Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayami Ino.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ayami. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am originally from Tokyo, Japan and I decided to fly across the country by myself when I was 13 to pursue my career as a dancer. At that time, I felt as if I was given an ultimatum to stop dancing or to continue dancing as I was trying to figure out where I wanted to go to high school. Once I decided that I did not want to stop dancing, I packed up my things and set off to attend Interlochen Arts Academy. After graduation, I still found myself all-in on dancing, next thing I knew I was applying to colleges and that is how I ended up here in Boston.
I have been a dancer my whole life and I’m graduating from The Boston Conservatory in about a month. It’s pretty ironic that I’m doing an interview at a point in my life where I am undergoing a transformation, both mentally and physically, leading me to where I am today and deciding if dancing is my “end all be all.”
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
All of my life, I have identified myself as a “dancer” and have been identified as a “dancer”. However, with graduation quickly approaching I have been forced to confront myself with a question that has changed the life I have always known: do I really want to pursue dance as a career? The answer: I’m not really sure. The past 17 years of my life have been solely dedicated to dance, how could it be that I’m not sure if it’s what I want anymore?
For a couple of months, I struggled getting out of bed because going to school and dancing was simply no longer where my passion lied. The days seemed to drag on and going to the gym with my boyfriend at the end of the day was the only thing that got me through the day. Then, I noticed the shift in my intentions, I got to the gym to get in better shape for dance but now I could not stand dance and started to find more joy in fitness. The ability to be able to work on my body in a different way and to see the improvements on my physicality was very refreshing and exciting. This is when I told myself that maybe I need a break from dance and that was surprising because I never expected myself to be the person that “takes a break” from dance. Especially in a conservatory setting where people are immersed in the art form 24/7, it is natural to feel the stigma of having to get a dance job right after college. However, that is just a stigma and not the reality.
My biggest challenge in all of this has been breaking the mold that both myself and environment, has cast around me. The expectations of the world around me have held me within the borders of what I should and shouldn’t do and kept me from crossing the threshold of what’s next outside of dance. Sticking to the status quo is what keeps us from breaking away from the only thing we have ever known but I believe the recognition and acceptance of that can help us to begin the forming of a new mold; something less constrictive.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with your business – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I was trained in ballet since I was 4 years old. However, with moving to the states I became exposed to different styles of dance such as; modern, contemporary, jazz, etc. Now, I am working to become a personal trainer and a fitness icon through my YouTube page as I share my knowledge and experience that I acquired throughout the years of dancing in conjunction with my fitness journey individually.
Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
This is not necessarily only towards women, but personally, I would say that it is to be “okay” and feeling “enough” with where I am and who I am. I think we all have a tendency to feel the need to exceed certain expectations we feel from different people whether it be from our family, friends or even ourselves. Especially with social media being such a huge part of this society it is often impossible not to compare your life to someone else’s, it is almost like the world is telling you that you are not good enough. However, what we do not realize is that the grass is always going to look greener, but the grass under you might seem greener to someone else. As cliche as it sounds, there is always someone that is going to be prettier, has a bigger house, or has a better body. What you think “success” looks like, someone else will have something better. What we see online is only a fractional piece of their lives. Social media is merely a tool and not something to live your life through. Everyone has different things to offer to the world, and that is something we should all embrace as an individual.
I am not using the word “okay” in terms of being lazy or being unmotivated, but it is more so of a feeling of contentment, and a peace you have with yourself. At the end of the day, we are the only ones that can make ourselves happy; you are enough.
Contact Info:
- Email: ayamii.ino@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azndancer/?hl=en
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB9lBVbTtzLcSlP_28-0g7g?view_as=subscriber
Image Credit:
Timothy Avery Photography
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