Akira Uchida: Unlocking Your Creative Gifts

Lisa speaks with Dancer/Choreographer Akira Uchida about creativity, curiosity, and how closely linked life's lowlights are to its highlights.


Akira Uchida, is a dancer, choreographer, creative director and teacher. Originally from Ottawa, Canada and now based in New York, he has presented work at the Capezio Ace Awards, Fire Island Dance Festival, Battery Dance Festival, New Victory Dance and created work for the Joffrey Ballet School and the Clyfford Still Museum in Denver. He has danced on television programs such as Canada’s Got Talent, Degrassi, The Strain, Over the Rainbow and Canada’s Smartest Person and has choreographed music videos for artists such as HAAI, Lights, Ria Mae and Tyler Shaw. He travels across North America teaching and influencing the upcoming generation of dancers with his progressive teaching style and is a board member at Share The Movement, a non-profit dedicated to uplifting and providing opportunity to young BIPOC dancers.

@akirauchida

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Transcript

Lisa Hopkins: 0:23

This is the stop time podcast. I'm your host, Lisa Hopkins, and I'm here to engage you in thought provoking motivational conversations around practicing the art of living in the moment. I'm a certified life coach, and I'm excited to dig deep and offer insights into embracing who we are and where we are at. So, my next guest is a dancer, choreographer, Creative Director and teacher, originally from Ottawa, Canada, and now based in New York City, he has presented work at the Capezio ace awards, Fire Island Dance Festival, battery Dance Festival, new victory dance and created works for the Joffrey Ballet School and the Clyfford Still Museum in Denver. He has danced on television programs such as Canada's Got Talent Degrassi The strain over the rainbow, and Canada's smartest person and his choreographed music videos for artists such as high lights Reemay and Tyler Shaw. He travels across North America teaching and influencing the upcoming generation of dancers with his progressive teaching style, and is a board member at share the movement, a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting and providing opportunity to young bipoc dancers. I am so thrilled to be spending this time today with Akira Ishida. Welcome.

Akira Uchida: 1:50

Thank you so much for having me. I'm so grateful.

Lisa Hopkins: 1:52

It's an absolute pleasure. And I can't wait to jump in. It's always exciting for me to get to know get to know people and the human behind the artists. So absolutely. Yeah. So where are you calling in from today?

Akira Uchida: 2:05

So I'm here at home in Brooklyn in New York.

Lisa Hopkins: 2:08

Nice. Nice. And how long have you been living in Brooklyn?

Akira Uchida: 2:12

I've been here for I guess it's been about three years. But there was a little bit of a break. And the pandemic is for a couple of people. I know I went to Canada just for a little bit. And then I came back.

Lisa Hopkins: 2:24

Yeah, very cool. Your family's in Canada.

Akira Uchida: 2:26

You grew up? Yes. Yeah.

Lisa Hopkins: 2:28

Very cool. As I was saying, in pre interview, it was really exciting to meet a fellow Canadian.

Akira Uchida: 2:33

Yeah. So cool. Always

Lisa Hopkins: 2:35

take us back, though for a moment to, to your origin story. But I'm really curious about when you were first visited, let's say by creative inspiration. Hmm,

Akira Uchida: 2:48

that's a great, great start. You know, I think that I've always been inspired to choreograph from a very young age, I specifically remember once a once a hippie, like maybe 13 and became a teenager, I really just started having this passion. And a lot of it had to do with music. A lot of the work I do is with electronic dance music. And that has really been something I've listened to since that age, and was introduced to me by like a babysitter and like my gym teacher and different people. And I live like that. And ever since then, I always really had this huge love for that type of music. And often that would lend itself to choreography. And I didn't necessarily choreograph to it at the time. Those were kind of separate inspirations, I feel, but over time, have kind of been able to, like, bring those two things together. But I would say it's been, yeah, quite early since I was maybe like, 13 or so.

Lisa Hopkins: 3:47

That's so cool. And you know, I've been reading a lot about creativity and really deep diving into it, because it means something different to everybody, right? What does it What does creativity mean to you?

Akira Uchida: 4:01

I feel like creativity is the ability to put together abstract ideas about maybe something that doesn't exist yet. And to then channel and formulate those ideas into something that can become more concrete. And that doesn't necessarily mean that it needs to be a physical thing, but just something that can be shared with other people or something that can be digested by someone else. But I really see creativity as that like that funneling of these different ideas into something that can be shared.

