We caught up with the brilliant and insightful KENTARO Kikuchi a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi KENTARO, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I learned my profession through a journey heavily influenced by my background as a dancer. To succeed as a dancer, it’s undeniably advantageous to start learning classical ballet from a young age. For women, rhythmic gymnastics skills, and for men, skills and physical abilities from apparatus gymnastics, provide a solid foundation for success in any dance discipline.

In my case, I played soccer during my childhood and started apparatus gymnastics in my teens. This background helped develop my physical abilities and flexibility, but I struggled with the unique techniques of classical ballet, especially the turnout and the different ways of using strength.

To overcome these challenges, I relied on a few key methods:

1. **Imitating Skilled Individuals:** I began by closely observing and mimicking the talented dancers around me. This hands-on approach was fundamental in developing my skills.
2. **Utilizing Videos:** I watched and copied videos of my favorite dancers and companies, practicing repeatedly on my own. This was a significant part of my self-learning process.

Looking back, I believe that speeding up my learning process could have been achieved through:

– **Receiving Professional Guidance:** Getting instruction from experienced professionals early on would have allowed me to learn the correct techniques more efficiently.
– **Focused Practice:** Having clear goals and practicing systematically would have led to more effective skill acquisition.

The most important skill, in my opinion, was understanding and precisely controlling my body. This ability provided a strong foundation that allowed me to adapt to various dance styles.

KENTARO, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Before becoming a professional dancer, I was deeply involved in gymnastic aerobics until I graduated from university. I won the championship in Japan three times and competed in world tournaments. However, I was informed that this sport would not become an Olympic event during my active years. At that point, I realized I didn’t want to pursue a career as an athlete, coach, or instructor. I wanted to explore and experience different worlds.

That’s when I decided to dive into the world of dance, something that had always fascinated me. I moved to New York and was captivated by the world of art. However, the reality is that making a living solely as a dancer is challenging. Even with my position at the Metropolitan Opera, it’s not enough to sustain a livelihood. Over the years, I’ve worked various part-time jobs, including as a restaurant waiter, newspaper delivery person, and in delivery services.

Currently, I run a personal training company, leveraging my experiences in gymnastics and dance. I provide clients with advice on dieting, proper muscle building, and correct training methods.

As a Japanese person, my background includes eight years of soccer in my childhood, followed by another eight years of gymnastics, and three years of street dance before becoming a professional dancer. These experiences distinguish me from others.

I started my career as a dancer in my fourth year of university, which is considered quite late for a professional dancer. Despite this, I am now dancing with the Metropolitan Opera. I believe that no experience in life is wasted. Every part of my journey has contributed to who I am today.

What I am most proud of? That’s a tough question because there are so many things. But I would say being able to dance on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera is a highlight.

What I want people to know about me is that I am still exploring new avenues and trying new things in all aspects of my career. I will continue to strive for excellence, and I hope you will support and follow my journey warmly. Thank you!

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

To support artists, creators, and a vibrant creative ecosystem, society should increase funding and grants specifically for the arts, ensure affordable workspaces and exhibition spaces are available, provide arts education and scholarships in schools to foster creativity, raise public awareness of the importance of the arts through events and media, offer legal and financial support for artists to manage intellectual property and finances, create programs that connect artists with local communities for mutual support, and leverage technology such as online galleries and virtual performances to provide new platforms for showcasing their work.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

As I mentioned earlier, before becoming a professional dancer, I was deeply involved in gymnastic aerobics until I graduated from university. I won the championship in Japan three times and competed in world tournaments. However, I was informed that the sport would not become an Olympic event during my active years. At that point, I realized I didn’t want to pursue a career as an athlete, coach, or instructor. I wanted to explore and experience different worlds, and this realization led to a significant turning point in my life.

Making the decision to shift away from gymnastic aerobics was not easy. I had to face the disappointment of my parents, teachers, teammates, and fans who had supported and believed in me. However, I felt a strong desire to pursue what I truly wanted to do and to grow as a person. Despite knowing that I was choosing a more challenging path, I opted for a life that made my heart dance with excitement.

I decided to immerse myself in the world of dance, which had always fascinated me. Moving to New York and being captivated by the world of art was both daunting and exhilarating. It was a tough transition, filled with hardships and uncertainties, but I was committed to following my passion.

Looking back, I can confidently say that it was the right decision. Choosing to follow my heart and pursue a life that excited me, even at the cost of initial struggles, has led me to where I am today. Now, as a professional dancer with the Metropolitan Opera, I see that every challenge and decision has contributed to my growth and success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.revorn8.com/en
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kentaro_newyork_life/

Image Credits

Youngsoo Choi