Red Carpet at Allegiance in LA, as choreographer
With Michelle Obama and Oyama's lead dancer at Leaning 2017
With Lea Salonga (Tony winner) in ALLEGIANCE on broadway
The feature film, RUNNING FOR GRACE, with Matt Dillon
ALLEGIANCE on broadway, with Goerge Takei
RUMI OYAMA is originally from Hiroshima, Japan. She studied Law and graduated from Chuo University. After working as a recruiting advisor for the largest human resource company in Japan, she decided to give it all up to pursue a career as a professional singer and dancer. She performed in Disney's THE LION KING for several years in Japan. Rumi moved to the United States after she left the musical company and became a bi-coastal actress/singer/dancer. She's a proud member of SAG/AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild), AEA (Actors Equity Association), and SDC (Stage Directors and Choreographers Society).
Rumi made her Broadway debut in 2015 in the show ALLEGIANCE, starring George Takei and Lea Salonga, originating the role of "Mrs. Tanaka". Rumi appeared in the feature film RUNNING FOR GRACE as Miss Hanabusa, playing opposite Matt Dillon and Jim Caviezel. The film is now on Amazon Prime.
Rumi choreographed and performed in SAYONARA at Theatre Row and received a 2016 Fred and Adele Astaire Award for OUTSTANDING FEMALE DANCER Off-Broadway. This was the first time this award was given to a Japanese artist.
Rumi choreographed A Dance for Learning 2017. A global conference with Michelle Obama as keynote speaker. She has been working with Broadway producer Elliott Masie on creating several new dance performances. In 2018, she was nominated by the BroadwayWorld Regional Awards for ALLEGIANCE - LA, Aratani Theater.
With her co-writer, Joseph Pham, she has written several scripts, including SPIRIT BOX, FINDING YOUR VOICE, SENGOKU (JOURNEY OF OUTSIDERS), THE LIGHT and THE DOOR. She was a finalist in The Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards and The ScreenCraft Animation Competition. She has regularly placed highly in several screenwriting contests, including Final Draft's BIG BREAK and BAFF screenwriting.
In 2021, Rumi founded Kuma Dakko Productions in an effort to produce films that have authentic Japanese influences and inspirational messages. In 2023, Rumi’s first directorial film SPIRIT BOX won the “Outstanding Dramatic Digital Series” at the Oscar Micheaux Film Festival in LA. It also received nominations for "Outstanding Sci-Fi/Fantasy" and the highly coveted "Panavision Award". Now SPIRIT BOX is represented by Story Merchant/Atchity Productions (THE MEG, THE MEG2: THE TRENCH).
Her past credits include;
ALLEGIANCE (Broadway/ Longacre Theatre)
MISS SAIGON (Sacramento Music Circus and Gateway Playhouse)
THE KING AND I (Sacramento Music Circus, Olney Theatre, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre, North Shore Music Theatre, Theater Of The Stars and Carousel Dinner Theater)
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNUM COUNTY SPELLING BEE (Porthouse Theatre)
BRUCE LEE: JOURNEY TO THE WEST Broadway workshop (Dir. Bartlett Sher)
SAYONARA (Pan Asian Theater Rep)
BYE BYE BIRDIE (Porthouse Theatre)
HEART OF HERO (Opera at National Constitution Center)
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Player’s Theater)
Disney's Production of THE LION KING (Shiki Theater Company, Tokyo and Nagoya)
and many more.
Winner of FRED AND ADELE ASTAIRE AWARD 2016 as outstanding female dancer
