How 28 year old Japanese IT-consultant became a Riverdancer

[archerships]

Steps taken by Tokyo man made his ‘Riverdance’ dream come true

“…He quit his job – a momentous decision in a country where career breaks are almost unheard of – withdrew his savings of about $100,000, and flew to Ireland in November 2001.

Speaking almost no English, he ended up in Cork in search of a professor who “taught the history of Irish dancing”. Undeterred by the “difficult” local accent and racism (“kids threw stones at me and called me ‘Chinese’ ”), he hoofed his way around Irish dancing schools. All told him the same thing: he was too old.

The professor couldn’t help either, so Taka did what any sensible man in his position would do: he rented a flat in Cork and began practising in front of Riverdance videos – eight hours a day….”

Original: craschworks - comments