Daily Inspiration: Meet Kozue Kasahara

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kozue Kasahara.

Hi Kozue, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Yokohama, Japan, and started studying classical ballet at the age of four at T.K. Ballet Academy under Tazuko Kakinuma and Yoshihisa Kanai, who were among the pioneering generation that helped establish ballet in Japan.
After earning a degree in Literature from Aoyama Gakuin University, I decided to take a chance on myself and moved to Los Angeles to continue my dance training at Santa Monica College.

After getting an AA degree in Dance at Santa Monica College, I’ve had the opportunity to perform with several LA based local dance companies, and in 2019 I joined Lula Washington Dance Theatre as a company dance member and performed nationally and internationally works by Martha Graham, Donald McKayle, Donald Byrd, Rennie Harris, Lula Washington, and Tamica Washington-Miller and more. I’ve learned that dance is much more than movement—it’s a way of preserving history, expressing identity, and giving voice to stories that deserve to be heard.

Today, I perform, teach dance and Pilates, and work with students of all ages. Looking ahead, one of my biggest goals is to help create more opportunities for cultural exchange between Japan and the United States. As a member of Lula Washington Dance Theatre, I hope to one day help bring our company’s work to Japan and inspire young people to discover cultures beyond their own, just as my own life was transformed by stepping outside of mine.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all. Looking back, every stage of my journey has come with its own challenges.

Moving from Japan to Los Angeles by myself was probably one of the challenges. Fortunately I had a great education since middle school, so communicating was not that much challenge for me, but I had no family here in LA and I came to an entirely different dance environment while trying to build a life from scratch. There were many moments when I questioned whether I belonged here.

As a dancer, I also struggled with confidence. I grew up in a very traditional ballet environment and often felt that I didn’t have the “ideal” ballet body. It wasn’t until I studied in the U.S. that teachers began recognizing not only my technical training and work ethic, but also my artistry and expressiveness. That encouragement completely changed how I saw myself.

Like many artists, the pandemic was another major challenge. Just as I was beginning to establish my career, performances disappeared almost overnight. It forced me to become more adaptable and reminded me that being an artist is about much more than being on stage.

Physical injuries have also been part of my journey. As dancers, we often appear strong from the outside, but there is a lot that audiences don’t see—pain, rehabilitation, setbacks, and the determination to keep going. Those experiences have taught me to listen to my body instead of fighting against it.

Today, I don’t look at those struggles as obstacles anymore. They shaped me into the artist, teacher, and person I am today. They’ve taught me resilience, empathy, and the importance of using my experiences to encourage others who may be facing their own challenges.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a professional dancer, educator, and Pilates instructor based in Los Angeles. As a company member of Lula Washington Dance Theatre, I have the privilege of performing works that requires versatility – not only dance but also singing, acting, and giving a speech on the stage. Alongside performing, I teach dance and movement to students of all ages and continue studying the body through Pilates and anatomy.

One thing that has always defined me is definitely my work ethic. I grew up in Japan, where I received strict classical ballet training from a very young age. That discipline became the foundation of everything I do. When I came to the United States, I learned that technical excellence alone isn’t enough—artists also need individuality, curiosity, and a voice. Combining those two worlds has shaped me into the artist I am today.

I don’t see myself as someone who fits neatly into one style. I love moving between ballet, modern, and contemporary dance, and I enjoy understanding not only how movement looks, but why it works. My interest in anatomy and Pilates has deepened both my own dancing and my teaching, allowing me to help others move more efficiently, confidently, and sustainably.

What I’m most proud of isn’t one particular performance. It’s the life I’ve been able to build. Moving alone from Japan to the United States to pursue dance was a leap of faith, and over the years I’ve had the opportunity to perform internationally, teach the next generation of dancers, and become part of a company whose mission extends far beyond the stage.

I hope to continue growing not only as a performer, but also as someone who connects people through dance. One of my long-term goals is to help create more opportunities for cultural exchange between Japan and the United States, introducing audiences and young artists to new perspectives and showing them how powerful dance can be as a shared language.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Moving from Japan to Los Angeles was one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken. I had already earned a university degree in Japan and could have chosen a much more stable career path. Instead, I chose to pursue my dream of becoming a professional dancer in the United States, knowing there were no guarantees.

Another risk was joining Lula Washington Dance Theatre. Coming from only classical ballet background, I entered a completely different artistic world. I wasn’t only learning a new movement vocabulary—I was learning a new culture, a new artistic philosophy, and trying to find my place in a company where everyone already knew one another. There were many days when I left rehearsals in tears, wondering if I truly belonged there. Looking back now, one memory still makes me smile. It took me so much courage just to say, “Bye, see you tomorrow,” after rehearsal. It sounds like such a small thing, but as the newest member who barely knew anyone, even speaking up felt intimidating. Those moments reminded me that belonging isn’t something that happens overnight—it’s built one small step at a time.

Over the years, I’ve also learned that vulnerability comes in many forms. Building a career as a professional dancer, navigating the immigration process, recovering from injuries, studying Pilates, and even sharing my work publicly on social media have all required me to step outside my comfort zone.

To me, taking risks isn’t about being fearless. It’s about deciding that what you’re working toward is more important than the fear you’re feeling. Every meaningful step in my life has begun with uncertainty, and looking back, those decisions have shaped me into the artist and person I am today.

That perspective continues to guide me. As I grow in my career with Lula Washington Dance Theatre, I hope to help create more opportunities for cultural exchange between Japan and the United States, inspiring young people to explore cultures beyond their own and realize that sometimes the biggest growth begins with one courageous step into the unknown.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kozuekasahara.dance/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kozue-kasahara-0b084016b/

Image Credits
Teej Gardner