Lisa Hopkins: 4:37

Hmm. Yeah, that's beautiful. I love that, that you think of it as an offering something that someone you can give to someone else and they can digest? Yeah, yeah, that's beautiful. And what why do you think that's important to you?

Akira Uchida: 4:51

Well, I think that everybody has their own gifts and their own ideas that are unique to them. And I think that it would just be a shame to only keep that for yourself. I think that would be a shame both for the person and for the other people because I feel like there's so much value in sharing information. I feel like that's how we can really learn and thrive as a community but just as a society at large and so I feel like to only keep those gifts to yourself would be a shame I feel like it would be a missed opportunity. That's where I think there's something so inherent about sharing creative ideas to me.

Lisa Hopkins: 5:30

Mm hmm. Yeah, no, for sure. I hear you. That's beautiful. With your permission, I'd love to dig in deeper there.

Akira Uchida: 5:38

Yeah, for sure.

Lisa Hopkins: 5:39

Yeah. Well, I hear you completely. And then and I'm so curious to know, a, you know, it's always difficult right. To, to feel, you know, to put hubris aside, I mean, you're referring to your gifts. So there's an acknowledgement that you have one. But you quickly shift to that idea that, because I'm aware of this, I'm therefore going to share it because as you said, it would be a shame not to right, which is a beautiful, a beautiful thought. I'm just curious to know, putting hubris aside, yeah, um, how are you aware of your guests? What are what what do you perceive as your gifts that you'd like to share?

Akira Uchida: 6:17

Hmm. I think that I do have gifts in my creativity. But I also have separate gifts that I consider in my teaching. And I guess the teaching gift is also creativity. But I do see that as a bit of a different thing. It's like the ability to share that information, like I was, like I was talking about the funnel, I see that as kind of like, the teaching part is like the end of the funnel, like how you share that out into the world. As far as my creative gifts. I think a lot of it is a lot of it comes from my personal experience, a lot of it comes from just my discoveries about who I am identity with my sexuality, and just just coming to understand who I am and what my passions are. So I feel like a lot of it has to come with that discovery and research that I've done, and then that has done influenced my lens and my perspective when I go to create work. And I feel like that maybe is what's unique, but I don't know, you can tell me do you feel like you answered that question.

Lisa Hopkins: 7:24

Only you know the answer. But you know, it's really and you know, without knowing you if I'm hearing you correctly, just with what you just shared with me now. Your gift is awareness of yourself.

Akira Uchida: 7:38

Oh, that's really interesting. Something about that resonates? Yeah. Tell me more. Well, I think that yeah, I mean, I think I do agree, I think actually, maybe that even connects the two pieces that I was talking about, because a lot of my most of my teachings that I do have to do with things I've learned through my own self awareness, in my own experiences, as I mean, I think most teaching is that anyways, but I do think that. Yeah, I think if I have something to share, it's because I've become aware of certain things that I've experienced or dealt with. And then I've moved through them, and then through that, you know, movement and shifting, then I have something to share.

Lisa Hopkins: 8:26

Mm hmm. That's beautiful. And so would you would you consider a say dance as as a conduit for that? Or teaching?

Akira Uchida: 8:36

Definitely, I wouldn't say it's the only conduit, but I think it is a very useful one. So I'm definitely grateful for that. I think, through dance, we get this access to this crazy vast amount of information or bodies that a lot of people just aren't aware exists. So that's a beautiful thing. But I wouldn't just say it's just through dance it I would say it's all sort of through just self awareness. All the work I've done in my life, my personal life.

Lisa Hopkins: 9:05

Yeah, I love that. I'm hearing that your creativity does doesn't doesn't live in a silo. Right? That is part of who you are. Yeah.

Akira Uchida: 9:12

Yeah, for sure.

Lisa Hopkins: 9:13

That makes sense. That's really beautiful that the really interesting thing about dance you touched on it a little bit, is that because we move our bodies, we have so many so many sort of avenues of expression, right? To express through ourselves by using our body. And I often think about how when, say audiences who are not dancing, or receiving that, you know, they're touched, they're touched in a way but they can't relate in the way that if they're not dancers. It's almost like a new form is created, right? Like when someone sees a movie, they can relate because they can relate to being a human or to feeling sad or having relationship but but they if they're not dancers, they can't actually relate to dancing, right. And so it's so interesting to and I'm curious if there's a connection there too, for you because I know that you, you work a lot in. And again, I'm no expert on you. So you jump in and make it better. But you you're doing sort of some work in that sort of upbeat, like music that gets people dancing, right? You work with artists. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. Talk to me about that a little bit.

