ems ❀

Q. You will be performing in the “Mathieu Gala Special Gala New Year Concert” with Mathieu Ganio, the etoile of the Paris Opera Ballet in January, and you will perform a new duet with Mathieu.

YUZUKA RAY. I’ve never imagined that there’d be a day when I could dance with Mathieu Ganio, and I was surprised. I watched Mathieu’s performances before I entered Takarazuka, and I could say that he was the top class prince charming I imagined in my head, and truly “the prince of ballet”. I am so honoured but also nervous about this performance. I learnt ballet when I was young, and I performed mostly jazz dances and theatre dances in Takarazuka Revue. I’d love to see how my show dances and Mathieu’s beautiful classic ballet could synchronise as one. I, myself am also excited and thrilled as to what performance we will show to you all.

Q. You first danced ballet when you were 3 years old, and you describe that you were so concentrated from the very beginning.

Y. I love moving my body to the music. When I entered middle school, I had attended the same class as the current etoile of the Paris Opera Ballet, Hannah O’Neill and I also competed before. As every lesson passed, I discovered more challenges to overcome and there were more ideals that I wanted to achieve, so those lessons were nothing but fun! And I was truly concentrated in them.

Q. What is your strength in ballet?

Y. I love dances that have a strong acting element, or we call those ‘character dances’. My teacher had also noticed that, and therefore arranged more of such roles to me. I also love dancing rhythmic waltz steps.

Whether it was playing as a child role in “The Nutcracker” during my time in the Maki Asami Ballet Academy, or when I was granted the opportunity to perform in an operetta in my middle school days, perhaps my teacher had realized that I enjoyed being on stage, so they introduced Takarazuka Revue to me, another alternative to performing on stage as opposed to dancing ballet. With such turning point, I decided to attempt the admission exam for the Takarazuka Music School in Year 9.

Q. How was life in the Music School?

Y. Apart from ballet, we were learning jazz danze and tap dance, modern dance and also Japanese dance, and beyond many such genres of dance, we also took lessons in acting, vocal practice and tea ceremony. Since this was my first time experiencing all of these classes, I was very much focused. Every day, I desperately worked hard with what was ahead, and those were such fulfilling days.

Q. When you entered Takarazuka Revue, you were quickly promoted and was appointed the Top Star in 2019. You captivated many fans by showing such graceful beauty and otokoyaku sharpness in your dance. How is dancing as otokoyaku different from dancing ballet?

Y. When I danced as otokoyaku, I stayed aware about maintaining the square formed by the left and right shoulder lines and the pelvis; when I danced, I made sure that the body looks linear and flat. The center of gravity position was also different from ballet, which didn’t require elevating my body; instead I’d feel the sense of gravity, and maintaining the center of gravity was a fundamental consideration for otokoyaku. The base was to stand firmly with the weight of the waist so that the body did not seem wobbly and unstable. Since there were cases of lifting musumeyaku, the use of the muscles on the front and outside was completely different. However, as much as I have experienced, no matter what genre of dance it was, I realized that classical ballet is the foundation for everything I do. Since I have foundational knowledge of ballet, I could adjust or improve the center of gravity position and showing a beautiful line for each dance.

Q. When you dance, what do you pay attention to the most?

Y. First, I listen to a lot of music. From the song and from its tonality, I try to envision the world view it conveys, and the emotions or warmth of a character I’d be playing. Let’s say that the tempo also affects the heartbeats of a role. I’m also interested as to how a choreographer picks up certain notes and gains inspiration from the song to create a choreography. As a dancer, I’d like to firmly graps such hints when I dance.

Q. Please leave a message for the ‘CLARA’ readers who are also practicing ballet diligently!

Y. I am also a reader of ‘CLARA’, and because I am truly in love with dancing ballet, so when I do see ballet dancers on the streets, I’d also react mentally hoping to send a wish of ‘Good luck’! (LOL) Ballet is about facing the mirror as you practice on the dance bars, do stretching and other forms of training – it is an art of resilience. But I believe that when you accumulate experiences from the long years of hard work you’ve devoted in ballet, then this won’t only raise your level in ballet, but can also become your greatest weapon. For those who endeavour fully into something, it won’t be just the world of ballet, but rather many roads will open up to them. Ballet is truly amazing! The more I get in contact with more genres of dance, the more I realise that classical ballet has a beautiful world unique to its own. I hope that you will be proud for practicing ballet so diligently, that you never forget why you like ballet, and enjoy the most of the process!

Q. What is the charm of ballet to you?

Y. The beauty of movement! Apart from performances, I would even just watch bar lessons, because seeing proper and correct ballet positions refresh my heart and cleanse my mind.

Q. Do you have a favourite ballet dancer?