We recently had the chance to connect with Misa Mochizuki and have shared our conversation below.
Misa, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
First thing when I wake up, I do a few stretches on my bed to align my body. After brushing my teeth, I bring a glass of water to the window, take a moment to appreciate that I’ve been given another morning, and then drink the water.
After that, I feed my cat, tidy up a bit, do ten minutes of breathing exercises, and three one-minute plank variations.
Then I take a shower — that’s my daily routine.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I was born in Japan and moved to New York in 2012, where I’ve been working as a ballet and contemporary dancer.
Right now, it’s Nutcracker season, so I’m in rehearsals for the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
In December, I’ll be performing in Albany and Buffalo, and in January, I’ll be dancing in New York City.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
I began studying the Alexander Technique after moving to New York, and through my teacher, Naoko Matsumoto, I feel that I learned not only how to be a professional dancer, but also how to be a human being and a woman.
One phrase she told me has stayed with me ever since: “A professional elevates the choreography they receive into something even greater than what the choreographer imagined.”
It taught me that my job is not just to dance the steps as given, but to bring my own interpretation and make the work even better. That is a mindset I always want to carry with me.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The ego of wanting to be seen as an extraordinary dancer — or even an extraordinary person — held me back for a long time.
Trying to feel a sense of superiority by comparing myself to others made it difficult to be my true self, and it diminished my energy to the point where I couldn’t fully feel happiness.
Now, I feel confident simply being who I am. When I step on stage, my only intention is to share a meaningful moment with the audience in front of me.
And I feel deeply fulfilled by that.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I’m skeptical of the idea that dancers become unable to perform simply because of age.
People often say that once you reach your late thirties, it’s time to retire or think about a second career, but dancers like Maya Plisetskaya performed far longer.
I’ve thought a lot about why that is, and my opinion is that our profession has come to value visual beauty too heavily over functional movement.
A ballet teacher I trained with in New York used to say, “Something that isn’t functional can never truly be beautiful,” and I completely agree.
We all have different bodies, which is exactly why we should continually search for the most functional, optimal way for our own body to move.
I believe a dancer’s career length depends greatly on whether they can do that exploration or not.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I genuinely love doing my daily routines, because they strengthen me mentally.
No one is watching, I never post them on social media, and even if I skipped a day, no one would complain.
But every day, I quietly keep the promises I’ve made to myself, and I celebrate those tiny, almost invisible signs of growth that only I can recognize.
That private celebration has deepened the bond between me and myself, making it even stronger.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://misafullmoon.wixsite.com/my-site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misafullmoon?igsh=M3l3MmpndmY4YzBk
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misa.mochizuki.50
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@misamochizuki1187?si=YkaNJa7dFRgRX-30
Image Credits
Profile photo: Maki Hirata
1st, 2nd photo: Ray Maranan
4th photo: Maki Hirata
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