How do you go beyond checking boxes?
Unconscious bias awareness, cultural competency, privilege & allyship, etc… These are important topics, but if the mind is not ready to receive, or simply put it if people don’t care and their hearts are not there, this valuable information won’t stick.
So, How can we make DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility) training engaging and effective? How can we create a culture where people feel free to express themselves and be accepted for who they are, so they don’t leave? And how do we approach DEIA leadership without burning out?
The Secret: It starts with moving hearts.
Step 1: Move Hearts
Introduce DEIA in a way that it speaks to hearts, don’t just talk about it. My dance company Infinite Flow’s dance performances - a show by disabled and non-disabled artists with diverse intersectional identities, can be one way to approach this. Infinite Flow’s Sizzle Reel
Step 2: Move Bodies
Guide your people to discover authentic full-body self-expression. Guide them to connect with one another, human to human, heart to heart. There is much scientific evidence that dance and movement lead to increased self-confidence, creative thinking, and connection.
Step 3: Move Minds
Now that hearts and bodies have been moved, it’s time to move the mind and dive deeper into DEIA topics. When heart, body, and mind work in synergy, people not only become receptive to learning, they take actionable change.
I design heart-centered learning experiences and keynote presentations that accelerate inclusivity and employee engagement.
What People Are Saying
“Stole our hearts and helped inspire us to be intentional.”
Executive,
Farmers Insurance
“Inclusion at its finest.”
DEI Senior Leader,
Kaiser Permanente
“See inclusion in action.”
DEI Senior Leader,
International Monetary Fund
some BRANDS I’VE WOrked WITH
Hi, I’m Marisa Hamamoto.
As a 4th generation Japanese American female stroke survivor with an two invisible disabilities (PTSD, Autism Level 1), I know first-hand what it feels like to not belong. In America, I’m not American enough, but in Japan, I’m not Japanese enough. Because my disability is invisible, I’m not disabled enough. And as a dancer, I’ve been told on multiple occasions that my body and ethnicity don’t fit the role. Does this sound familiar?
Out of this lifelong struggle of not fitting the box, and experiencing various degrees of racism, ableism, and sexism along the way, came the gift of accidentally becoming a DEIA leader through my work at Infinite Flow, an award-winning nonprofit dance company that employs disabled artists with diverse intersectional identities. Since 2015, I’ve led Infinite Flow to perform at 180+ events; we track millions of video views on social media; I’ve been recognized across mainstream media, have worked with several mainstream brands, and have led many impactful educational and community initiatives.
My journey as a DEIA leader has been a journey of learning, unlearning, and relearning. Trust me, I understand the pressure, overwhelm, and burnout that can come with being a leader.
There is much scientific evidence that dance and movement lead to increased self-confidence, creative thinking, and connection. After teaching dance to thousands of everyday people of all walks of life, one thing I know for sure is dance and movement is a powerful catalyst for personal, professional, and community transformation.
I would be honored to work with you and your company as well. My programs serve to kickstart or supplement DEIA and all other learning objectives.
My Services
All services are offered both in-person and virtually. Contact for more info.
Learning Experiences:
From 3-hour workshops to 3-day retreats and 30-day challenges, we will design a customized & co-led learning experience that accelerates inclusivity, employee engagement, and creative thinking. The learning experiences will include:
Moving Hearts - Dance performances & storytelling by Infinite Flow Dance.
Moving Bodies - Metamorphic movement adventures that cultivate self-expression, connection, and teamwork.
Moving Minds - Workshops on DEI topics, innovation, accessibility, etc.
Keynote Presentations:
Spark your employees to lead with purpose, collaborate with heart, and cultivate spaces of belonging, while adding a layer of creativity to your DEI training. My keynote presentations are generally 30-90 minutes, and are a great way to kick-off conferences and leadership summits. Like my learning experiences, the keynote presentations will be customized and will include all 3 ingredients of moving hearts, moving bodies, and moving minds. View my keynote speaking reel for a taste.
Disability Awareness Panels:
Whether it’s on the topic of accessibility, intersectionality, or creating inclusion at work, we produce unforgettable storytelling-based panel discussions that increase empathy and and connection at work and beyond.
Partnerships:
Bring inclusivity to your communities, schools, and beyond through partnering with Infinite Flow.
Consultation:
My area of expertise include: disability inclusion, inclusive language, accessibility 101, leveraging dance, movement, and inclusivity into your marketing strategy and campaigns.
Content Collab:
We love collaborative challenges. Bring the spirit of inclusion and belonging to life in your content strategy and marketing through working with us.
More From Our Clients
"I recently approached Marisa for consultation on inclusive language around disability. With all her experience creating innovative work with Infinite Flow Dance, I knew she would be able to guide me in the right direction. Her insights were incredibly helpful, and I learned so much from her expertise. Marisa was a kind, thoughtful, non-judging partner as I navigated our approach on this topic."
C-Suite Executive, TOMS
"Marisa's passion for dancing and her story of overcoming challenges helped us set the right mindset for achieving our mission for the year ahead. Marisa and Infinite Flow is a true example of reminding us all that anything is possible."
SVP, Red Bull Distribution
“Guaranteed to bust apart negative stereotypes and stigma about disability in the most fun, soulful, and artistic way possible.”
Senior Leader, NBCUniversal
Marisa Hamamoto (bio)
Marisa Hamamoto is the first professional dancer named People Magazine “Women Changing the World.” A leading authority on resilience, overcoming adversity, wellness, disability inclusion, the Asian American experience, and changemaking, Marisa is a LinkedIn Top Voice, and has been featured on Good Morning America, NBC Today, Forbes, Fast Company, among 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, Ford Motors, 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 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, on merit-based scholarships and fellowships, and is an Honorary Member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science.
