Kanami Kusajima is a dancer, choreographer, and interdisciplinary performing artist whose work bridges contemporary dance, visual art, and public performance. Originally from Japan and now based in New York City, Kanami brings a unique artistic sensibility to Dance Parade—combining rigorous concert dance training with an adventurous spirit for creating art in public spaces.

Kanami graduated summa cum laude from SUNY Purchase College in 2020 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. At Purchase, one of the country’s premier dance conservatories, she trained as a concert dancer and performed works by influential choreographers including Martha Graham, Francesca Harper, Yoshiko Chuma, Ana Maria Lucaciu, Erin Landers, and Michelle Thompson. During her studies she performed in prestigious venues such as New York Live Arts and the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater, experiences that shaped her commitment to both artistic excellence and collaboration.

Following her graduation, Kanami began developing a distinctive interdisciplinary performance practice that merges dance and visual art. Since November 2020 she has been a regular presence in Washington Square Park, where she performs under the name “Let Hair Down.” These performances combine improvisational dance with live painting, transforming public space into a spontaneous stage where art unfolds in real time.

This project began during one of New York City’s most difficult periods, in the months following the COVID-19 lockdown. As the city slowly reopened, Kanami’s performances became a symbol of resilience and human connection—reminding audiences that art and emotional expression remain essential even in times of uncertainty. Her work quickly captured public attention and in 2021 she was featured in “No Stopping New York,” a citywide promotional campaign led by the NYC Mayor’s Office celebrating the spirit and creativity of New Yorkers as the city recovered.

Kanami’s innovative blend of movement and painting has since received significant media attention from outlets including The Guardian, The Independent, New York Magazine, Voice of America, SHOWTIME, PIX11 News, AM New York, Chelsea News, BLEUCALF, and The Villager. Her work has been presented across New York City in theaters, galleries, and performance venues including Judson Memorial Church, ChaShaMa Performance Space at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, Meta Betties Gallery at the Oculus World Trade Center, Brooklyn Art Haus, Lavan 541 in Chelsea, the Blue Building in Midtown, and the Triad Theater.

Her growing presence in the city’s art scene has led to invitations to perform at major cultural events including the Every Woman Biennial at La MaMa Galleria, Tribeca Art Show at On the Fringe, and The Westhampton Beach Project in Westhampton, NY.

In 2024 she was selected as one of six choreographers for the MADE BY WOMEN Film & Choreography Festival, presenting new work at Arts on Site in New York City. That same year she was awarded a Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grant, administered by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), recognizing her artistic contributions and ongoing creative development.

Kanami joined Dance Parade in 2023 as a member of the organization’s Curatorial Committee, helping recruit and support dance groups representing the extraordinary range of cultural traditions present in New York City. Beginning in 2026, she stepped into the leadership role of Curatorial Committee Chair and Dancer Manager, where she now oversees one of the most important artistic components of the event: the recruitment, coordination, and staging of the hundreds of dancers who bring the parade to life.

In this role Kanami leads a team of curators responsible for identifying and onboarding dance organizations from across the city and around the world. Working closely with Dance Parade’s executive and production teams, she helps shape the artistic composition of the parade by recruiting diverse dance communities, coordinating contracts and registrations, supporting participating organizations, and collaborating on the creation of the parade lineup.

Her leadership continues on Parade Day, when she serves as Dancer Manager, coordinating the staging and formation of dance groups before they step onto the parade route. Working with multiple teams of wranglers and production staff, she ensures that hundreds of performers enter the parade in the correct order while maintaining the celebratory flow that defines the event.

Kanami’s work with Dance Parade reflects her belief that dance is both an artistic discipline and a powerful form of community expression. She is particularly inspired by the organization’s mission to celebrate cultural diversity and to create a platform where dancers of every tradition—from classical forms to street styles—can share their work with the public.

Whether performing in Washington Square Park, presenting choreography in theaters and galleries, or coordinating hundreds of dancers in the streets of New York City, Kanami Kusajima approaches her work with creativity, humility, and a deep commitment to community.

Through both her artistic practice and her leadership at Dance Parade, she continues to help create spaces where movement, culture, and human connection can flourish.