Top Story: 24.April 2006
Contemporary dancer conveys personal courage
In front of me stands Miss. Aki (32), a young contemporary dancer. Her appearance is peculiar as she holds to her 6 months old kitten, Tata on her lap. She has a quiet determination in her voice. Her slightly European accent, is maybe something she picked up from her memorable stay in France.
She gets up every day at six. First of her daily routines includes sitting on a chair, just sitting, no thinking. She pays her bills by doing a part time job at the office, in company which she says resembles a prison. She truly becomes alive in her dance class. Although her teacher is utterly strict and severe, you don't hear a word of complain from her. She says the result is not important for her, but the motive.
Her smile is open and cheerful. You get the feeling that she understands and receives a lot more than she says. She drinks Disaronno Amaretto or Vodka, and she prefers to drink alone. She doesn't rely on help others. She is determined to achieve her goal.
This world really could use more people like her. People who thinks result is less important than motive.
Note: Sadly, we are not able to convey any personal messages to Miss. Aki. If you wish to contact her, please leave a message to our discussion forum - she will reply you from there.
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Welcome Aki. What are you going to do this weekend?
"On next Saturday, I will go to the rehearsal for a certain performance. On Sunday I go to the INOGASHIRA-PARK for a street performance. On Sunday, rehearsal-rehersal-rehearsal! That's all!! "
Tell me a bit of your typical day.
"I get up at AM6:00. First thing I do is that I sit on my chair. Just sitting for a while. Then I say hello to TATA. I don't think anything for a while. Then I undress, check my body, do some stretching, without thinking too much. I choose some clothes that would fit the day's atmosphere. But I don't have any clothes that would cost more than 3000 yen. <laugh> I need to choose clothes that suit me, but often I find cheap ones to be best.
At AM8:00, I go out for my part time job. I do office work in a huge building, that reminds a prison complex. I finish the work usually at 17:00. I find it unbelievable that I'm doing such a job. But I have to do it. Sometimes I run into conflict as I have to meet various kinds of people. All of them have so different feeling. I tend to worry too much.
After work, I head straight to the dance studio to have my dance lessons. It is my world where I fit in. My senses become awake in dance studio. After the lesson finishes, usually around 11 PM, I head back home. I check my mail, eating something. Then I take a shower, and slip into bed with TATA. And I fall asleep while writing mail to my best friend. Finally, I become myself.
I am satisfied with my dance lessons. They are expensive in Japan, but they give me what I need."
"When did you notice your talent for dancing? When did you realize that "this is what I want to do"?
"Actually.. I have never notice that. Maybe I need not to notice it. <smile>"
"But I do remember certain Christmas eve, when I was six years old girl. I was having a ballet class, dancing with some friends. And then I heard it. Sound of Christmas. "Amazing! Wonderful!" I thought. I got so excited that evening.
I realized that the dance is just a tool for me. It is a way for me to express myself. To feel the wind, sign of night, atmosphere of a town. To open my instict.
When I dance, I always think of the people dear to me. My aim is never the dance itself, but the satisfying feeling. Dance is just a tool. This is the only way to see it for me. "
How did your parents supported your dancing?
"They did not support at all. Especially, my mother, who tried to stop me. So I decided to study it myself. Still, my mother has not been able to accept me as a dancer, and has been avoiding me. Sometimes we have conversation, but we carefully avoid bringing up the topic of my dance. "
Tell me about your visit to France and your first performance
"That was a long time ago. That time I got sick .. I couldn't get up from the bed. Of course the dance was a sheer impossibility. My sickness became my daily life. I guess I got too sensitive. There was a lot of contradictions in home. Because of these contradictions, I got sick. Nothing helped. I tried even medicines. I went to France as a last resort."
"On the street in Paris I had my first stage experience. Just standing and singing (Japanese folk songs etc.) Sometimes people laughed and stared me on the street. It was very simple performance. But I felt in my heart that people accepted me. First time I was able to certainly to exist."
Tell me about the story that lies behind your stage name Daniel Europe
"It is very silly. I'm often misunderstood. My nationality, sex, age. People get the idea I'm European, Chinese, old woman or a child. Their attitudes change suddenly when they realize that I am a Japanese woman. It's irritating. Thus - I have a little sarcastic meaning in my stage name. I want to say, "open your eyes! Use your 5th sense! Look under the surface. See the male inside me." This is the meaning of my stage name."
What kind of music and movies you like?
"Sometimes I feel like I have a musician inside me. I love to sing with a singing friend of mine. And I use singing also in my performances. But I don't usually listen to music.
Movies.. In Japan , to watch the film costs too much. I find that so silly! But I love movies. When I was teenager , I lived in the world of movies. I looked the world like the event on the film. I loved movies of German Expressionism.
My most favorite movie is Die Blechtrommel (The Tin Drum). Actually, I wrote many letters to this actor named David Bennett. I got some reply from him. These are my treasure.
I realize the Japanese movie is a little grotesque for me. When I want to relax, I watch French movies instead.
Sadly, there seems to be no good movies about dancing. I dislike the way they present the world of dance and dancers. They think dance is like god expresses himself through dancers. I get irritated to see such!"
Tell me what do you want to express to audience through your dance?
"Unlimited courage. Even the person like me can dance in the presence of others. I really want audience to be free and feel this power."
What would be your advice for beginner dancers? What's the most important virtue of dancer?
"I was a teacher before and I miss this job because I really loved my students. I often said to my students, please hear the voice of your pleasure. If you feel emptiness, don't show it off to the outside as it looks really funny when you dance. Simply make an effort yourself, and don't fear of making mistakes or being laughed at. "
If you would write a book, what would be the title of the book?
"I'm not a dancer..! maybe..."
Thank you Aki for your time. Contact Aki in discussion forum.
