Meet Aika Takeshima | Dance Artist/Choreographer & Diversity Activist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aika Takeshima and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aika, we’d love to hear more about your end-goal, professionally.
My mission is to help people find more freedom and possibilities in themselves using my movements, words, and passion. This because my values are strongly based on the believe of the power of art and everyone’s capability. Everyone are greater than they think they are and art can raise individual self confidence, leading to the understanding of diversity, opening the doors to eliminate prejudice and discrimination. This is why I pursue the career as artists in New York and activist/diversity trainer in Japan.
Since I’m a dance artist and diversity activist from Japan living in NYC, I will spend my energy, effort and focus for the realization of my goal in Japan and NYC first.
However, since dance/art is worldwide language and my ultimate goal is contributing to create a world that everyone can be authentic to themselves, bringing comfort in togetherness – eventually I want to spread my words all over the world by my dance works.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I USE MY TECHNIQUE TO EXPRESS A STORY, I DO NOT USE A STORY TO EXPRESS MY TECHNIQUE.

I create works to contribute to this society using my experience and emotions.

Movement-wise, I take everything “NOW” —what is around me, what comes into my sight, how I am/someone is feeling now etc— and improvise getting inspiration from them, and keep making chains of movements.
Since I have pursued various performance methods— all street dance styles such as Locking/Popping/Hip Hop/House, Ballet, Jazz, Floor-work, Improvisation, Performing Arts, Acting, Singing, etc—, my style is very unique and people say “I cant’ figure out your style. What is your back ground?”.

These are what set me apart from others. However, of course it was not an easy road.
It took me so long to find a way to use all my styles in a good way. There are so much dilemma. Many times I had to stop dance to make money to survive.

But I didn’t give up. And here I am. I am here because I didn’t give up and what I’ve learned is also THE IMPORTANCE OF NEVER GIVE UP.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My most favorite spot in NYC is definitely Bushwick Collectives, where there are so many murals everywhere in Bushwick in Brooklyn. In addition to that, this area has many cozy cafes, restaurants, bars and shops. Differently from the Statue of Liberty or Times Square, Bushwick area is not well known by travelers yet especially from other countries. That is why, I bring my friends and family to this area and always everyone loves it!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
One of the people who changed my life and I want to give shoutout is Amy Jordan who is a speaker, author, coach, and the founder of The Victory Dance Project. I met her in 2016 in NYC and have danced for her dance company. What distinguished her from others is her mission and story. She was hit by a NYC bus and her leg was nearly amputated. 20 surgeries later it has been rebuilt. She was told she may never walk again. However, she came back dancing on a stage with her professional company The Victory Dance Project. Now she helps others Transform Trauma into Triumph. She says “Dance Because You can”, “Make Impossible Possible With The Power Of Movement”. From her, I learned how important not giving up is. This was what I needed as an asian-immigrant moved in New York, queer woman from a poverty family in a discriminated area of Japan, whose father’s occupation was Yakuza (Japanese mafia) that considered very bad in order to grow and start walking my own life. That is why, my mission is “To help people find more freedom and possibilities in themselves using my movements, words, and passion. ”
She is definitely the most inspiring person not only for me, but also for others. Thank you, keep inspiring Amy Jordan.

Website: https://aikatakeshima.com

Instagram: @aikatakeshima https://www.instagram.com/aikatakeshima/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aika.takeshima

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5In50yO4hEruZjC0jsh6Jw

Other: website of sarAika movement collective : https://saraikacreation.com

Image Credits
BeccaVision, Jonmarquezphotography