Both are two very wonderful experiences—but whichever you do, you dance as yourself. Whenever I dance, although I may “play” a kind of fictional role, there is always a personal side to my portrayal of a character—even if it is just in the energy I share with the audience.

Although it might be very enjoyable to work with some choreographers, at the same time some, it can be awkward to participate in some choreographers’ vision for a dance. But there is definitely less responsibility when you perform somebody else’s piece.

Performing a personal piece takes a lot out of me—it’s like trying to carve your words in hard stone rather than just read.

Do you have any entertaining performance stories?

Once I had to make my entrance onto the stage with a graceful turn, and a group of dancers were supposed to follow me in a perfect “battle-like” formation. But somehow my foot got caught in the curtain and the first thing the audience saw was me collapsing painfully on stage! No one laughed, but I did I hear a few compassionate “oh” from the back rows. I quickly got back to my place—it wasn’t until the end of the show that I realized I had wounded my knee and started feeling the pain!