Akira Uchida: 10:21

Well, I think what I I something that I always want to want for my work is that I want it to feel accessible to somebody who doesn't maybe understand all those more complicated mechanics, I still want it to have a complexity to it from a dance perspective, of course. But I think that, I think that it's important that the work can also like, move somebody and grab somebody on an energetic level as well. And through the expression of the work. So I think as much as I, I know, myself, and I could get caught up in just the construction of it. And those pieces, which I love of love, I always try to keep an element that can feel relatable and not to, I don't know, maybe to conceptual, like, I do like those elements as well. But I feel like it does create a bit of a barrier to a dance to an irregular audience who is not, who has not had experience in dance, if it gets too complicated in a way that they need all this information beforehand. And I feel like it's a shame in that instance, because then it kind of isolates certain people from coming to see dance, which I feel like dance should be for everybody.

Lisa Hopkins: 11:40

Yeah, I feel that in you. Okay. I think you really nailed that when you were saying, you know, you really want it to be an energetic exchange. Right? To Yeah, no, that's for sure. I love that. That's really, really cool. If you if you had to choose, I don't know, one highlight and one low light from your life's journey. So far. What what stands out to you today? Might you might feel differently tomorrow. But today, what what pops into your mind?

Akira Uchida: 12:05

Oh, that's really tough. Do you and do you mean by that like a moment? Or do you mean like, I guess it's an open question. Right? It can be a larger experience. Mm hmm. I mean, it's the thing that I've learned over the years is that often the low light experience is isn't in itself a highlight experience once you move through it. So I mean, the first thing that comes to mind is I had some really tough years when I was like an early teenager, just I think just many things. But being in competition dance being a little bit confused with my intensity. I had a just really tough time. And I think through that experience, I, I closed in a lot of ways. And so later, when I went to do the work, to reopen and kind of move through all that stuff, that's when I really unlocked a lot of my creative gifts. And so that's where I would say that there's a connection between the low light and the highlight experience. Because if I hadn't had these tough years, and dealing with a lot of different pain and stuff like that, I wouldn't have been able to probably unlock some other gifts that I have, and a wider perspective and more, you know, sensitivity and awareness and all these things.

Lisa Hopkins: 13:37

Absolutely. That's so important. It's so important for people to hear, I'm really glad you shared that. I

Akira Uchida: 13:43

really appreciate

Lisa Hopkins: 13:44

your sharing that. Yeah. What do you How would you impart that? Learning to? Because that is a huge gift, that that learning itself is a gift, isn't it? Yeah, yeah. And so how for you know, I know that you you sort of meant you mentor dancers and a lot of dancers look up to you, how might you? Or do you sort of impart that in in your teachings with them.

Akira Uchida: 14:08

So one of the biggest lessons that I tried to teach and we kind of tapped into this already, but is just building more awareness. So I think just it's really about connecting to what your experience is, and just noticing it. Sometimes I'll do that through just like a bit of breathing before the class starts and just giving a bit of space for how people are feeling. Sometimes I'll do it, I'll bring it and bring it up in more of a movement contexts and, you know, became becoming aware of what's feeling blocked in your body. And but I think that that's been a really important lesson that I've had to share with people when I'm teaching

Lisa Hopkins: 14:50

or their teachers in your life dance or other that have taught you lessons that you will take with you. Are there any lessons that stand out that you've learned?

Akira Uchida: 15:01

Oh, there's so many. I'm trying to think of something specific that jumps out right now. I don't know that there's one that's coming to my mind right now.

Lisa Hopkins: 15:14

Where do you look? Where are you looking for them right now? I'm so curious.

