Biography of Naomi Hotta
Naomi Hotta

Naomi Hotta

Naomi was born in the United States. At the age of 11, she and her family moved to Tokyo. Always active, she started her Rhythmic Sports Gymnastics training which developed her extensive dance techniques and flexibility. Five years later, she joined her university's flamenco dance troupe, where she realized her passion for Latin music and dance. Encountering salsa, her dance career took off.

In 2001, in recognition of her extraordinary talent for salsa, Naomi was invited to join the world-renowned Los Angeles-based Salsa Brava Dance Company. Salsa Brava led Naomi to a series of teachings and performances around the world, including Puerto Rico, Korea, Switzerland, and Japan. She has also won numerous salsa competitions in Los Angeles.

Naomi was exposed to Argentine Tango while teaching salsa, swing, and ballroom dance classes at Southern California's West Los Angeles and Harbor Colleges. Her attraction to Argentine Tango was instantaneous. In 2004, in order to further her tango abilities, she traveled to Buenos Aires, the Mecca of tango, where she spent 5 months in rigorous training and nightly milonga dancing. There she attained top-caliber techniques and absorbed the essence of tango. Her great maestros included Jorge Dispari, Carlos Perez, Fabian Peralta & Virginia Pandolfi, Francisco Forquera and Carolina Bonaventura, alongside numerous milongueros. She competed in the Second World Tango Competition Salon Category, where she surpassed more than 280 couples, ranking in the top 20 of the world. Since 2004, she has been periodically returning to Buenos Aires to maintain and further her tango skills and expression.

Naomi's love, passion, and devotion for the dance is everlasting. She teaches and performs on a regular basis in Los Angeles as well as in other cities around the world. Her fluidity and grace are second to none. She strives to continuously explore and evolve as a dancer. Naomi's goal is to one day become an old milonguera, expressing her life's experiences through tango.