We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mikua Mori a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Mikua, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I have found a purpose in improving the lives of others.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I live in Japan and work as a professional dancer and dance instructor. I started dancing in Japan when I was 12 years old. My teacher used to travel between the US and Nagoya, which sparked my interest in the US. During high school, I traveled abroad to study dance and language skills. At 19, I went to Los Angeles to study for three years on my own. When I turned 22, I moved to Tokyo to continue my dance career as a professional dancer, choreographer, and backup dancer. I have worked on TV in China, created dance numbers for events, performed in music videos and live shows, and taught dance. Currently, I am a backup dancer for a Japanese artist’s tour and plan to perform with the team across the country in 2024.
I believe that when I stand on stage and share my ideas and inspiration with my students, it is incredibly important. This is not just for me but also for my students and the audience. My goal is to continue to touch people’s lives, even if it’s in the slightest way, by moving their hearts with my art. We only live once, and I want to use my talents to impress and inspire others.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I have been dancing for 14 years since I was a kid. The basics, knowledge, and the way my teachers dance that I learned at my local studio are still in my memory and body. I used to go to many events of various genres to continue improving my skills and expanding my dance repertoire. To see a variety of art, and that has a huge influence on me both when I perform and when I create something. The most important thing for me was to leave the country where I was born and raised, and train in another country to experience new things. When I came back to Japan, I realized that my value had increased. Not only I had improved my skills, but my ideas, personality, and perspective had also changed. Being in a different country at an age when people in your home country are starting to establish social dynamics can be good, but it can also cause culture shock when you come back. However, my influence as a dancer was quite large, and even now, I am able to create things that are rare for Japanese people to see, in the American style that I like, and work with people who like my style. I realized that the days when I go to events and train are very important. I also think it is crucial to always remain a student and to have the ability to understand the ideas of various people in any situation.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
The reason I decided to be a backup dancer on this tour was Maiko, a choreographer I met while studying abroad in LA. Maiko is currently working remotely from America to choreograph the live tour I’m part of. I met her when I went to a birthday event, at the invitation of Maasa, a Japanese dancer who is currently working in the US. Since then, I have received a lot of advice from Maiko. She is like my big sister and a mother figure to me, whom I greatly respect as a dancer, creator, woman, and human being. She believed in me, moved to Tokyo, and even recommended that I work as a backup dancer on tour. If I had not met her, I might not be dancing now. Her influence was so great, and above all, what she did in Japan and America was just so cool to me. The most important thing for me at work is to have fun. If you don’t enjoy what you do, it’s only natural that your job will become boring. I appreciate the talents of those around me. Even if things are difficult, I find joy in overcoming them. I also understand that hard work pays off, as I have been participating in competitions since I was young. Forgetting to have fun can hinder your growth. I have always loved dancing and music, and I continue to do so. I will not forget that feeling and will continue to have fun doing what I love to influencing those around me. PURSUE WHAT YOU ENJOY.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikua_mori