Akira Uchida: 15:18

I'm trying to think of teachers that have influenced me, but I'm also thinking of books because there's A lot of lessons that I've gotten from books that have like really impacted me. But I think one of like my most important lessons that I did get from a book, the book was the Untethered Soul. And that one, yeah. Okay. So yeah, he talks about how experiences in life are meant to move through you. And when you don't allow that to pass through you, and you kind of try to hold and block it, it stays there. And it causes this. This ruptures, this natural flow that is supposed to happen. Yeah. And so that's something that I'm kind of, that's with me every day, I feel I'm always trying to be aware of that. It's not easy, like just but just trying to allow that flow to happen. And just that trust that it implies. That's kind of for me, like one of my core lesson is that really resonated with me, whenever the book. Yeah,

Lisa Hopkins: 16:23

no, absolutely. You know, there's that the, there's a lot of writing about, on that topic about the arc of an emotion, right. And so often, we don't let it finish its arcs, we hold on to it, just as you're describing, you know, and that it's important to let it pass through you and to acknowledge and validate that it's there, but not to necessarily take action on it, but rather know that it can pass through. And you're right, it's hard, because it's we hold on, right. Absolutely. Yeah, yeah. Oh, that's very cool. Talk to me about what role curiosity plays in your life.

Akira Uchida: 17:02

Hmm, I love curiosity. Yeah. Sometimes I have to, I, sometimes my curiosity will go in too many directions that I have to kind of create a structure that I'm like, Okay, I'm going to be curious within this face. And that actually I find is, works weirdly well for me, because then it's like, Okay, let me dive really deep into this. So if I'm a lot in a lot of ways that that does apply to my work. Like if I'm curious about exploring a specific aspect of movement or something, I'll be like, really, really, really curious and fascinated by it and think about it, like, all the time, and I feel like that helps me kind of move forward in a specific direction. But I think that I still do have a curiosity for just anything. But I will say that I have that that ability to focus it on, on specific things, which I do think is useful.

Lisa Hopkins: 18:00

Yeah, for sure. Do you ever get caught up in too many ideas, too many curiosities, like a paralysis

Akira Uchida: 18:05

by analysis? I think when I was younger, I definitely did more. As I get older, um, I would say a bit less. I'm pretty focused as a person. Sometimes I'm almost like, now I've gotten too focused with like, my, my lens. I'm like, this is where we're, this is what I'm looking at that I kind of forget to go wander. That's interesting. Yeah.

Lisa Hopkins: 18:26

It's funny that you said to focused, Where's that coming from? Where's that judgment coming from the Oh, you're sometimes I'm too focused.

Akira Uchida: 18:38

I think it's a mix of myself. But I know that people have people, my friends and people around me, do you have that perception of me? Like you're really intense with your focus? Which, yeah, I think it comes off very serious sometimes, which I guess it can be. But yeah, I don't know. I think there I do have an intensity to my energy. So when I end up focusing on that one thing, all of me is in that, and I think sometimes that can feel like I may be disconnected from what's out here. Mm hmm.

Lisa Hopkins: 19:14

Totally. I understand. I understand what you're saying. What you just described was, how sometimes when, you know, when you're, it's not so much focus, but when you're when you're in flow, let's say that, you know, at a very high level that people sometimes can perceive one of the disadvantages might be that people think that you are disconnected. Interesting, and it's usually because you're not weighing in, you know, our, our culture is so used, and our friends especially are so used to us saying, Oh, I like your shirt. Oh, I love that. Or I don't like that or giving you advice, like weighing in, right and weighing in is judgment good or bad? If even if you're saying something good? Yeah. But when you're up there, you don't have time for that. Because you're you're focused on the larger meta things. So you're not maybe weighing in,

Akira Uchida: 20:04

if that makes sense. Yeah, for sure. Yeah.

Lisa Hopkins: 20:07

What? What is your definition of living in the moment?

Akira Uchida: 20:11

So I've been thinking about that a lot since you asked me the question. I think I think there's kind of two parts of it for me. Like, I think when you're truly living in the moment, you're not, you're not thinking about living in a moment, your present VR experience. But, you know, as we talk about it right now, and kind of thinking about it more as a concept, I do feel like it involves. It involves a sensory component. So just like really being present and aware of the information that's available to you, or coming at you, I would say in that moment, like, like it can be, it can be emotions, it can be how textures feel, it can be like smells, sight, like, just, like, even just noticing things, I think is does really have to do with being in the moment and being present for me. Like, I think that when I get in my head, and when I get distracted, I'm not present for the things that are in front of me, and sometimes really beautiful, like just small details. So I think that's one thing that is important for me, but on a larger skill. I feel a living in the moment is just appreciating the moment that you're in having acceptance for having gratitude for it, and not the sense of like, Oh, I'm just focused on being over there. And, and getting there and getting there. I miss how things were back then. It's like, Yeah, I think acceptance, this is what I'm in right now. And it doesn't mean that it has to, doesn't mean you have to always love this moment and be like, like, yeah, just happy when you're not like, that's not, that's not accurate. But I think that you can accept this moment that you're in, and then if you wanted to change it, then you could, you know, take action in this moment to create something different. But yeah, I think it's just not getting caught in that trap of always thinking about how you want something to be more like that or like this. Yeah, acceptance first and then action.

