1. Why do you want to go to Japan?
“Ever since I arrived here in America I have thought about how I could create a bridge between this country and my home country Japan. And from my experience artists and people in general are doing very different things in each country. I want to share what I have learned and see how people in Japan react to my personal experiences. And I feel extremely honored to have my friends Chelsea and Brandon at my side to combat this idea of bridging these two separate art worlds. “ (Tsukasa)
“There isn’t one reason, mostly it’s an option. I’ve been excited mostly because Tsukasa gets to go home much sooner than he would have. Also there seems to be a need and a want for us to contribute to some people. It will simply be an experience, rather than having tons of goals I am going to be a support and have the experience of another culture to take from and contribute to with a group that I really enjoy. I look forward to working with people I think are responsible, talented artists that can produce good things on the spot…although of course we will have framework. “(Brandon)
“Initially because it is a mystery to me…and the more I study it the more interested I become in finding out about the culture and the arts. I want to learn about what they find important and necessary to respond to. And I am excited to work with people who live there and who are interested in responding to their own culture through art. And of course learn from them” (Chelsea)
2. Why do you think it is important to bring your art to Japan?
“As artists I feel that we have to be open. There should always be that possibility to expand and grow within our art form. Staying in one place with art or one definition of art seems silly to me. To be comfortable in old ways, traditional ways and not open to the idea that the world and people around you are changing will prevent us from learning new things. I have seen so many new things here in New York, and I would love to see what will happen once we combine ideas and these new possibilities of what art is and its definition. So, it’s important to bring our art to Japan because I know there is more to art than we are allowing ourselves to create in this present moment.” (Tsukasa)
“Less about me and more about my medium, the saxophone in particular has played a really interesting role in Japan. In the university setting it plays a similar role that it does here in America, having classical saxophone as a finely tuned craft. There are some really masterful people there doing some extraordinary work, but also there is recognition in Japan where the flexibility of the instrument is widely explored. It does classical, jazz, bee bop, and rock and also there are some fantastic written down improvisations based off the Japanese flute….I respect it purely off the idea that the saxophone can emulate such a cherished thing to them. It is a beautiful style of music and I have particular affection for taking the saxophone there and showing what I do on it, sharing overlapping similarities there. It will be strange doing it with musical theater kids, but the big band will be extremely fun. I am mostly excited about the appreciation for my instrument.”(Brandon)
“As I dancer I want to be extremely sensitive when I arrive. I don’t know enough about the art form, which of course is a big reason to go, but also I want to give of myself what possibly they haven’t had. Such as ballroom, jazz, hip hop, which I do know a lot about and have spent the past four years at Juilliard, if not a lifetime learning. I want to offer what they want or what they need. So I want to go as a dancer because I have a lot to offer and I only want to offer what they want to accept and if they don’t need it and they only want certain styles I will give them what they want. But I am interested in responding to their needs as a dancer, and learning of different types of dance they do there. “(Chelsea)
3. What draws you towards this type of outreach/volunteer work?
“The short version is that I like to help people, I don’t always do it but I want to do it as much as I can and I want to get better at it. There seems to be a need for us, and want for us, unlike going to an impoverished place and supplying something as imperative as water, rather we are going for the cultural exchange. That is the most exciting thing to me at this point is going and not just imposing my views or skill sets on people but actually saying we are going to be in the area, how can we help? And I think that is the essence that appeals to me the most. “ (Brandon)
“I find that doing outreach, working with people from different areas of the world particularly students, fulfills me in a new way. It fulfills me in a creative and inspiring way. I love dancing I will always dance, but working with people who are struggling to find answers, especially with children and kids is very important to me. I feel that I have a lot to offer and that I had a lot of things I would have wanted to know as a growing student. I find that through dance, theater and music or simply having discussions with people if you truly care like I know that three of us care than we can have quite a significant impact just by sharing our own personal experiences. It is simply rewarding to work with people who want to grow with you, be with you and learn from you. Rather than working in a company, this type of work is fulfilling in a completely separate way…and I love it.” (Chelsea)
