Yumiko Takeshima, Part 2: The discipline of rest, a secret to creative longevity

“Let it happen”

 

How we overcome toughness with the idea of “let it happen” and by following our curiosity (1:32), new moms multi-tasking work and baby (8:24), Yumi shares about sleep, time by herself and reading comics (17:32)

 

Hosts: Cherice Barton and Shelly Hutchinson  

Guest: Yumiko Takeshima

Producer: Jessica O’Keefe, Breatheasy Productions

 

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Costume Design at Nationale Opera & Ballet https://www.operaballet.nl/en/yumiko-takeshima

Youth America Grand Prix https://yagp.org/yumiko-takeshima/

 

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Extended  Summary : 

In this inspiring conversation, Che sits down with dancer, designer, and entrepreneur Yumiko Takeshima to explore the delicate balance between motherhood, creativity, and career longevity. Yumiko shares her journey of building a global dancewear brand while raising a family, reflecting on the importance of setting healthy boundaries, carving out time for self-care, and learning to say no without guilt. Together, they dive into the evolving definitions of success, the courage it takes to slow down in a fast-paced world, and the power of community in sustaining both artistic and personal growth. This honest and heart-centered discussion offers wisdom for anyone navigating the complexities of motherhood, creative life, and self-preservation

Born in Asahikawa, Japan, to parents who owned a small Kimono business, Takeshima began dancing at the age of four in Sapporo, Japan. At the age of 14 she left home to study ballet with Miharu Ishikawa and the San Francisco Ballet. She was a solo dancer with Universal Ballet, Alberta Ballet, Feld Ballet NY, Dutch National Ballet and the Dresden Semperoper Ballet. Yumiko Takeshima was awarded the gold medal at the Serge Lifar International Ballet Competition in 1996. 

 

In early 2002 she launched YUMIKO dancewear and the YumiGirl Network. Her dancewear was also used in the 2010 film "Black Swan", among others. 

 

Since 2002, Takeshima has continued to develop her made-to-order line, as well as a ready-to-wear line, of high quality, great fitting, and beautifully designed dance and fitness wear for women and men. In addition, since moving to Amsterdam, Netherlands, Takeshima has designed costumes for numerous choreographers, most notably David Dawson and William Forsythe and has been praised in the press not only as a dancer, but also for designing some of the most elegant, simple, and aesthetically beautiful dance costumes in the European dance world. Some costumes Yumi has designed for include:

The Human Seasons (2013) David Dawson for the Royal Ballet Opus.11 (2013) David Dawson for the Semperoper Ballett 5 (2013) David Dawson for the Semperoper Ballett Overture (2013) David Dawson for the Dutch National Ballet day4 (2012) David Dawson for the Dutch National Ballet Apollo (2012) George Balanchine for the Semperoper Ballett Dido & Aeneas/DnA (2012) Darrel Toulon for Opera Graz Bach, Handel, Berio Pas de Deux (2012) William Forsythe for the Semperoper Ballett Killer Sweet (2012) Jorma Elo for the Royal Ballet of Flanders Run For It (2012) Martin Lawrance for the Scottish Ballet timelapse/ (Mnemosyne) (2011) David Dawson for the Dutch National Ballet Golden Partita (2011) Jorma Elo for the Basel Ballet Switzerland

Kings 2 Ends (2011) Jorma Elo for the Scottish Ballet A Sweet Spell of Oblivion (2010) David Dawson for the Semperoper Ballett (re-design) dancingmadlybackwards (2010) David Dawson for the Norwegian National Ballet The Third Light (2010) David Dawson for the Royal Ballet of Flanders Red in 3 (2010) Jorma Elo for the Scottish Ballet Faun(e) (2009) David Dawson for the English National Ballet The World According to Us (2009)