WG Dance Clinics in Japan

What I love about being a Warrior Girl is that it puts me in a position where I can be a positive role model in my community. When we host WG Dance Clinics, it gives people a chance to not only learn from professional dancers and perform on the NBA court, but it is also an opportunity for them to meet us and learn that we are fun, down-to-earth girls. How exciting was it when we were asked to host two clinics in Japan?

Before our first dance clinic, five girls were chosen to attend an interview about our trip to Japan. It was our moment to express our appreciation for being there as well as explain our intentions and expectations of our visit. We wanted to help promote professional basketball in Japan, but we were also very excited to share with others what we love to do and inspire those who share the same passion.

As we were walked through a building of a newspaper company, I felt slightly intimidated when were finally led to an empty room containing a long table with a row of six empty seats. But, as several other people followed after being seated, the interview had begun and we could not stop expressing our excitement for the trip. It was especially exciting for us to see Yoshimi be a part of this process. She was our prime example of someone pursuing her dreams to become a professional dancer.

The Dance clinics were held in a high school gym. One of the classrooms were set up as mini WG headquarters. It was where we could do our hair, make-up and review a few dances. I loved the group of boys watching us through the windows. They especially had a liking towards Leah. I’m sure a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl doesn’t come around too often.

After Yoshimi was interviewed by one of the most popular anchors in Japan, we all went upstairs to their gym. In Japan, it is custom to have separate indoor and outdoor shoes. This I didn’t figure out until the second dance clinic! Two wet towels were placed on the floor for the Americans to wipe their shoes on because they were told we do not change shoes. But, no one was given direction to do so before entering and when I saw the two towels on the ground, it didn’t occur to me to wipe the bottoms of shoes. It was instinct for me (and everyone else) to step over them! I’m sure they wondered why the towels were so clean after the first clinic.

Everyone looked so excited when we walked into the gym. With a small applause from the group of participants in the middle of the room, each Warrior Girl entered and lined up in the front to welcome all the attendees to the clinic. After a small introduction, we stretched everyone out and performed the dances we were planning to teach. Everyone seemed to want to learn the same routine so we started the clinic off by teaching one large group.

I was so impressed by the talent! While there were a few that had a hard time learning the dance, there were also a few that were amazingly great! I was especially impressed by how well they picked up even after the language barrier! I’m sure a lot of them learned a few english words. I would be surprised if they could not count up to eight after the clinic. Three words I learned in Japanese: “Atsui” meaning “hot”, “kawaii” meaning “cute”, and “muzukashii” meaning “difficult.”

After the whole routine was taught, we split the group into smaller, more intimate groups. This gave me a chance to get the know a few of the participants on a more personal level. A few girls were extremely shy, but I tried my best to help them feel more comfortable around us. How could someone feel intimidated by little ol’ me? I find laughter to be the best tool to loosen up the nerves. Trust me, if you can’t laugh with me, I’m sure it’s easy to laugh at me.

Just like the WG Dance Clinics we host in America, Director, Susan Hovey, recorded the  routines and emailed videos to the participants so they could practice on their own time. Boy, did they practice! Maybe it is in the Japanese culture to be very disciplined and diligint because not one girl looked like she didn’t practice.

We held our second dance clinic in the same location the next day. Half of the participants were girls who attended the first clinic. They needed to leave a little early, so we spent a little time cleaning their routine but, there wasn’t much to clean! It’s hard to believe that the participants were able to impress us even more after the first day but they did! Because of their hard work, we were able to teach them a few more shorter routines until it was time for them to leave.

For those who were staying the whole time, we taught a whole new routine that they picked up really fast. I personally stepped aside half way to help those who came to the clinic late. I find teaching very rewarding and as a Warrior Girl, I find myself with many opportunities to be a mentor to others. I love being able to teach those something I love to do and then see their interpretation of it. Sometimes, like in this case, it turns out better than I imagine!

Near the end of our second clinic, Director Hovey recorded the new dance routine in order to e-mail it to the participants later. After seeing how well the first group of girls did after one night’s practice, I was very excited to see the end results of the second group. I knew we had nothing to worry about. Because of their hard-working attitude, the dance clinic participants were sure to put on a great show during the games in the upcoming days. Watch out! Japan’s got talent!

