2017
- Champion − Solo contest at KAWASAKI TAP FESTIVAL
2016
- 2nd Place − Solo Contest at KAWASAKI TAP FESTIVAL
2015
- 3rd Place − Solo Contest at KAWASAKI TAP FESTIVAL
2014
- JTSP (Japan Tapdance Scholarship Program) Representation from Japan
- 2nd Prize − Solo Contest at KAWASAKI TAP FESTIVAL
2013
- 2nd Place − Solo Contest at KAWASAKI TAP FESTIVAL
2012
- 3rd Place − My Beat Contest produced by Coca-Cola
2009
- 3rd Place − Kids Solo Contest at KAWASAKI TAP FESTIVAL