1 Yep Proudly Presents Elina Ayako

ELINA  AYAKO

Name, Age and Country:

So I guess I'll tell you a little about myself and my relationship to dance. Hopefully you, my dear reader, will get to know me a little and won't find this (too) boring!
My name is Elina Ayako, a 19-year-old, rather short (or shall I say space-saving?), half Japanese, chocoholic, Mumford-and-Sons-loving dancer from Switzerland.

Dance background: 

Warning: What you're about to read is no dramatic, heart-breaking story about a girl going through a number of struggles to eventually find her one big passion. No blood, sweat and tears, just an ordinary girl living in an ordinary town (although I wish my story went something like Step Up's plot, that would be way cooler).
It all began in the summer of 2010 as a hobby, a once-a-week-activity. I started to dance because dance is fun. It feels good. It allows my body to connect with the music in a way, I never thought it could. My motivation back then was to work out and get fit but it didn't take long until I realized that it meant more to me - and after having a hard time with my grades in school, it felt so damn good to "be good" at something. A strong hunger for more slowly started to build up in me and fortunately, this hunger is part of the reason I'm attending this year's Educational Program at the Hip Drop. 

How did you hear about the program and what made you decide to apply:
After seeing me dance at this year's Easterdrop, Lin invited me to join the Program. By having such amazing parents and friends who have supported me from the start, the decision was easily made. I need to take this chance to find out where I want to go with dance. Now, a new chapter in my life has started. A chapter, which requires a lot of hard work, will power, strength, energy and optimism in order to make it a successful year; and you know what? I'm so ready for it!

Dreams and goals with dance:
It's hard for me to put my finger on that one goal I want to achieve in dance. Maybe I'll switch it all up and go to university instead in a couple of years..
But all I know now is that at this very moment, there's nothing in this world that fills me with more happiness than dance. Being able to share this feeling with 7 fellow dancers every day for the next year is simply amazing. What ever is about to happen with dance, I'm sure that life has a lot of beautiful surprises in store.

Incredibly lucky and blessed. God is good.

Elina A. L.