Profile / Biography

REONA is a Tokyo-based sound artist, performing artist, tap dancer, improviser, composer, choreographer and designer. Born in Tokyo in 1989, she began tap dancing at the age of four and has developed tap dance into a distinctive artistic practice spanning sound, movement, improvisation and contemporary performance.

She approaches tap dance as a form of musical expression, using tap shoes and wooden boards alongside metal sheets, chains, steel bowls, plastic bags, loudspeakers and other objects to create rhythmic, textural and spatial sound. She uses the physical act of tap dancing as a way of composing and performing sound in real time, while incorporating objects and the acoustic qualities of each space into her work.

Her work moves between radical improvisation, noise, contemporary performance and free jazz, exploring the relationships between movement, sound, rhythm, objects and space. Her performances take various forms, including solo works, improvised collaborations, concerts, interdisciplinary projects and site-specific performances.

REONA has collaborated with musicians, dancers, visual artists and performers in Japan and internationally, presenting work across Asia, Europe and North America. Her selected international credits include Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival (U.S.A.), THE MARS PROJECT in Toronto (Canada), presented by Fall for Dance North, THE MARS PROJECT in Montreal (Canada), presented by Danse Danse at Place des Arts, Festival Akouphene in Geneva (Switzerland), and Milano Re-Mapped Summer Festival at Pirelli HangarBicocca in Milan (Italy). She has also performed at Tokyo International Tap Festival and Yokohama Jazz Promenade, alongside numerous performances and tours in Japan, the United States and Europe.

Her performance practice extends beyond conventional stages. She has performed in operating factories, family amusement parks and streetcars, as well as theaters, galleries, museums, festivals, clubs, warehouses and alternative spaces, responding to the sound, structure and atmosphere of each environment.

Alongside performing, REONA works as a teacher, choreographer and designer. She offers both tap dance-focused workshops and workshops exploring tap dance through rhythm, sound, improvisation and physical expression. Her workshops can be adapted for dancers, musicians, performers and participants with different levels of experience.

Rooted in tap dance but extending beyond its conventional boundaries, REONA creates work at the intersection of sound, movement, rhythm, objects and space, working across contemporary performance, sound art, improvisation and interdisciplinary practice.

2026

Invited and performance in "Milano Re-Mapped Summer Festival 2026" at Pirelli HangarBicocca Milano, (ITALIA)

South west Japan tour, 14 shows, 4 workshops (JAPAN)

U.S East codst tour, 21 shows (U.S.A)

2025

Invited and performance in “THE MARS PROJECT” Montreal. Organized by Danse Danse, Venue is Place des Arts. (CANADA)

Invited and performance in 'Akouphon festival' Geneve (Switzerland)

Solo Eupope Tour, 9 concerts (Germany, Italy, Switzerland and more)

Solo NYC Tour. 6 concerrts. (U.S.A)

Released a gig's video “Reona x Yoshinori Motoki"

2024

Released a session video "Reona in Akama sheet metal works".

Solo performed at Koenji Tap Festival (JAPAN)

Solo Taiwan tour. 8 gigs, 2 workshops. (TAIWAN)

Invited to perform in “THE MARS PROJECT” Toronto. Organized by Fall For Dance North, Venue is Alumnae Theatre (CANADA)

Performed at Yokohama Jazz Promenade with Fumio Itabashi Orchestra (JAPAN)

Performed at Atami Mirai Music Festival 2024 “Hentekonaru Umikaze (JAPAN)

2023

Performed at Nippon Budokan ReoNa "Pilgrim" (JAPAN)

Leader trio "TohTou" 1st Album "To" 2nd Album "U" 2 albums released simultaneously.

Performed at Tokyo Nerima Art Museum GIGANOISEvol.112 DOMMUNE Special NOISE University Opening Project (JAPAN)

2022

Released a session video "Reona in Orihara Ironworks".

ReoNa "Shall We Dance?" (SONY MUSIC) Tap dance choreography, instruction, and music video performance. (JAPAN)

WORKSHOP at Tokyo, Sapporo, Kyoto (JAPAN)

TohTou [Reona, Fumio Itabashi(pf), Takashi Seo(b)] Tour 18 places (JAPAN)

Yokohama Jazz Promenade Fumio Itabashi Orchestra" at Yokohama Kannai Hall (JAPAN)

81 live concerts

2021

Released a session video "Reona and Shoshiba Seisakusho" with a press working factory.

