#22. Ayano Kimura, Professional Ballet Dancer

→Full Interview in Japanese

An interview with Ayano Kimura, ballet dancer with The Washington Ballet, about her love–hate relationship with learning English, her experiences in Italy, and how she finds the motivation to keep going when she feels like giving up.

 

 
Ayano was born in Hamburg, Germany, but returned to Kyoto, Japan, before turning one. She began ballet at around age 10. At 15, she won a scholarship at an international ballet competition, which led her to study for two years at the prestigious La Scala Theatre Ballet School in Milan, Italy. After returning to Japan, she participated in the same competition again and earned another scholarship, this time to a school in Washington, D.C. She then auditioned for several companies and joined the Washington Ballet, where she has been a professional dancer for ten years.

 

 
Ayano was exposed to English at home through her parents and early study materials from Kumon, which her mother, a Kumon teacher, provided. From ages three to four, she began learning English through writing and listening exercises. She found English enjoyable and engaging, unlike subjects like math, and naturally connected words she learned with objects and experiences around her. Early encounters with native speakers in the Kumon classroom also made the learning process exciting.

 

 
Although Ayano loved learning English naturally, formal testing (such as Eiken) felt forced and stressful. She passed lower levels of English proficiency exams at ages four to five but viewed them more as a relief and checkpoint than an achievement. She distinguishes between learning English for enjoyment—speaking freely, understanding context—and learning for exams, which requires strict adherence to grammar and rules.

 

 
Ayano recalls enjoying junior high English because she already knew much of the material, which gave her confidence. However, in high school, the grammar rules became stricter and the vocabulary more difficult. She preferred speaking English for fun rather than following rigid rules, so she struggled and might have grown to dislike English had she stayed in Japan.

 

 
At first, Ayano aimed to balance academics and ballet, believing she would eventually reduce her ballet activities. However, when she unexpectedly received a scholarship in her first year of high school, she decided to pursue ballet more seriously. Before then, she had not planned to make ballet her main path, especially since competitions didn’t always bring results. The scholarship became a turning point.

 

 
Through international competitions and lessons from foreign teachers, Ayano naturally used English. Ballet terminology draws from multiple languages, but English functions as the common medium. Although conversations were usually brief, these experiences made her realize that English could be enjoyable, especially when gestures and shared effort bridged communication gaps.

 

 
Before moving to Italy, Ayano studied basic Italian for six months, focusing first on vocabulary. She noticed similarities with English, which made learning enjoyable. However, once in Italy, she faced homesickness and frustration. Despite her preparation, she couldn’t speak fluently, and for about a month she barely used Italian. She felt conflicted, as ballet—not language study—was her true purpose in going abroad.

 

 
Encouraged by supportive Italian friends and roommates, Ayano decided to restart her studies from scratch. This time, she could immediately apply what she learned in real-life situations, which brought quick results. Positive feedback from peers motivated her, and soon she was communicating effectively. She came to see the importance of using the environment to her advantage and not isolating herself.

 

 
Ayano later studied in the U.S., carrying with her the lesson from Italy: when stuck, return to the basics. English was easier for her since she had studied it for years. While she sometimes struggled with fast native speech, she focused on catching familiar words and building meaning from them rather than aiming for perfect comprehension.

 

 
Ayano emphasizes that trying to understand everything at once only causes stress. Instead, learners should set small goals, allow themselves breaks, and avoid unnecessary pressure. She sometimes decided to take an entire day off from language study, knowing she could return to it later. This flexibility helped her stay motivated.

 

 
Ayano advises learners not to force themselves into perfection, but to accept partial understanding and trust that progress accumulates over time. Resting, returning to the basics, and keeping a positive mindset are key strategies. For her, this approach applies not only to language learning but also to hobbies and sports.