Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Eri Chikusa. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Eri, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

It was a tour I was a part of this year, Twas The Night Before by Cirque du Soleil.

My first tour experience was so amazing. Not only I get to tour the US, but rehearsing at Cirque du Soleil headquarters and meeting other dancers on the project, meeting people who have the whole another disciplines and learning about their culture because they are from all over the world, and get to be on a set for Cirque du Soleil stage as a Japanese dancer… everything was so meaningful to me. Especially my mother and brother came all the way from Japan and got to see me performing on the stage was very special. I made all of my family proud and I got to finally show them what I am doing out here in the states.

I got to work with such an amazing team too. My cast mates support each other and also humbled me a lot. We went through hard time together and did 41 shows together. Not only cast mates but also my artist director, production team and technicians are all good people and I was honored to be a part of such a magical project like this. I really felt that great people make a great team and great team makes great shows. It was definitely a team effort and it wasn’t the same if one of us was missing. I will continue to work on myself and thrive to be a part of jobs/projects like this.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am originally from Mie Japan, dreaming to be a dancer full time since I started my dance journey back home. I moved to Tokyo eventually when I was in university, and really started to train dancing. Since I grew up having international lends, I started to look into global dance community, and getting interested in LA/So Cal dance community. After I moved to Los Angeles back in 2016, I train with well known choreographer/dancer such as Keone and Mari Madrid, Shaun Evaristo, Sorah Yang, Joesar Alva, Vinh Nguyen, Carlo Darang and so on, got on one of prestigious professional dance team called Choreo Cookies, moreover, I developed my own craft especially when we hit pandemic back in 2o19. I was more in the training era by then but during COVID, there are only online classes. It was fun at first to train through screen but it was missing the energy which can be only felt in the in person class room setting. So I started to choreograph and that’s when I really developed my own style as a dancer. The training I’ve down for all these years were finally coming together and I turned my passion into the carrier. Also, when we went into pandemic, that was when I started to work as a dancer. I’ve worked with Daddy Yankee on “Que Tire Palante” music video, performed on Latin American Music Award, Amber Liu on Unforgettable Gala and so on. All and all, I’d say 2019 was one of important turning points in my dance carrier.

I went back to Tokyo back in 2020, and found my love in teaching and training dancers and cultivating a dance community too. Because I knew that Japan is not the place to be for me as a dancer, I was not planning on staying. My wish while I was there was to plant the seed of knowledge and hoping that they are gonna be the one who is gonna knee the dough and grow the community. I was teaching constantly and choreographed a show piece on a show presented by Izumi Dance Company. Shortly after, I got an opportunity to work on one of the artist groups in Japan, Travis Japan, as an assistant choreographer. Working with them really humbled me as an assistant choreographer and learned a lot about how to work in the industry.

I got an O1 visa in 2022, and relocated myself to the states again, and my career as a dancer really started here. I am very proud of myself where I am at right now because being a dancer is not an easy road always. However, it really felt like all of my work/effort I’ve put into my passion is really paying off. I really feel like if you really work for something you really want to do, it will become true. In this industry, not everything is about your effort I learned too. It’s also about who you know, what kind of connection you have with people around you, and what kind of community are you in. All of my work I’ve done or currently doing happened because of the combination of my talent and people who I cultivate the connection with believe in my talent.

I am currently a faculty of the studio called Ruts Dance Studio in Los Angeles. I was able to start teaching right after I moved fortunately because the owners of the studio followed my journey since 7 years ago and especially seeing me teaching often in Tokyo really made them want to have me as one of faculties. I was so blessed to share my knowledge in LA after all the experience I had back in Tokyo, and I’ve never felt more ready to do that so. Not only I was just teaching dance moves to students, but I felt that I am contributing to the community itself and growing with them. I do get a lot of students weekly and when I was reflecting myself the other day, I thought the reason why my students sticks with me is because I make myself available and approachable for them. It’s the human part I am passionate about and I believe dancing is a tool which connect people and people. I try my best to make my classroom safe space where students can connect to each other. I believe that set myself apart from others as well. I am excited to keep working with those students for upcoming years!

When it comes to choreographing, which is one of my passion, creating, my inspiration comes from the music itself. I tend to create to the song which speaks to me and has some connection to my personal story, I sometimes resonate with the beat/track itself too and can’t explain why. It always abstract when I start. I let myself fall into the music and let myself float into it. I make a choice and move on. Sometimes, I go back and make changes, or other times, I believe my choices and let it be, As it sits into my body, it becomes natural and feel right. It’s always a combination of the flow and emotion I focus on. I think when I create, it has to be authentic to myself in the moment. The piece I make lives in the time of my life and I can look back on it and can remember the season of my life. That’s why I like to create and the fact that I can share my creation to other is the best feeling.

I also challenge myself as an artist constantly too. I don’t want to limit myself, so last year, I challenged myself to be on commercials. Audition is totally different process than dancer ones, so at first, I needed to get used to it. Of course, there is movement involved, but more acting, sometime screaming. More no than yes but I got to work with Snapchat and Google at the end, That opened my door to be in commercial world. I love being challenged and find new side of me. When you are in unknown, you can unlock the new part of yourself without fear. This year, I want to do more of that and that would be my goal.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is that when I know I made some sort of impact on someone through my performance or my craft.

At the end of last year, I get to work with Cirque du Soleil on a show called “Twas The Night Before.’ It is a holiday show that happens every year and dancer plays the huge part throughout the show; we as Tuques are on stage more than half of the show, guiding Isabella, the main character, to the winter wonderland so that she can bring back her passion for the Christmas. Not only it is rare for dancers to have this amount of stage time on a circus show, but also I felt valued on the show. We are telling the story by having multiple props, using lights, and running up and down of the slope in the snow. It is really a magical show. Because this is a holiday show, there are lots of kids in the audience every show. I always try to make connection with audience member and when I see kids in the audience having such a pure eyes, looking at us like this is the most amazing show they’ve ever watched, being surprised but amazed by dance moves we do, and at the end of the show, seeing them waving at us really made me feel “this is why I love performing and love to do what I do for the job.” A show those kids watched might change their life. May be they want to be a dancer one day because of us. The thought of me as a dancer can give them dream, hope, happiness, and courage, and the fact that I can feel that because it’s a live show is the rewarding part.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to make an impact on people whether that could be me giving them hope/dream or it could be something small like make their day better. As I mentioned, I believe having those goal manifested to be on the recurring touring show like Cirque du Soleil. I’ll be with them this year and more years to come and continue to be able to give audience happiness. Even teaching at studios like Ruts Dance Studio, I can make impact by communicating through movements and words. I can guide and navigate their struggles. Moreover, grow together.

There was one of students before I left for TWAS tour came up to me and said, “Thank you for your positive energy you give to room. I really felt it every time I take your class, and I was able to get through hard time. Your guidance meant so much to me, and you are making so much impact on people’s life. I just want you to know that.” When he told me, I almost teared up. Something warm move through my body, and I felt the comfort in my heart as well.

This is why I keep creating, This is why I love my job, I want to show up to my students and give them inspiration through my art.I want to show kids who watch the show how amazing to be able to use my body as my language and communicate, connect, and inspire others. It is my driving force to be creative and I continue to thrive to be better as a creative artist.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eri_chikusa/

Image Credits
Yagub Allahverdiyev Mizuki Kinefuchi