Chasing Sunsets: How Ballet Dancer Remi Okamoto Connects with Nature, Travels to Find Inspiration and Creates Movement from Emotion

Few things in this world embody grace, finesse, and beauty as ballet. Dancers train almost obsessively to refine their performances to the most minute detail. Dance can therefore become an all encompassing venture, but it doesn’t have to be.

Today’s guest on The Holly Hughes Podcast is professional ballet dancer Remi Okamoto. Remi is originally from Kyoto, Japan, but has trained and studied all around the world. Remi is currently residing in Charlotte, NC as part of Charlotte Ballet’s First Company. She is currently performing in their production of The Nutcracker.

Remi Okamoto joins host Holly Hughes for a discussion about traveling and reconnecting with nature. They also discuss cultural differences in training and the impact of body image. Remi also talks about how she draws emotion from movement and how she deals with the physical demands of dance.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background of Remi Okamoto

02:19 Traveling and Reconnecting with Nature

05:34 Early Dance Experiences and Influences

08:39 Cultural Differences in Dance Training

11:26 Body Image and Standards in Dance

14:32 Diverse Body Types in Modern Dance

17:30 Experiences in Different Dance Companies

20:25 Language and Communication in Dance

23:40 The Physical Demands of Dance

26:38 Conclusion and Reflections on Dance Journey

34:44 Transitioning to Partnering in Dance

37:53 The Art of Trust in Dance

40:16 Learning and Performing 'Walking Mad'

44:16 The Impact of Set Design on Performance

49:31 Balancing Classical and Contemporary Dance

55:15 The Journey of a Professional Dancer

01:00:11 Finding Joy in the Process of Dance