Lisa Hopkins: 22:23

I love that. I love that. It's so interesting. What came up for me was that, what do you think about this? When when we are in fear, like fight or flight, we are absolutely in the moment, right? Like if something if your apartment just went on fire or something you are threatened, like seriously threatened right now you're all your primitive instincts would focus on that? And that would be in the moment, right? I mean, completely. Right. Totally. And it's so interesting, because contrast that with, and that to me, when I think of it, you know, especially spatially I think of that as a very tight, narrow, like nothing else in the matter, you know, in the world matters except for survival. I mean, that's our survival instinct. And yet, when we talk about sometimes being in the moment, it feels like more of an open acceptance. Here I am. What do you think about that? I'm curious, I don't I don't know even know what I think about. That's

Akira Uchida: 23:25

super interesting. Well, I do think that does, I do think that connects with the sensory piece that I was saying, because even if you're experiencing something intense, like something really fearful, like there's a fire, you're gonna be really connected to your senses in that moment, and like, very alert, so I do think that that does connect. But I agree that we often have this perspective of living in the moment as being like, yeah, this open, like, beautiful, kind of joyous thing. And I think there are definitely those magical moments where you're just really kind of have this outwards perspective while you're in the moment. And it's like, wow, this is so this is an amazing thing. But I guess, I guess if we simplify, I really feel like living in the moment has to do with just being present in your body for the experience you're having. And not just in your head.

Lisa Hopkins: 24:25

Yeah, I love that, like so simple, right? Yeah. Do you think you create the moment or does the moment come to you? Or was the moment just always there?

Akira Uchida: 24:32

Oh, sorry. Oh, I love that. No, no, I love that. Do you think you create the moment or the moment comes to you? I think it's I think it's both I think it's a I don't think it's like impossibly Well, you know what the moment I feel like is gonna come either way. But I think that you can create the moment if you are desiring something, but I think either way, the moment is the moment and it's happening.

Lisa Hopkins: 25:02

Do you think that they're the moments there? To sort of riff off what you're saying that the moment is there? Whether or not you notice it, and if you notice it, then you experience the moment?

Akira Uchida: 25:14

Yes, I would agree with that. Yeah.

Lisa Hopkins: 25:17

That makes sense. Have you read Big Magic? Yeah, definitely. So you know, the idea of have ideas visiting you? Mm hmm. I love I mean, it's similar kind of concept, right? I feel like the moments are all around us. And if we just draw awareness, you know, and decide to partner with the moment. Absolutely. Yeah. It's kind of a beautiful way of looking at it. Right? So it's your choice, I think a little bit meaning it's there if you want it. And it's true. It's fleeting, if if you don't, but that's okay. Because you didn't choose it. It was there, though.

Akira Uchida: 25:50

I totally agree. Yeah. It's like, like, the way that the sun is hitting this beautiful plant. It's there. Whether or not you tune into it or pay attention to it. Yeah. You just made me missed out, because you were up in your head thinking about something?

Lisa Hopkins: 26:05

Yeah. 100%. And I think that's what why nature brings us all back to that right. Oh, yeah, for sure. I love it. Very cool. We got deep. What, what? What, if anything, do you think stands between you and who you want to be? Well, I

Akira Uchida: 26:23

think how I frame that question differently in my head, which I think is the same question, but I just I worded differently is that, what am I moving towards? Or who like what, who am I moving towards? Or what I'm aiming towards, as opposed to like, who? What stands between me and who I want to be? I feel like it creates this this separation that could feel like maybe unattainable sometimes if like, like, I'll never get there, like, you know what I mean, there's all these obstacles in the way. Whereas I feel like, like anything in life, it's a transition. And there's, there's a, you're always moving towards something. So yeah, just now. I mean, if once I've clarified that, to kind of think more about like, well, what am I wanting to move towards? I'm always, I'm always working towards moving into a version of myself that is more trusting, grounded, confident, I feel like as a teacher, I have this knowledge that comes to me when I'm in that space that I am really grateful for. And I feel like, in a lot of ways, my teaching self is like my higher self, I get to like, step into that. And I'm aware that that exists for me because of teaching. And so that's something that I'm trying to channel more and more in my day to day like, How can I? How can I approach life from that space? And from that mindset of like, I have this knowledge, and I have this trust, and I can move through my life confidently with that. So that's definitely something that comes to mind when I answered that question. As opposed to, you know, the child mindset of like, like, I'm running around, like, I'm trying to figure things out, like, oh, what's going on? I need to protect, you know what I mean?

