Yuka Kameda is a New York City based tap dancer and educator. She started tap dancing at the age of 10 in Osaka, Japan.
In 2005, Yuka moved to New York City to pursue her career. She became a member of Mable Lee's Dancing Ladies and has performed in the New York Tap Extravaganza and the New York City Tap Festival. She was also a member of Sophisticated Ladies, choreographed by Dormeshia, and performed weekly at the world-famous Cotton Club for three- and-a-half years. Yuka has performed at venues such as the Blue Note, Birdland, Bryant Park, and Levon Helm Studios as a solo tap dancer. She has also performed as a solo tap dancer at South by Southwest (SXSW), one of the world's biggest film, interactive media, and music festivals. Additionally, she was a member of Tapestry, a professional repertory tap dance company based in Austin, Texas. Yuka is a recent graduate of the CUNY Graduate Center, where she majored in Music Performance and Dance. Yuka studied closely under the mentorship of Ryan Keberle, hailed in the Jazz Times International Critics Poll as the #1 Trombonist, a player "of vision and composer" according to The New York Times. She believes extensively studying music helps her become a better musician/tap dancer. Yuka also started a band called "Secret Drive" with a veteran pianist, Chris Swan in April 2024. Secret Drive is becoming a crowd favorite on the New York City music scene with their original blend of swing, funk, and R&B as they packed the world-famous Arthur's Tavern for both the 1st and 2ns set for their debut show on April 18th, 2024. Yuka currently works at Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, and Mark Morris Dance Center as a dedicated teacher. Yuka’s highlights include performing for the Colbert Report and performing at Jazz at Lincoln Center orchestrated by Wynton Marsalis with choreography by Jared Grimes. |