Joe Small

Joe Small (he/they) is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Swarthmore College, where he integrates taiko drumming with postmodern choreography and performance art. A graduate of Swarthmore College (BA, Dance, 2005) and UCLA (MFA, Dance, 2015), he bridges Japanese traditional arts and contemporary interdisciplinary practices.

His research focuses on Taiko Drumming, Choreography and Percussion, and Asian-American Cultural Practices, informed by over two decades of training in Japan under masters like Kenny Endo, Isaburoh Hanayagi, and Eitetsu Hayashi. He co-founded Small Mountain Studios and has collaborated with artists across dance, theatre, and music.

Scientific Awards:

• Fulbright Fellowship to Japan (2005-2006)
• Multiple UCLA scholarships (2011, 2014)
• Swarthmore College summer grants and awards for choreography