Lisa Hopkins: 28:16

Yeah, for sure. For sure. And maybe that maybe the wording would be better if, if it was, you know, what stands in the way, you know, what sometimes stands in the way not like the ultimate thing to how you want to be? It could be it could be as simple as when I get hungry, I become angry, I become angry, right?

Akira Uchida: 28:37

Yeah. Okay, so to dive into that part, what stands in the way I feel like sometimes it's just, I think it's just being a little too reactive. I think, when I take things a little slower, and I can digest and process even if it's just a feeling sensation, I feel like things go better. And so I think often I'll be a little too quick and reactive. And I'll just go off I mean, especially the younger version of me would do this a lot something would kind of trigger sensation or feeling and I would really react off of it and whether that would mean like okay, let me try to like be hyper productive and do this thing that didn't really need to be done or like that means I'm going to just run and go in this other direction that's something that I'm definitely that definitely does get in the way of me moving towards even just like goals or things that I am wanting for myself. So that's something I'm working on what big

Lisa Hopkins: 29:40

audacious goal or dream Do you have that you haven't put out in the universe yet huh

Akira Uchida: 29:54

couple that stand out but I I really I love music. And so I'm really wanting to I have worked with music artists but I am wanting to do that on a larger scale. I love the crossover between dance and music and I love when people with a music platform give dance enough space to actually like truly like be entered to enter wind into To the experience of whether it's like a music show or something. So that's definitely something that I'm wanting to. I'm hoping to manifest for myself working with more like large scale artists, whether it's on a tour or just to performance or music video work, I've done some of it, but I'm definitely wanting to do more of it.

Lisa Hopkins: 30:44

Yeah, very cool. Yeah, it's sometimes good to speak it into the universe, right? Yeah, for sure. Is there anything that's in that? And you don't need to share it if you don't want to? But is there anything you know, in the closet of your mind, and it might not be related to your work? It might be that that is just it just floats around in there that you sort of you think of it as a whimsy or just a passing fancy? Or you kind of laugh? And is there anything in there that?

Akira Uchida: 31:09

Yeah. I mean, I think at some point, it would be really cool to enter, integrate all my passions, as far as like music and dance, and like energy, and the body and awareness and all these things, it would be really cool to put that together into some kind of experience, or some kind of, I don't know if it's like developing some kind of method of movement or teaching or something like that. But I'm definitely I'm curious about how all this information is going to intersect at some point, because I've been just developing all this stuff over the years through my experience, but I, I feel like at some point, it's going to just mash and I'm not really sure how but I'm interested in.

Lisa Hopkins: 31:56

Well, I love that. It sounds like you're very much operating from a trust the process kind of, yeah. And the curiosity is coming in now saying, now that you're calling all these all this experience your story, it's interesting, another part of your brain is starting to go. Hmm. Wonder how these are going to intersect? Right? Yeah. I love that. That's exciting. And do you get excited by the unknown? Go ahead. You're gonna say something?

Akira Uchida: 32:22

No, no, it's a good, I think. I definitely I do like to, you know, set goals for myself. more so on the shorter term, I feel but I feel like, ultimately, what does guide me is more intuition and more, a feeling of like, where things are moving? Yeah. And so I think maybe that's why sometimes it's hard for me to go like beyond, like, three years, as far as like, what I know, what would be my fantasy, because I just, I feel like a lot of what drives me and moves me is this is the feeling that I'm having. And not necessarily just like, not emotion I'm talking about, it's more of a deeper feeling of like, Yeah, this is where things are shifting in that direction. Yeah,

Lisa Hopkins: 33:11

big time awareness again, ya know, it's so interesting. I was just writing something about when I was 16 years old, I remember sitting in Toronto, at my high school, on the floor, underneath the window, you know, at lunch, or whatever. And I was visited literally, by this thought it was just this feeling of you can you can do anything you will do. And it was just this No, I remember the moment, it came out of nowhere, we weren't talking philosophically nothing. I read, you know, I took it to mean, I'm going to dance. That was when my agent was born my agency, and that the gift was that no matter what I decide to do, I will be able to do it, if I want to do it. And it presented itself is truth. And at the time, I didn't analyze it like this, but now I can. And and I applied it, you know, like we do, oh, cool. This is a good feeling. I'm gonna like go to New York or whatever. And, you know, I'm not saying I didn't love dance, or wasn't passionate about dance or whatever. But now in my life, like, when I'm not dancing, I still have that feeling. So it's not dependent on dance, right? I want to share that with you. Like, I feel like I am the agent of my own life. And that has happened to my values that I can do anything I want.