A Day of Travel

After much preparation, the day had finally come. It was the day seven Warrior Girls and their director were traveling overseas to inspire others and share their style of dance on the other side of the world, Japan.

At 9:30am, everyone met at SFO airport to check in at United Airlines for a trip of a lifetime. Because of the new weight rule of checked in luggage, we had to be smart with what and how we packed. Lucky for Tina, we were allowed two free bags to check in.

Our flight was delayed a little, but all it did was make each of us more anxious for the trip. On a Boeing 747, we were fortunate enough to all be sitting next to each other. We knew it would make the plane ride go by so much faster.

Something you will learn further along this trip; we never run out of things to talk about.

After a grueling 10 hours and 50 minutes filled with two meals, four movies and numerous amounts of conversation, we finally touched ground in Narita, Japan. But, our time in the plane wasn't over. Because of the H1N1 2009 influenza, Japan was taking extra precautions for every passenger entering the country. Each traveller was required to fill out a health form and go through their quarantine inspection. As health inspectors reviewed each passenger’s form, another inspector was walking through the isles with a handheld machine I had never seen before. This machine was actually a contraption used to measure each person’s temperature. It was my first time encountering such innovative technology!

Finally, after another half hour sitting in the plane, each of us passed the quarantine inspection and were given all a small gift. It was something very high in demand and in a few countries they were even sold out! But, lucky for us, we each got one for free. The infamous face masks!

But our day of travel was still not over! After unloading from the 747, picking up our luggage from the baggage claim and reuniting with Yoshimi (our Japanese Warrior Girl intern who opened the door to this amazing opportunity), an hour and a half bus ride to our hotel in Tokyo still awaited.

Because I was with a group of my closest friends, it was hard to believe we were over 5,000 miles away from home. With the amount of fun we have with each other, it still felt like home. But, as I looked out the window of the bus, the street signs written in Japanese, the smaller-sized cars, the fields of grass and trees off the highway, and then the tall, but narrow, buildings as we got closer to the city, really opened my eyes. we really were in Japan!

The Tokyo Dome Hotel is 43 stories tall, making it one of the tallest buildings in all of Japan. There are 10 restaurants, a child care facility, internet ready rooms, A/C, easy subway access, and everything else you need within a three block radius. More importantly, it is the hotel from the movie, “Lost in Translation,” so a few of the bars and hallways will look familiar to movie fans.

When we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted by Yoshi Okamoto. Mr. Okamoto is the BJ League representative who not only helped create the proposal for this trip, but also a great friend of WG Director, Susan Hovey.

“Rooms 3505 - 3509."

It was wonderful that all of us were in rooms next to each other. I was very excited and foresaw a dorm-like experience.

Each member of our group took the elevator to the 35th floor and entered each room with much anxiety. One of my favorite things to do is compare Hotel experiences and this was one to add to the list. The very first thing I noticed when we entered the room was how low everything was too the ground! Then beds were barely up to my knees! Yet, I was sure this 5’2” figure would fit just right.

The best part of the room when when we pulled the curtains open to see the view.

“Hello, Tokyo!”

With no time to settle, we were informed there was a meeting with the BJ League (Japan’s professional basketball league) on our schedule and we needed to quickly get refreshed and head over to its location. It was a short walk to the restaurant where we were seated in a private room fill with all the important people we would need to know throughout this experience. It was considerate of them to make it a short meeting after a long day of travel and concluded with an offer to feed us dinner. It was time for some authentic Japanese Cuisine.

Because Jen was feeling a little under the weather, we all agreed to find a place that served delicious Ramen; a common Japanese noodle soup. Yoshi was able to find the perfect place but it wasn’t a Japanese restaurant. Supposedly, we were eating at a Chinese restaurant, but the soups were unlike any Chinese noodle soups I had ever had in The States. It must have been a Japanese-influenced Chinese cuisine. Just like how I think Panda Express is American-influence Chinese cuisine. No matter what, we were eating good food, with great friends, in Tokyo, Japan.

After we finished our meal, It was 11:00pm (7:00am US-time) and we were ready to call it a night. It felt like one of the longest days of my life (being awake for 22 hours). Who would’ve thought the small knee-high bed would look so enticing.

“Good night, Tokyo.”