We had the good fortune of connecting with Kana Nakada and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kana, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born and raised in Okinawa, Japan. Growing up in a traditional Okinawan household as the youngest of four siblings, my father always told us “Don’t be afraid to be alone, always do what you think is right.” That could be why, I always had no resistance to express my own thoughts and be open to different perspectives.

In 2011, I encountered a dance battle on a local street and it blew me away. That lead me learn dance seriously.

The early days of diving into dance were wild. I’d rush to the studio after school and practice with my teammates until the sun came up. Of course, my parents were not happy about me overdoing the practice that cut on sleep, so I was often sneaking out of the house to go to the studio.

Looking back now, I feel bad for my parents and it definitely was not right thing that a growing kid should do, but I remember I was desperate everyday to be a cool dancer as soon as I can and win competitions with my crew.

My family used to tell me that I was dancing even in my sleep. 😅
I think the desperate practice I put in when I started dancing has been a big impact who I am today.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been training in multiple dance genres including jazz, locking, popping, soul, hip-hop, ballet, etc.. And honestly, I love them all. I see the value and beauty in each genre, and I purely enjoy getting to know them, but also it naturally opens me up to the opportunities in my professional career.

The thing that sets me apart is that I have the experience and exposure to many genres and cultures, I don’t believe I have to limit myself to just one. I love being flexible and always learning and improving in different styles, which means that I don’t need to choose the work that I can or cannot do if I just try hard enough.

One of the greatest challenges I face is that in Japan, dance is not typically accepted as a valid professional career, and therefore there are few resources to help aspiring dancers. It was oftentimes difficult to find the support that I felt like I needed, but I was lucky that I had my community and fellow crew members.

I learned that being a part of at least one community is important. Dance is meant to connect people. I not only believe that it will get you to your goal quicker, but it’s also healthier than doing everything on your own if you are in the entertainment industry.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
That’s an exciting question!

My favorite place to hang out is Malibu! I love the private beaches, Malibu Country Mart for shopping, and the amazing restaurants. Plus, my favorite museum, The Getty Villa, is located there.

Since my best friends aren’t great under severe sunlight, we might skip the nature hikes, unfortunately. But we can go shopping! I often visit The Grove for shopping and chatting with my friends on the patio in front of the fountain.

We definitely would go thrifting at the Melrose Trading Post on Sundays!

And at night, I would recommend La Descarga Hollywood to see a live performance by a band and a burlesque dancer. They offer unique and delicious drinks, and you can learn salsa from somebody there.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are many people and organizations who supported and motivated me, but let me highlight three of them here.

Firstly, I want to give a shout out to my father. Even though he was concerned about my health and career path when I decided to be a professional dancer, he acknowledged and supported my dream, saying ‘You chose it, you will make it.’

Secondly, I appreciate my boyfriend’s support. We’ve been together for about 2 years, and he’s constantly telling me to keep going and make my dreams come true. He shares my dance videos almost every time I post something, and I appreciate that he supports me in everything I do.

Lastly, Lume Dance Collective, directed by Monika Felice Smith and MaryAnn Chaves. I joined Lume Collective in January 2023, and that was where I found many opportunities to work and meet new people. I got scouted by MTA after they saw me dancing solo choreographed by MaryAnn. I appreciate MaryAnn choosing me to do the solo on the stage of ‘WHAT IF…’ and ‘The CARNIVAL’, because my dreams before I left Japan were to be signed to an agency and be on the stage of the CARNIVAL!

Monika was the one who pushed me to pursue after my artist visa. She’s such a talented artist and a pure soul. She was the one who introduced and recommended me to industry leaders and helped me onboard on their projects.

Website: https://kananakada.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kana.tune/

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kana.tunetune?si=-l_V7EABZLSblA7d

Image Credits
Chris Jon Anthony Mongiello Drayce

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.