Naomi Tanioka‘s face lights up as she remembers a special moment from the 2022-2023 season. She was the Greg and Barbara Storm Emerging Dancer that year.
Greg and Barbara met Naomi’s mother at a dinner for dancers and supporters in Washington, D.C., following a performance of Devon Carney’s The Nutcracker at The Kennedy Center. Naomi’s mother had travelled from Japan to see her daughter perform.
“It made my mother so happy to see the incredible support I have here in Kansas City,” Naomi says, smiling. Her mother, she explains, has always been her greatest cheerleader.
“I couldn’t have accomplished all of this without her,” Naomi says warmly. “Seeing me thrive in a place where I’m valued and belong brings her so much happiness. She’s witnessed how people like the Storms and others care for me, making me feel special as both a dancer and part of the Kansas City Ballet family.”
Fostering Excellence Through Named Dancer Funds
Named dancer funds, like the one created by the Storms during the Ballet’s recent Moving into the Future endowment campaign, play a crucial role in supporting talented Kansas City Ballet dancers. These funds also allow Artistic Director Devon Carney to maintain an outstanding company year after year.
“Just as each new season brings wonder and promise, the generosity of the Ballet’s supporters brings that same magic to audiences in Kansas City,” says Devon.
When Naomi received the Greg and Barbara Storm recognition, she hadn’t yet been cast as the lead in Carney’s Cinderella, a standout performance in the 2022-2023 season. With the Storms’ support and her casting in Cinderella, which her mother attended every show, Naomi gained well-deserved exposure.
Now, her face graces digital billboards across Kansas City as Alice in ALICE (in wonderland), promoting the Ballet’s 2024-2025 season opener, running October 11-20 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
“It’s a little startling to see your face on a billboard for the first time,” Naomi laughs, “but I’m really looking forward to sharing the joy I have for playing Alice.”
Finding a Connection with Alice’s Journey
Naomi feels deeply connected to Alice’s journey through Wonderland, a path that leaves the character more experienced and wiser by the end.
“Alice goes on this wild journey where nothing makes sense at first, but she grows into someone courageous, standing up to antagonists like the Queen of Hearts,” Naomi explains. “That personal growth gives the role so much meaning for me.”
Though Naomi’s own journey – from her hometown of Sapporo, Japan, to Kansas City Ballet – didn’t include villains like the Queen of Hearts, she admits there were moments of uncertainty. Each challenge became a lesson.
“It’s what you do with those experiences,” she reflects. “There’s always a light if you keep pushing forward and try to build on it.”
Her dance career, which took her to train at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Canada and later to dance with Ballet Arizona and Cincinnati Ballet, ultimately brought her to Kansas City Ballet in 2019. This wealth of experience makes her particularly suited to play Alice.
“There’s a lot of room for a dancer’s personality in ALICE,” says Johanna Wilt, a veteran dancer who has staged Septime Webre’s ALICE (in wonderland) since 2012. “Naomi brings her individuality to the role, and that makes audiences eager to see her perform.”
Reaching New Heights
“I’m definitely at the highest moment in my career right now,” Naomi reflects.
“I never imagined dancing one principal role after another, but now I’m more confident. And because of the support I’ve received, I can bring that joy to the stage.”
Support the Dancers
Generous supporters like you turn the wonder and promise of every season into reality by supporting the talented KC Ballet dancers who bring each production to life. By investing in perpetual funds that support dancers, you help retain some of the nation’s finest talent right here in Kansas City. Endowed funds create stability by providing a stable source of income in perpetuity, which secures the Ballet’s future.
To make a gift that is meaningful to you and has a lasting impact for Kansas City Ballet, please contact Jennifer Wampler by email at jwampler@kcballet.org or by phone at 816.216.5585.
Header Image: Naomi Tanioka headshot by Brett Pruitt & East Market Studios.