Akira Uchida: 34:31

Yeah, that's really beautiful. And I completely I completely agree with that and feel that

Lisa Hopkins: 34:37

you feel that yeah, I feel it in you. That's why I wanted to share it with you. Yeah. Thank you. So cool. Agency, right. It's beautiful. It doesn't have to be attached, you know, because it's you. It's in you.

Akira Uchida: 34:47

Absolutely. Yeah, at some point, I feel I just realized that. There's no such thing as like, oh, only this person can do this thing and only this person can do that thing. And I can only do these things like it's really just information and applying yourself and like if you truly feel compelled to do something and passionate about it, then it's really about seeking out like what is the right information way to build, you know, whether it's skills or relationships or whatever it is like, all of that is out there. available to you. It's just about like what direction you want to move in?

Lisa Hopkins: 35:26

Yeah. What do you think about the the idea that you're your biggest strength? is also your Achilles heel? Hmm. I think

Akira Uchida: 35:42

think it's important to be mindful about your biggest strength because I don't know that I would say it's your biggest. It's your Achilles heel. But I think that if you kind of move blindly into that strength and lose your awareness and your perception, then maybe it can become something different. Yeah.

Lisa Hopkins: 36:04

And it can, you know, a lot of people it can hold them back from evolving. Yeah, I can see that. Yes. You know, anywhere where you just you keep doing something the same way because it works.

Akira Uchida: 36:14

Okay. Yeah. From that perspective, absolutely. And I think too, like, it can be dangerous if you have that become too much a part of your identity. Because then you kind of latch on to it out of fear of what is maybe less comfortable or less known?

Lisa Hopkins: 36:30

Yeah, 100%, it gets harder and harder to try new things, right? Because you feel like you want to show up or have to show up, you know, the way that you're known, ya know, for sure, really interesting. What do you what do you know will stay true about you, no matter what happens.

Akira Uchida: 36:52

I know that I'm always going to be curious. And I know that I'm always going to want to keep learning and to keep evolving. So even if something really bad happens to me, I'm always going to be curious about how can I move through this? And what is the lesson here? And when I have that perspective, it helps me stay excited and motivated, not motivated. And like, I'm going to do things in my career but motivated just to like, you know, be in my life. Because it makes me feel like there's still movement happening. I'm not stuck.

Lisa Hopkins: 37:35

Yeah. 100%? Yeah. What's something? What's something that you don't want people to know about you?

Akira Uchida: 37:50

I think, yeah, I think people have this perception of me being like, really, really organized, really calm, really collected, and really, you know, on top of it, which I am those things specifically, like if I show up for work, and I'm teaching, like I definitely am those things, but I also can be really, like, erratic and chaotic and wild. Yeah, I think not everybody sees that side of me. My close people see that side of me. But I don't always show up with that side.

Lisa Hopkins: 38:25

That's interesting. And so that's something that people get wrong about you. Right? Meaning that they assume they assume that you are the other way, and they don't know that. Yeah. Is it something? I'm just digging in a little deeper? If it's okay, like is, the question was, is there anything that you don't want people

Akira Uchida: 38:43

to know? Or don't want people to know?

Lisa Hopkins: 38:47

And you don't have to share it if you don't want?

Akira Uchida: 38:50

Hmm. I mean, yeah, I think sometimes it's hard for me to, like show that I just, I just don't know, or that I feel lost. I think that's difficult for me to show, especially like being in a position of a choreographer, teacher kind of like, you kind of have to leave. It's hard for me to show that side, which obviously, we we all experienced, but I do experience that sometimes while I'm in choreography or teaching, but I don't always show it.

