Lainie Sakakura is a director, choreographer, and writer based in NYC with an impressive 33 year career in the Arts! Her credits include starring in 6 original Broadway casts, including Fosseand Chita Rivera The Dancer’s Life, and she’s been awarded the Joe A. Callaway Award for Outstanding Choreography and the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Choreography! Sakakura also became the second AAPI Radio City Rockette since Setsuko Maruhashi in 1985. Her creative team experience led her to direct and create the book for Corner of Bitter and Sweet, a new musical adaptation of the NY Times BestSeller,Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, as well as co-conceiving and writing for Celebrating Asian Americans on Broadwayand 60th Anniversary of Flower Drum Songfor BCEFA’s Red Bucket Follies, and acting as the writer and director for every NYC Alvin Ing solo show! Offstage, she serves as co-founder for both Rockettes of Color Alumnae and Sakachez, and advocates for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, National Asian Artists Project, and more! Her advice to young artists? “Do something for your career each day,” take special care of your mental headspace, and know that “your happiness is your success… [which] doesn’t necessarily live on Broadway.” Read on to learn more about Lainie Sakakura and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Ally Vega is a choreographer, performer, and dance educator based in Los Angeles. She was largely inspired by her father’s career as a dance instructor, which inspired her to take a similar path to pursue dance professionally. Now, Vega is the founder and director of her dance collective, Ancestral Vision Movement, as well as a choreographer for Supportive White Parents. She even married her profession with her passion, anime, by becoming the first choreographer for the largest convention in North America, Anime Expo! Vega works with the Pilipino Workers Center in LA, an amazing nonprofit that “aims to secure the dignity and safety of the Pilipinx community… and build labor leaders in the domestic worker industry.” And on top of it all? Vega is ambidextrous! Her advice to young artists is to “give [themselves] permission to explore the things that make [them] curious.” Read on to learn more about Ally Vega and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Sierra Puett is a dancer, gymnast, actress, director, and choreographer based out of Los Angeles! Her versatility has allowed her to create in many aspects of the entertainment industry...
Jasmine Rafael is a dancer and choreographer based in Los Angeles, CA. She has performed with superstars like Ariana Grande, and can be seen in the upcoming Netflix film adaptation of "The...
