Amazing Asians in the Arts: Austin Sora

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Austin Sora is a dancer based in NYC. After a small stint in amateur paleontology, snowboarding, swimming, and running (with plenty of exposure to live theatre growing up), she settled on dance and took up training professionally at Canada’s National Ballet School. Now with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Arts Administration from Marymount Manhattan College, her work includes touring the States with The Phantom of the Opera, performing with Bruce Wood Dance at Jacob's Pillow, and now rehearsing with Woman In Motion. Offstage, Sora serves as the Program Manager for Broadway Green Alliance, an organization that “[advocates] for sustainability in the theatre industry.” Her advice to young artists? “Work hard and be a nice person!” Read on to learn more about Austin Sora and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts! 

Name:   Austin Sora

Heritage:   Japanese/Scottish 

Hometown:   Toronto, Canada

Current City:   New York, NY 

Current project:   Freelancing in NY as a dancer/choreographer.

 

What are some of your favorite credits/projects: 

The Phantom of the Opera North American Tour and performing with Bruce Wood Dance at Jacob's Pillow.

 

Any advice for young people getting into the arts? 

Work hard and be a nice person! 

 

How did you get your start? 

I was a very active child growing up – I bounced around from snowboarding to running to swimming and eventually discovered dance. I was also very fortunate to have a family who brought me to see a lot of shows, which opened my eyes to the possibilities at a young age. Around the age of 10, I was accepted into Canada's National Ballet School and that's when I became really serious about my training. Looking back now, I was so young but I was certain that's what I wanted to do and I have stuck with it ever since! 

 

Do you have any favorite moments in your career that you'd like to share? 

Touring with Phantom was really special. It was a fantastic group of people and the show was beautiful. We got to travel to some really amazing places including Hawaii for a month! The perfect combination of work, people, and location feels rare and I will cherish those memories for the rest of my life. 

 

What have you found is the biggest challenge in your career? 

In the last few years, I've found it challenging to navigate various injuries. Fortunately, each has taught me more about my body and has given me new tools to care for it. 

 

Do you have any organizations or non profits you work with you’d like to highlight? 

In addition to my performing career, I work in the non-profit sector and I am currently the Program Manager at the Broadway Green Alliance. We advocate for sustainability in the theatre industry and have a lot of really wonderful programs on the go. One of my favorites is our Green Captain program, which is a network of green leaders in Broadway shows, regional theatres, and colleges across the country. For more information, visit www.broadwaygreen.com. 

 

Did you always want to be in the arts or did you have another path before you got here? 

When I was about 6 years old, I was fascinated by dinosaurs and wanted to be a paleontologist! I've always been a huge nerd and I loved going to the science museum to dig up bones in the dinosaur exhibit. Aside from that, I have always wanted to be a dancer! 

 

Is where you are now where you thought you’d be? 

I always imagined myself joining a ballet company at 18 and staying there until I retired. My career has taken me down a lot of paths I could never have imagined, but I am grateful for each new chapter. 

 

Do you have any side projects you’d like to highlight? 

I am about to start rehearsals with a New York-based company called Woman in Motion, and I'm really looking forward to creating new work with the choreographers. 

 

If you could go back in time, what would you tell your younger self? 

I would tell my younger self not to try and plan everything out. There is a lot of value in having clear goals and working toward them, but it's important to leave room for the unexpected and to enjoy the process along the way. 

 

Where did you study at? 

I have a BFA in Dance and a minor in Arts Administration from Marymount Manhattan College. 

 

How do you deal with performance anxiety? 

I have found that the more I can focus on having fun, the less I worry about anything else. It seems so simple, but it's really helped me. 

 

If you’ve crossed the table from performing to being on a creative team, what made you take the leap, and how did it change your way of thinking? 

I am definitely interested in working on creative teams and am seeking opportunities where I can sharpen those skills. I love seeing how a piece comes together and I think it would be really exciting to be in the room collaborating on those bigger decisions. 

To find out more on Austin Sora, please visit her at: 

Website:   www.austinsora.com 

Instagram:   @austin.sora.