AK Artist, Ayaka, is a freelance dancer and teacher based in New York City. She started dancing when she was three years old, following her older sister. “When I was about 10 or 12 I got hooked by the magic of stage and dancing and performing so I kept going and dancing and I ended up in New York!” says Ayaka. Since coming to New York, she has performed in world renowned productions such as The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and its World Tour, dancing with The Metropolitan Opera, Twyla Tharp Dance, and more! She recently shared some insights about her career as a freelance dancer:
Q: What inspired your path to freelance dancing?
AYAKA: I like this path because I have the freedom to choose what I want to do and what I am really passionate about. I get to teach the community that I am really invested in and I get to choose to perform for an organization that’s good for the world and for the people, so in that way I really like freelancing.
Key takeaway:
Freelance dancing allows you to choose the organizations you invest in to make an impact on the world and your community.
Q: How did you manage transitioning from a student to professional or from being in a company to freelancing?
AYAKA: Transitioning comes with trying things. I made so many mistakes and I figured out what works and what doesn’t and it’s all about experiencing and experimenting to see the best and most efficient way for your lifestyle and your life work.
Key takeaway:
Transitioning is an opportunity to explore what is right for you. Challenges and mistakes don’t have to be bad things. They can teach you what works best for what you want to achieve in your life.
Q: Any advice to dancers taking the path to freelance?
AYAKA: Community, it’s so important. So if you find yourself on the path for freelancing, then make friends, get to know people, talk to people. If you take a teacher’s class and you like their class, talk to them and message them to thank them. That’s how you start building your community and the community is everything when you’re freelancing because you can’t do it alone. Freelance sometimes feels like you are alone and you have to take over yourself but it doesn’t have to be that way if you have friends and family and your community’s support. So, get to know people, make friends!
Key takeaway:
Freelance dancing is about community building. And having a community is surrounding yourself with people you love to support you.
Make sure to watch Ayaka’s interview on our Instagram and learn more about Ayaka and her incredible journey on our website!
Blog written by AK Company Dancer Ena Nomoto
