Name: Takako (Tako) Suzuki
Year: First
Major: Pre-Communication
Hometown: Saitama, Japan
Hobbies: Hip-hop dancing and volleyball
Favorite place to eat in IV? Freebirds is always the go-to place!
Celebrity crush: Zac Efron
Favorite music artist(s): Ed Sheeran, Gnash, and Coldplay
Favorite food: Ramen. I can eat that every day for a week.
Why did you want to attend school in the states? More specifically, UCSB?
The diverse campus is certainly one of the main aspects that attracted me to the States. Being in a less homogeneous student body gives me the opportunity to embrace different cultures, religions, and ethnicities. I specifically chose UCSB because of one the most cliché reason, the beach!
What differences do you notice about living in China vs. the US?
I moved to China when I was around 4 years old. Growing up in China definitely wasn’t easy because of how people discriminated against the Japanese. Yet, I managed to meet some life-long friends. One thing I realize is that conservatism in terms of religion and sexuality are still social norms in which people use to judge the others. However, living in China did not shape me into a closed-minded person. Instead, I am opening up to new ideas which is why I chose to travel to America.
When did you start dancing?
I started dancing in 8th grade when I saw my friends performing on stage. The initial reason that motivated me was not because of the movement itself. It is about my identity. Being Japanese in a Chinese local school stripped away my confidence, and motivation of being a “good student”. But I see a great dancer as not being judged based on appearance and grades, which is something I can work towards. Therefore, I danced and slowly started to regain confidence.
What style of dance do you do? Or enjoy doing?
The first style I attempted was sexy jazz, and it took me very quickly to realize I am more of a boyish girl. I enjoy the moment where a girl can kill a hip-hop choreography better than a man. I feel empowered and stronger.
Tell me more about your dance journey so far.
Luckily enough, I visit my father in Japan every summer which gives me the opportunities to train in one of the most popular dance studio there. I was able to improve a lot in a very short amount of time. Junior year I started working at a local dance studio in China. We performed on live television and concerts with celebrities, which is something I’ve never dreamed of.
Are you in any clubs/orgs on campus?
Currently I am a member of Vietnamese Student Association and Urban Dance Company. These two organizations are really different from one another, but they give me a brand new and interesting experience.
Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
Honestly, 5 years is a long time and I could be in another country. So at the moment I am planning out my path a year in advance. Hopefully, I will still enjoy who I was and who I become in the future.