Kanami Nakabayashi

Missed World Ballet Day, but here you go Photo by @sharkcookie . . . . . . #worldballetday

One month until the velvet curtain rises. My Way: A New York Cabaret is coming to life in Austin. 📍 @pershinghalleast June 4 | 8:00pm June 5 | 7:30pm & 10:00pm June 6 | 7:30pm & 10:00pm Featuring: @tylyonsgraynor @amanda_m_mullen @kanamdance @desi.from.the.block @cfullylove @ripleymay @juunniper @elainefrances @sydmann @starrfromheaven @ohhaylnaww @karson2016 @morgan.phillips77 🎟 Tickets via thepershing.com/calendar — link in bio 📸 @lookslikesergio

ARTSIT SPOTLIGHT 🌟 Kanami Nakabayashi: @kanamdance Kanami is a freelance dance artist and educator based in Austin, TX. Originally from Tokyo, Japan, Kanami started dance at the age of three while her family lived in Portland, OR for two years. After returning to Japan, she continued her training at the Tokyo Ballet School. Her growing curiosity and passion for dance led her to study abroad at the Quinte Ballet School of Canada. As Kanami studied a variety of dance styles, she fell in love with contemporary dance, which inspired her to pursue a BFA in Dance at the University of Texas at Austin. During her time at UT, she had the opportunity to work with renowned choreographers such as Sidra Bell, Abby Zbikowski, Alex Ketley, Charles O. Anderson, and Kate Watson-Wallace. Following graduation, Kanami returned to Japan, where she freelanced and performed in various dance projects. Kanami moved back to Austin in 2020 and has since performed with companies including Ventana Ballet, Red Nightfall Dance Theatre, TY&CO, Sea Legs Dance, Early Era Collective, and other amazing local choreographers. She has also served as an adjunct ballet faculty member at UT Austin. photo credit: @ashkanimage When: March 19-21, 2026 Where: @eastsideperformingarts_atx 979 Springdale Ra, Austin TX Four performances only! Thursday & Friday 7:30pm Saturday 6:30pm & 8:30pm

📣Shoutout to our favorite married dancing couple — Kanami & Connor 👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼 Kanami and Connor will be performing the RE:IMAGINED version of “Connected Roots” — the very first Spaces of Fontana dance choreographed by Artistic Director @evelyn_joy . The piece was originally created just 2 months after her own wedding, nearly 10 years ago. 💍👩‍❤️‍👨 Returning to this work a decade later feels especially meaningful — and getting to set it on a dancing married couple makes it even more special. ♥️ 💌A note from the choreographer: “It’s been a true joy to revisit a piece I created as a novice choreographer and a newlywed. Reflecting on the past ten years and setting a dance inspired by my marriage on the most dynamic dancing couple I know has been such a gift. Throughout the rehearsal process we’ve shared stories and discovered so many parallels in our relationships. Kanami and Connor have a truly beautiful partnership, and it’s a highlight of this show to celebrate that marriage through movement.” - @evelyn_joy ✨ RE:IMAGINE — A Decade of Dance 🗓 Fri, March 27, 2026 | 8:00 pm 🗓 Sat, March 28, 2026 | 4:00 pm (family-friendly show + 3:30 pm kids class) 🗓 Sat, March 28, 2026 | 8:00 pm 📍 East Side Performing Arts | Austin, TX 🧗Meet @connortimpe Connor Timpe is a freelance dancer in Austin. During the day he funds his passions by being a software engineer. His passions include being upside down, rolling on the floor, climbing rocks, and his wife Kanami. 🤸🏻‍♀️MEET @kanamdance Kanami is a freelance artist from Japan. She holds a BFA from The University of Texas at Austin, and currently works with amazing local dance companies like @performa_dance , @rednightfalldancetheatre , @tyandcodance @ventanaballet @sealegsdance , @earlyeracollective and more. She is so excited to work with Spaces of Fontana for the first time! Come witness this powerhouse couple in motion ✨ #spacesoffontana #austindance #dancingcouples #REIMAGINE ATXarts

SOFT SPOT 💜 Created in 2018 as a reflection of an endometriosis journey, the power vulnerability and beauty of the feminine genius 🌸 Come see our recreated SOFT SPOT at RE:IMAGINED 💛 March 27-28th @eastsideperformingarts_atx 🍎Originally performed in NYC @queensborodancefestival @whitewave_dance @queenstheatre @hunterspointshipyardartists 👯‍♀️Original Dancers @lea.torelli @nycerke @madimcgain @kristinabertha @isabelerosso @jamisongoodnight @kcole38 @evelyn_joy 🎸Austin Dancers @bradimckae @laneysphillips @nicoledugdale1205 @kanamdance 🎫 in bio & spacesoffontana.com #reimagine #femininity #spacesoffontana

