Professional Ballet Dancer Remi Okamoto on Ballet Training, Travel & Listening to the Body

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, but you have seen her in Whispers, Echoes, and Voices as well as other performances.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.Get your copy of Holly’s book, Real Not Perfect: How to Become Your Happy, Authentic Self.Sign up for Holly’s email newsletter here.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background of Remi Okamoto02:19 Traveling and Reconnecting with Nature05:34 Early Dance Experiences and Influences08:39 Cultural Differences in Dance Training11:26 Body Image and Standards in Dance14:32 Diverse Body Types in Modern Dance17:30 Experiences in Different Dance Companies20:25 Language and Communication in Dance23:40 The Physical Demands of Dance26:38 Conclusion and Reflections on Dance Journey34:44 Transitioning to Partnering in Dance37:53 The Art of Trust in Dance40:16 Learning and Performing 'Walking Mad'44:16 The Impact of Set Design on Performance49:31 Balancing Classical and Contemporary Dance55:15 The Journey of a Professional Dancer01:00:11 Finding Joy in the Process of DanceConnect with Holly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehollyhughes/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hollyhughesintuitiveGet Holly’s book here: http://bit.ly/4ggvAamWebsite: https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/