Seeking to transform your company, community, or yourself?
Hi, I’m Marisa. I’m a stroke survivor and late-diagnosed autistic turned changemaker, passionate about designing unforgettable experiences that cultivate inclusion and belonging, with a specialty in disability inclusion and personal and cultural transformation. Watch my 4-minute story & speaking reel:
From a blank slate with no seed money, I created Infinite Flow Dance, an award-winning nonprofit dance company that employs disabled and nondisabled dancers with diverse intersectional identities with a mission to use dance as a catalyst to dismantle biases and foster inclusion.
I dance many roles: Transformational Speaker, Creative Director, Performer, Changemaker, Community Experience Designer, Inclusion & Accessibility Advisor, Choreographer, Producer, Asian American Voice, Professional Ballroom & Salsa Dancer, Writer, Movement Mindfulness Workshop Facilitator, Storyteller, Nonprofit Founder & Leader, Pandemic Born Artistic Roller Skater…
The common denominator in my work: I creatively inspire inclusion, innovation, and transformation through movement, dance, and storytelling. I’ve partnered with some of the biggest brands in the world, including Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Red Bull, adidas, LinkedIn, Kaiser Permanente, amongst others, and my work has been featured and recognized by People Magazine, Good Morning America, and NBC Today. Check out my Portfolio and Press.
With technology at our fingertips leading to a growing sedentary lifestyle, moving our bodies with intention and joy is more important than ever. I believe movement is the gateway to connecting to our wisdom within, awakening to our untapped potential, solving problems, and taking meaningful action.
My mantra
Be You. Be Open. Be the Change. Be Infinite.
Be you
Self-expression is one of the best practices of self-care. Own your identity, uniqueness, and strengths, and unapologetically share them with others.
Be open
Never underestimate the impact of one new connection or one new experience. Move out of the box, get out of your comfort zone, and step into the unknown.
Be the change
When in doubt, focus out. How can you use the skills and experiences you have right now to make a difference RIGHT NOW?
Be infinite
Let faith guide you to your highest potential, limitless possibilities, and extraordinary dreams.
Bio
Marisa Hamamoto is the first professional dancer named People Magazine “Women Changing the World.” A leading authority on mental wellness, disability inclusion, Asian American experience, building a culture of belonging, and changemaking, Marisa is a LinkedIn Top Voice, and has been featured on Good Morning America, NBC Today, Forbes, Fast Company, amongst other media outlets. As a sought-after international speaker, performing artist, and creative director, Marisa has been a speaker at the United Nations, shared the stage with Tim Cook at Apple HQ’s Steve Jobs Theater, and her clients and partners include Google, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Red Bull, Deloitte, adidas, PayPal, Farmers Insurance, Kaiser Permanente, among other forward-thinking brands. Marisa is a spinal stroke survivor, a late-diagnosed Autistic, and a proud fourth-generation Japanese American. She is the founder of Infinite Flow Dance, an award-winning dance company and nonprofit that employs disabled and nondisabled dancers with diverse, intersectional identities, with a mission to advance disability inclusion, one dance at a time. Marisa is bilingual and bicultural. She completed her BA & MA from Keio University, Tokyo, and is an Honorary Member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science. Most recently, she was a Finalist for Best Film for the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge 2025 - Film: "Killed It."
Awards & Recognition
NBCUniversal Creative Impact Lab | 2025
Easterseals Disability Film Challenge Finalist “Best Film” | 2025
LinkedIn Top Voice | 2024
Dance Innovator Award - Dancing Classrooms NYC Gala | 2023
LinkedIn Creator Accelerator | 2022
Une Femme Wines Hall of Femme | 2022
People Magazine “Women Changing the World” | 2021
InStyle Magazine “Badass 50” | 2021
Center for Asian Pacific American Women - sHero Award | 2021
International Association for Dance Medicine and Science - Honorary Member | 2021
California Arts Council - Individual Artist Fellow | 2021
adidas “Women Reimagining Sport” | 2020
CBS “People Making a Difference” | 2018
4.0 Schools Tiny Fellow | 2019
UCLA Anderson School of Management Impactathon “Best Project in Inclusion” | 2019
Dance Teacher Magazine Dance Teacher Award | 2019
Facebook Community Leadership Program Fellow | 2018
McCallum Theatre Choreography Festival Finalist (Choreographer: Gary Franco) | 2019
Social Venture Partners Los Angeles Systems Change Accelerator Fellow | 2019
Dance Teacher Magazine Video of the Month | 2019
Facebook Oculus VR for Good Nonprofit - Meta | 2017
Red Bull Amaphiko Social Entrepreneur | 2017
Dance/USA Institute of Leadership Training Mentee | 2017
Dance Teacher Magazine Video of the Month | 2017
United Chambers of Commerce Inspirational Woman | 2017
Newcomer of the Year - San Fernando Valley Business Journal Women in Business | 2015
Professional Ballroom Dance Instructor Certification - Japan Ballroom Dance Federation | 2010
Fukuzawa Yukichi Bunmeijuku Fellow | 2010
Tokyo Foundation Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellow (SYLFF) | 2007
Keio University SFC Best Senior Thesis | 2007
Keio University SFC Award | 2007
Co-Chair, Student Committee, International Association for Dance Medicine & Science | 2006-2009