Looking back at @254_dance_fest to share a few special moments from “The Way of Light.” Always a gift to share dances inspired by the rich history of modern dance, in the breath, weight, and humanity passed down through generations. Captured by @nbrackenphotography Dancers: @_rachelculver @tylyonsgraynor @kanamdance ✨

Snippets of 2025 And so many memories uncaptured Performance photo credits @vvilmstock @lookslikesergio @austinburlesque Shafkat Anowar @tyandcodance @ventanaballet #2025

Wow what a year. 2025 was such a rollercoaster. I had the privilege to work with so many different incredible artists and had the opportunity to perform in uniquely amazing shows in 2025. It was physically and emotionally challenging but such a rewarding year. So many things have happened, good and not so good, as always. This year was all about relationship and support of my community, my dear friends, and family. It was a rocky year, but through that, I've learned what I want to keep, what I want to improve and what I need to say goodbye to. And what I want dance to be for myself. Always thank you to my partner in crime @connortimpe for helping me through the rough times with love, silliness and logical thinking. And thank you to everyone who was in my life this year. I couldn't have done it without the unconditional love and support from my family, friends, and the community and I'm forever grateful for the people I have around me. Start close in. That's how this year started. I think I can step into the next year with a slightly better sense of myself. Thank you 2025. You were a wild one. Cheers to 2026! Photo by Shafkat Anowar from Agora Artist Mini Movement Fest Captured in the moment of the work by @tyandcodance "What Remains"

Happy Birthday to our founding artist and forever force @kanamdance ✨ From classical to cabaret, Kanami has shaped the soul of this company since day one. Her discipline, artistry, and generosity continue to ground and elevate every space she enters, and every world we create. We celebrate you today and always 🤍 📸 @tlgph @vvilmstock @lookslikesergio & Shafkat Anowar

🍸Carpe Noctem is BACK🍸 Grateful that dance lets me be many things at once. Excited to be back at Pershing Hall this weekend✨️ Carpe Noctem Cabaret November 21–23 🎟️ Tickets in bio @tyandcodance 📸@vvilmstock @lookslikesergio

Fractured Dawn, Nov 14th -16th. A story of Love and Power, told through dance, live music, verse, and film. Use code FRIEND for 10% off tickets. Red Nightfall Dance Theatre continues its evolution as a home for mythic performance. We are thrilled to be collaborating once again with our friends at Density512, a chamber orchestra and collective of brave, open-minded musicians who champion contemporary programming. The CRONE universe moves forward into a new chapter, where love meets power, and harmony clashes with ambition. Link in bio for tickets Choreography: @dorothyosheaoverbey Dancers: @tylyonsgraynor @kanamdance @_rachelculver @elainefrances @meganm.maria @tikiri_shapiro @claymoor3 @jessica.siclari Music by our friends @density512 ♥️ Poetry by @davidburnswrites Costumes by Robby Durand of @emmasisdesigns ♥️ Light and Sound by @doghouse_productionsatx Bar by @chapter.tx /FD?utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fractured_dawn_25&utm_content=bio_link

Our three final Gently, She Wakes cast members are Mia, Kanami, and Cellise! Mia has been an Early Era mainstay since her first production in 2019. This is Kanami’s third show with us, and Cellise’s first! We asked the dancers, what does ‘femininity’ mean to you? “To me, femininity means the ability and the freedom for women to choose how to express, present, and behave themselves.” -Mia Mia Moi is a freelance dance artist, performing with various local companies, and is the Executive Director of Dance Waterloo, an organization whose mission is to make dance accessible and affordable to all abilities. “I’m still searching for what femininity means to me, but for now, I think it’s an ocean: vast, persevering, and open, capable of holding a lot of things.” -Kanami Kanami Nakabayashi is a freelance dance artist and dance teacher in Austin, TX. Originally from Tokyo, Japan, she has studied dance around the world and holds a BFA in dance from UT Austin. “Femininity to me is the ability to embrace the full spectrum of who I am, without fitting into a single mold.” -Cellise Cellise Brown is a dancer and educator from Houston, TX. She earned her BFA in Dance and Education from UT Austin, and is a versatile professional dancer in the Austin dance community. Gently, She Wakes is this October 2-4, at KMFA Studio. Grab your tix today through the link in our bio!🎟️ Gently, She Wakes is supported, in part, by the City of Austin Economic Development Department, East Side Performing Arts, and Beverly Bajema. Photos by @bysarahannie . Costumes by @starrfromheaven . . . . #earlyeracollective #earlyera #gentlyshewakes #do512 #512dance #austintx #austindancescene #atxdance #dance #feminine #femininity #empowerment #embodiment #contemporarydance #danceperformance #multiformdancers #movers #professionaldance #expression #choreographers #choreography #healingjourney #choice #resilience #empathy #mystory #movementartist #belonging #humanspirit #artists