Lisa Hopkins: 39:30

Yeah, no, thanks for sharing that. That's huge. I mean, and like you said, we've we've all been there. And we absolutely don't want anyone to know when we're feeling that way. Of course. Of course, it's so interesting, too, because the irony of it is, because we don't want anyone to see it. You know, the thing we want is to be more, you know, connected and, you know, productive or inspired or whatever it is in the moment. But when we're operating on the fear of being found out, oh, yeah, we close

Akira Uchida: 40:04

for sure. So you can't definitely, definitely. So then you just

Lisa Hopkins: 40:10

get through right then you and we all we do, we're here. So inevitably we get through, right, but it's like

Akira Uchida: 40:16

yeah, that's a big one. Yeah.

Lisa Hopkins: 40:19

Yeah. How do you how do you want to be remembered See?

Akira Uchida: 40:26

That's a tricky one. I want to be remembered for being kind, and being thoughtful. And also for having made an impact on people and their perceptions and their ideas. I think that's how I want to be remembered.

Lisa Hopkins: 40:53

Yeah, that's beautiful. Well, I could speak with you all day. Okay, let's do this. Let's do a rap. Fr. Okay, I'm gonna say, What makes you and I'm gonna say a word and you're gonna say whatever comes to your mind or, okay. Yeah. So what makes you hungry? Knowledge? What makes you sad? People who

Akira Uchida: 41:23

need help, but are not able to get it.

Lisa Hopkins: 41:26

What inspires you?

Akira Uchida: 41:29

Potential for anything, just potential for growth change.

Lisa Hopkins: 41:36

What frustrates you?

Akira Uchida: 41:39

When someone is not able to show up for an important conversation? What makes you laugh? being silly with friends.

Lisa Hopkins: 41:50

What makes you angry? Justice. I'll leave it at that. Yeah. And finally, what are you grateful for?

Akira Uchida: 42:06

So many things. I don't think I could say like one word for that. But I'm grateful for the people in my life. I'm grateful for my journey. All the things I've learned my guests. I'm grateful just to honestly just to be healthy and to be able to have every day. I know that's cheesy, but I really do feel that

Lisa Hopkins: 42:29

it's not cheesy. It's funny how it's become cheesy, right? Yeah, that's it. Yeah. That's so interesting.

Akira Uchida: 42:36

Yeah, I mean, I think it's, I think it's cheesy, because there's so many people who say it. It's kind of like painted on pictures without without the actual meeting anymore. I think that's why it's become cheesy, but I do think it's true.

Lisa Hopkins: 42:51

Yeah. I'm gonna ask you one more. What makes you what makes you insecure?

Akira Uchida: 43:06

I think it does come back to that piece of that. I don't have it altogether. Yeah. Totally.

Lisa Hopkins: 43:13

What are the top three things that have happened so far today?

Akira Uchida: 43:18

Top three things. I went for a short walk on this. That was nice. Just like nice morning. He was great. Did my morning meditation, it's always really enjoyable part of my day. And I mean, I think this I think there's so many meaningful parts of this conversation that I just really loud. So yeah, I would say thank you.

Lisa Hopkins: 43:44

No, thank you. What is something that you're looking forward to?

Akira Uchida: 43:52

So I, I recently just recovered from an injury and my hip. And one of the things that I had to stop doing while I was injured was biking. I actually tried to start biking again at one point every injured it's that was like really frustrating. But it's like one of my greatest joys in the summer is just the bike and listen to music. So I do this thing at the end of the summer for myself, where I go on a long bike ride, at least one day, like what one time I did like the whole tour of Manhattan on my bike, and another time I just biked really far to the beach, but I'm definitely going to do at least one of those days. And I'm really looking forward to that.

Lisa Hopkins: 44:31

That sounds great. That sounds fantastic. Hopefully, it won't be too humid when you go right.

Akira Uchida: 44:35

Yeah, but honestly, I don't mind the heat. I kind of like sweating. I like the feeling of it. So yeah, it cleanses you. Yeah.

Lisa Hopkins: 44:41

Oh my gosh, Shakira, it's been such a joy speaking with you today. Thank you so much.

Akira Uchida: 44:45

Yeah, it really has. I'm grateful. Thank you so much.

Lisa Hopkins: 44:48

Yeah, it's been my pleasure. I've been speaking today with Akira Yoshida. Thanks for listening. Stay safe and healthy everyone and remember to live in the moment. In music, stop time is that beautiful moment where the band is suspended and rhythmic unison, supporting the soloist to express their individuality. In the moment, I encourage you to take that time and create your own revenue. Until next time, I'm Lisa Hopkins. Thanks for listening