Passion plus potential equal success
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Rie Fujii trained at Bodywork Company Dance Studios in Cambridge before becoming a professional dancer in 2000. Since then, she has performed internationally, appearing in music videos, Brit Awards, MTV Awards, Royal Variety Shows and many more. She has worked with top international artists including Gwen Stefani, Kanye West, Robbie Williams, Victoria Beckham and Sugababes.
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Rie explained to UKP-Arts why she feels passion for dance is key to success.
Do you think it's important to start training from a very young age if you want to be a professional dancer?
No. I don't think it's important that you have to start dance training when you are young to be a professional dancer. As long as you love to dance and have passion about it, you can do anything. It does help having a great technique though.
How old were you when you first started to learn to dance?
I started to dance when I was 16 years old. I guess I started late compared to other dancers. After finishing my A-levels, I went to train at Bodywork Company Dance Studios in Cambridge where I covered all styles of dance - from ballet, jazz, contemporary and tap through to musical theatre.
How long did you dance for?
I had quite a short career because I had an accident when I was 22. Of course I thought like anybody else would at that time, that dance wouldn't be an option for me any more because I was trained in a very rigid idea that you needed legs that worked and arms that worked and that dancers don't use wheelchairs.
Why did you choose to do your dance training at Bodywork?
I went to Bodywork to train because one of the teachers from the company used to come and teach me at my school, so I knew about the staff as well as the type of training they offered. The teacher said I had potential to become a dancer so I enrolled on the three-year diploma course. We did all styles of dance as well as singing and acting.
Were you and/or your family worried about what a career as a professional dancer might be like?
No, my family is very supportive - as long as I'm happy, and doing what I really want to do, they are happy. At the end of the day, it is my life and career - I choose what I want to do.
After completing the course at Bodywork how did you start developing your career?
When I was in my final year of the course I started to apply to agencies in London. I was very lucky to get in to quite a few agencies while I was still training. So in the first year of leaving college I was working non-stop!
Tell us about your time as a professional dancer - what sort of work did you do?
I worked with Victoria Beckham, Robbie Williams, Gwen Stefani, Kanye West, Sugababes, and many more international artists. I have appeared in quite a few TV commercials and Idents for companies such as DFS, Samsung mobile phones, 3mobile phones, Nokia, BBC1, ITV2, and Box. I have also performed in many fitness dance workout DVDs such as Tony Stone's Hip Hop Workout, Ministry of Sound Pump it Up, Fame workout, Pineapple DVD and Rudeye Workshop DVDs.
Can you take us through a typical day when you were working as a professional dancer?
It all depends, every day and week is so different. I teach, so that is my regular job, and if I get asked to do a dance job, then I do that as well. When I have any spare time I go to Pineapple Dance Studios in Covent Garden and do classes. It's a great place to be because I get to see other dancers and get very inspired!
What advice would you have for someone about choosing to follow training and a career as a professional dancer?
The dance industry is very tough and competitive. Keep working hard and never give up. Everyone has ups and downs in their life but if you really want something and follow your dream, it will come true!
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