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

Hi Ikumi, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
The moment I feel truly, genuinely happy is when the kids step up on stage and perform.

It’s less than two minutes. But those two minutes don’t come easy. There’s choreography to learn, formations to memorize, and countless practice sessions with their teammates before they ever get there.

Some kids start out saying, “I don’t want to do it.” But as they keep practicing alongside their friends, something changes and they come back with, “Actually, I want to be up there.” Others get so frustrated they end up in tears because they just can’t seem to get it right.

Every single child has their own story before they set foot on that stage.

And when they finally do? They absolutely light up. There’s something about them up there under the lights that you just can’t look away from.

What moves me just as much, though, is watching the parents. The way they look at their kids with this warm, almost overwhelmed kind of love in their eyes. And when I notice a mom quietly trying to hold back tears… I can’t help but feel it too, every single time.

Doing what you love for a living doesn’t mean every day is easy. But in that moment, watching those kids on stage, I find myself thinking, “I’m so glad I kept going.”

It’s the kind of moment that reminds me exactly why I do this.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Getting to where I am today was anything but easy.

Ten years ago, I was still working for someone else. Back then, I didn’t even have a car. I used to take two buses to get to the studio, about three hours each way. And there were days when I had just one student waiting for me.

It was far. The pay wasn’t great. And honestly? There were days I really didn’t want to go.

But I kept thinking, this person is showing up for me every single week. The least I could do was show up for them. So I did. I just kept going.

Little by little, more students started coming through the door.

Looking back, the time and effort I was putting in didn’t quite match what I was getting paid.
But what I’ve learned is this: in the end, the people who stick with it are the ones who come out on top.

The financial reward? It follows. Maybe not right away, but it comes.

And now, looking at where I am today, I truly believe, if I had walked away back then, none of this would exist.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
1929 Verdugo Blvd, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

My favorite Italian restaurant in Glendale.
Highly recommend this place:)

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shoutout goes to Aisha Francis, former Beyoncé backup dancer and choreographer, and now an incredible heels coach and choreographer based in Hollywood.

I first discovered her through a Beyoncé concert DVD and was completely blown away. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that one day I would actually get to take her class.

Her heels program pushed me far beyond my comfort zone and broke through the shell I had built around myself. Her passion is unmatched, her technique is world-class, and above all, she is a truly remarkable human being.

One phrase she always shared with her students has stayed with me ever since:

“You have to know who you really are.”

At the time, I was lost unsure of my identity as a dancer, constantly lacking confidence. Through her teaching, she encouraged me to ask myself what I truly wanted, who I wanted to become, and what I was genuinely good at.

She didn’t just teach me how to dance. She helped shape who I am as a person. Everything I am today is rooted in what she gave me. Just as she poured into me, I strive every day to pass that spirit on to my own students in dance and in life.

Thank you, Aisha. From the bottom of my heart.

Website: https://www.ai-vibration.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ai_vibration?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6N-sRppnIpu2KHZE2LMO5A

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.