WORKSHOP at Tokyo, Sapporo, Kyoto (Japan)

Hokutopia Canaria Hall Tokyo, Kitaku Children's Theater [Children's Live House]. (JAPAN)

66 live performances

2020

TohTou [Reona, Fumio Itabashi(p)Takashi Seo(b)] Tour 17 places (JAPAN)

CD Fumio Itabashi FIT! jacket art production and design

CD Takashi Seo "Wind Dance" jacket art production and design

82 live performances

2019

Leader CD Album "Reona Eiichi Hayashi(saxophone) Takashi Seo(contrabass) + Daisuke Takaoka(tuba) Composition, jacket art production and design for "LIVE AT SOTO" released

WORKSHOP Seoul, Tokyo, Sapporo, Nagoya (Korea, Japan)

"JUST HOOFS" (Live performance by 5 tap dancers with tap sound only) Organizer, director, choreographer, and performer. (Japan)

Performed at the "JAZZ ART Sengawa 2019" (JAPAN)

100 live performances

2018

Hokkaido Literature Center "To the Descendants of Cain" (original story by Takeo Arishima) Adaptation, Direction, Performance: Tomoyuki Shibata (Physical Expression) / Music: Takashi Seo and Reona (JAPAN)

WORK SHOP Tokyo, Sapporo, Oita, Kumamoto, Osaka (JAPAN)

92 live performances

2017

Performed in Jacob's Pillow Dance's show "TIRELESS" with Takashi Seo(b). Curated by Michelle Dorrance. Cooperated by JAPAN FOUNDATION. (USA)

Participated in CD "Fumio Itabashi Orchestra FUMIO69". Also, in charge of jacket art and design.

WORKSHOP Tokyo, Sapporo, Okinawa, Kushiro, Kyoto, Takahama, Fukui (JAPAN)

82 live performances

2016

Featured in "The Future of Young Performers" in "SANZUI" published by Geidankyo.

CD "Itabashi Fumio + Yui Utabumi" jacket art production and design

WORKSHOP Tokyo and Sapporo (JAPAN)

Nationwide tour 30 places "Fumio Itabashi FIT!+3 Mirukuyu".

Participated in CD "Alligator Dance 2016". Also, in charge of jacket art production and design.

80 live performances

(give birth of child)

2015

NEW BALANCE CW620 "Motion Emotion" Sneakers born from the sessions of Chie Morimoto,(art director) Seitaro Kuroda(painter), Tatsuya Nakamura(drumer) and Reona is sale.

WORK SHOP at DANCE WORKS in Taiwan and 11 other locations in Japan.

Performed at the Music Cafe Concerto Live Vol. 2" at Ishikawa Ongakudo.

Participated in CD "Fumio Itabashi FIT! +3 Mirukuyu".

Performed 154 live concerts

2014

Appearance in ONWARD "Kumikyoku" 2014SS concept movie. Masakatsu Takagi x Reona. (JAPAN)

Performed at the "Downtown Dance Festival" NYC battery park (USA)

Jacob's Pillow Dance "Tap Program" Scholarship Student (USA)

WORKSHOP at Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (Hong Kong) and 4 other locations in Japan

Yokohama Kannai Hall "Yokohama Jazz Promenade" Fumio Itabashi Orchestra (JAPAN)

107 live concerts

2013

performed with the "Reona Trio" at the "Tokyo Internatinal Tap Festival" (JAPAN)

2012

Choreographed and performed with the opening act at the "Tokyo Internatinal Tap Festival" (JAPAN)

Choreographed, teach, and performed with the Young Ensemble at the "National Tap Day", a tap dance festival. (JAPAN)

Solo performed at the "Hakuhinkan Tap Festival" (JAPAN)

Solo performed at the "Kawasaki Tap Festival" (JAPAN)

2010

Choreographed, teach, and performed with the Young Hoofer's at the "Tokyo Internatinal Tap Festival" (JAPAN)

Solo performed at the "Kawasaki Tap Festival" (JAPAN)

performed with the Nabe Gumi at the "National Tap Day", a tap dance festival. (JAPAN)

2009

Los Angeles TAP FESTIVAL scholarship student (USA)

Los Angeles TAP FESTIVAL cutting contest winner (USA)

Choreographed, teach, and performed with the Young Hoofer's at the "Tokyo Internatinal Tap Festival" (JAPAN)

2008

Graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan Kogei High School, Machine Craft Department. (JAPAN)

CHICAGO TAP FESTIVAL “Human Rhythm Project” scholarship student (USA)

CHICAGO TAP FESTIVAL “Human Rhythm Project” cutting contest winner (USA)

2007

Started Solo Tap dance Performance and Teaching.

1993

Started Tap dance.

1991

First performance on stage.

1989

Born