Hirokazu Tategata's Danceable LIFE Vol.4
What I learned through teaching
Hirokazu Tategata (dancer and choreographer)
I've been teaching jazz dance at a university for about three years now. It all started when I had the opportunity to guest star as Carabosse in Momoko Tani's "Sleeping Beauty." I never expected to be invited to perform in a classical ballet production, especially one so full-scale that it involved directing and choreographing by a former principal dancer from Russia's Kirov Ballet, so I learned a lot.
Through this connection, I was asked if I would be willing to teach jazz dance classes at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music.
In fact, when I was in my twenties, I taught at a cultural center for a short period of time, but when it comes to teaching at a university, it's quite a challenge. I still want to continue dancing, so I felt it would be a waste of time. However, such opportunities are rare. Dance cannot be left as a tangible entity like painting or music, so I thought it would be nice to be able to pass on what I have learned to the younger generation, so I accepted the offer.
The problem is "what should I convey?" I'm not an elite dancer, so I'm not a good example of technique. I thought it would be good to take on the challenge since they asked me to do it, but it takes courage to "teach" students.
When I consulted an acquaintance who teaches at a university, he told me, "You don't have to teach. Just show them how you dance." What was required was for me to show them the attitude I had taken towards dance, and it was up to the students to decide how to interpret and acquire that. Those words encouraged me to start teaching classes.
I started out with the hope that students would learn from watching me dance, how to express themselves through dance, and how to have a strong presence, but before I knew it, three years had passed. I had no experience as a teacher, and it was difficult to teach classes while also performing, so I thought I would want to quit soon.
Apparently, I didn't dislike teaching.
I don't think I'm teaching well, and sometimes it feels like a hassle. But watching my students grow step by step makes me happy and I feel affection for them. It was a surprise even to me.
This spring we will have our first graduating class, and I am excited to see how they will thrive in the outside world.
Just like when I was forced to step down from a stage performance due to an injury, you never know what will happen in this world. No matter how prepared you are, if it's not going to work out, it's not going to work out. I'm going to take everything in a positive way and do the best I can.
Photography assistance: Don Giovanni
https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1317/A131705/13154500/
