Kiki (YuChin) Tseng shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Kiki (YuChin), we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I recently booked a solo trip to Germany for four days, not for any specific reason, but to find the spontaneity in life again. I think as an artist, especially living in a big city, the hustle and bustle can become very exciting and even addictive. It’s easy to get drowned in society’s idea of success. In the midst of all that, I lose both the fun and the purpose.
So one day, I made a very impulsive decision to just go on a trip, to visit my friend in a small town in Germany. For me, it’s less about the destination and more about doing something impulsive and completely random, which I haven’t done in such a long time. Looking back, I used to be the kind of person who chased dreams. I set goals and achieved them. And it’s not because I’m exceptional. Actually, far from it. It’s because I am spontaneous and impulsive.
This trip gave me a little taste of that feeling again. I am proud of myself because it felt like I made a decision that was unnecessary. And as an artist, I feel like we don’t often allow ourselves to do that.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a dancer based in New York. I grew up in Yilan, Taiwan. At age 16, I received a scholarship to come study dance in the United States and that sparked my whole journey as a dancer here in the US. I am currently dancing with Nai Ni Chen Dance Company, Company of Collaborative Artists (COCA), and other small freelance projects here in New York.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
Definitely my father. To this day, I have never met anyone who loves his job as much as my dad does. He is dedicated, hardworking, and most importantly, he truly cares. What I love most about him and his work is that he always did more than he needed to because he wanted to, not because he should.
I have never heard him complain about going back to work, and he has worked in the same place for more than 30 years. He is proud of his work, and because I see that, I have always felt like I had the best and coolest dad ever. Growing up witnessing his relationship with work has changed my perspective a lot. It showed me that work can be something you choose to do, just as much as something you need to do.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
I think judgment from others has held me back. I believe this has been true for as long as I can remember. I am an extreme people pleaser, and I am not proud of that aspect of myself at all. If there were 100 people who loved me and one person who absolutely hated me, I would not be able to stop thinking about that one opinion. I know that sounds ridiculous, and I know it is completely irrational. However, it is something I am constantly working on, and it is a process that I hope one day I will find a way out of.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I am going to say no. I think naturally, I kind of adjust my personality slightly based on where I am and who I am with. Especially in a public settings. That probably sounded a little bit psychotic or maybe it is. But my coworkers from different jobs might describe me differently.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Planning. I think I would stop planning immediately, about life, about future, about anything. I have always been a life planner. I love to think about my 5 years, 10 years, 20 years plan. If I only have a set amount of time left, I think I would want to just do everything I want to do without thinking about “if it makes sense”.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Kiki__tseng
Image Credits
Company of Collaborative Artists @cocamoves
Julia Discenza @jdisc.mov
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