About this Artist

Yumi Saito (Choreographer) began studying and performing Nihon Buyo (traditional Japanese dance) at the age of 3 under Mme. Hanayagi Rokumie. In 2002, under the training of Mme. Hanayagi Wakana, she earned her natori and was granted the professional stage name of Hanayagi Wakaseira from the Hanayagi School in Tokyo, Japan. After furthering her studies, she returned to Japan in 2006 and earned her shihan (teaching degree). She began playing taiko in 2002 with the collegiate group, Jodaiko at UC Irvine, and joined TAIKOPROJECT in 2007