YUKIKO ”Smilie" MISUMI PROFILE
Yukiko "Smilie" Misumi
Tap dancer, Choreographer, Teacher and Director of ARTN TAP DANCE STUDIO and ARTN Company, ARTN Youth Company.
ITA Japan Representative
Founder of Japan Tap Dance Scholarship Program.
BASEMENT Tap shoes Advisor.
She is one of leader of Japanese tap community. She also promotes international cultural exchange through tap dancing.
Started Tap under Kuniyasu Kato(Tokyo) in 1985.
And since 1986 She studied in NY under the great tap master –Dr.Henry Le Tang and he named her "Smilie".
And late1980's she studied rhythm tap under Brenda Bafalino.
Later she has studied with many great tap master. Especially she has been affected by Dr.Jimmy Slyde and Dianne Walker.
In Japan, she was a soloist of Jam Tap Dance Company (Kuniyasu Kato /Founder and artistic director) where she was a dance captain, choreographer and assistant to stage director.
In 1993, 1996, 2004 and 2006, she co-starred with Dr. Jimmy Slyde at the company's performance.
She performed and taught all over Japan and Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Barcelona and US (NY,CHICAGO, Minnesota ,Boston,Texas and Hawaii)
ARTN Company also performed in Chicago Tap Festival 2012 and Taipei Tap Festival 2014
Since 2009 She Co-produced Tokyo International Tap Festival.