About me

Lani Yamanaka is a fourth-generation Japanese American artist blending contemporary dance, martial arts, and movement storytelling across stage and screen. She began her training in Judo and Dance and graduated from UC Irvine with dual Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Dance Performance and Choreography. A mover, educator, and choreographic collaborator, she’s equally at home on stage, in rehearsal, or helping someone break their fall on the mat.

As a storyteller and collaborator, she has performed works by the late Donald McKayle, JA Collective, Jodie Gates, Jennifer White, Bryan Arias, Edward Clug, Yin Yue, Daniel Ezralow, Alba Castillo, Kate Weare, Kat Burns, Mia J. Chong, Yayoi Kambara, Shanda Sawyer, et al, and on tour with Basement Jaxx.

As a company member, she’s danced with Akram Khan Company in Jungle Book Reimagined, Father: Vision of the Floating World and Dragon Spring Phoenix Rise, SF Danceworks, EightMoves, ODC Dance, and Entity Contemporary Dance.

She’s also made her mark on screen — catch her in Netflix’s MOVE, dancing through lockdown in Bangladesh, or spot her on The Sympathizer (HBO) and Interior Chinatown (Hulu).

Beyond the stage, Lani is passionate about educating future movement artists. As a certified personal trainer (NASM) she has collaborated with DancePrehab, emphasizing injury prevention and wellness, carrying these principles into all her teaching—whether in dance, personal training, or martial arts. Lani strives to instill safe, sustainable movement practices that support long-term health and performance.

Lani is trained in contemporary, ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, improvisation, contemporary partnering, classical partnering, and various martial art forms. Currently, Lani is touring as Mowgli in Akram Khan's Jungle Book Reimagined. In her limited free time, she is working towards her next black belt degree in Judo.