We were lucky to catch up with Saki Masuda recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Saki, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
My parents took me to see the production of “Peter Pan” musical in Japan when I was around 4 and I told them I want to be Peter Pan!
It was my first time seeing live theater performance. I immediately knew that’s I want to do for the rest of my life!!
Then my parents put me in the local ballet school. The rest is the history.
I haven’t stopped dancing since.
Saki, 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?
I’m originally from Nara Japan, born and raised.
I started taking a ballet class when I was 4 years old in my home town. I decided to come to NYC to study the different types of dance foam when I was 20 years old by myself with almost zero English communication skills. Thinking back, I was so brave back then.
I enrolled to the dance studio called Steps on Broadway as an international visa program student. It was supposed to be only one year but they gave me another year of scholarship. So I was able to stay for the second year.
A lot happened after but 17 years later, I’m still here! My life would have been totally different if I didn’t get the scholarship or if I didn’t meet my important people in my life in those years. Because that made who I am today. I feel very fortunate.
I’m a dancer/actor.
Currently I’m doing the holidays show. And I’m in the show as an actor but also an associate choreographer and Dance captain.
When someone was out for the show, Dance captain is in charge to fix formations or put the understudy/swing into the show. My job to keep the show running smoothly and safe for everyone.
It’s not easy but very fulfilling! I really love it.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Most rewarding aspects of being a theater actor is we get to do a different show everyday.
Meaning, we might be doing the same show but we have a different audience every day and different cast. That’s what gets us excited!!
Never have a dull moments as an artist.
As a creative, when you get to create something original, new or your own, It becomes your baby. It’s very special and very rewarding!
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
As an actor, We are constantly looking for a job(Auditioning). That’s our life. So sometimes we have 2-3 auditions a day. Sometimes in person, sometimes online.
Most of the time we get rejections but that’s also part of our life. We learn and move on to the next.
I would say we have to be very tough physically and mentally in the good way.
We will learn how to take care of yourself as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sakimasuda.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sakinyc
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/saki.masuda/
Image Credits
-Headshot (white tank top) : Rumi Oyama
– 2 Dance shots and Black&white : Keita Okuda and Nobuteru Hirara
-Red top portraits : Justin Patterson
-Stage production photo : Russ Rowland