coco Ayumi

coco Ayumi is a cross-cultural dance artist and founder of Ethno-Exotica, a conceptual and performative framework that explores identity, heritage, and human connection through movement. Born in Japan and raised between Jordan and Canada, her work is shaped by lived experiences of migration, multiculturalism, and nonverbal communication.

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Her research into the migratory histories of the Romani people led her to Northwestern India, where she undertook formal and informal study of indigenous dance, music, yoga, and Ayurveda. Since 2005, she has focused on Rajasthani traditional arts and developed long-term collaborations with artists including DHOAD Gypsies of Rajasthan.

 

Beyond performance, her work operates within cultural diplomacy and artist support. She has organized international tours, including bringing Padma Shri Gulabo Sapera ji to Japan, and has contributed to sustaining traditional art forms through production, education, and logistical leadership. Her practice emphasizes ethical cultural exchange, artistic integrity, and the empowerment of traditional artists in global contexts.

 

Now based in Tours (France) she continues to develop projects that connect communities across borders, using dance as a medium for dialogue, preservation, and shared human experience.