Our Identity & Mission
sarAika movement collective is a contemporary dance collective with a distinct taste for interdisciplinary collaboration. Founded in 2021 by Aika Takeshima (she/her) , an immigrant from Japan, and Sara Pizzi (she/her) , an immigrant from Italy, found a common artistic language from their perspective as immigrants living in America. Unifying their skills and knowledge as dancers, choreographers, activists, and part of the LGBTQIA+ community, they gathered a shared goal to create art about and for humans. Their company advocates for a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. sarAika movement collective’s mission is to help people find possibility and freedom within themselves. No matter the mediums in which they work – movement, dance, theater, music, voice, paint, lightpaint, poetry, AR technology – the themes of their work are rooted in the sense of what people desire or need to let go of. Emotions, opinions, and experiences are what art embodies, capturing vulnerability. When one witnesses vulnerable work, they feel something. The ability to relate to this kind of art increases one’s connection to their authentic self, and allows us to connect to ourself and community. sarAika movement collective pursues this value of authenticity to bond their community. Their art is a form of activism documenting key issues and personal insights, to highlight minority groups and underrepresented communities, and create a safe space for reflection.
sarAika movement collective is a contemporary dance collective with a distinct taste for interdisciplinary collaboration. Founded in 2021 by Aika Takeshima, an immigrant from Japan, and Sara Pizzi, an immigrant from Italy, found a common artistic language from their perspective as immigrants living in America. Unifying their skills and knowledge as dancers, choreographers, activists, and part of the LGBTQIA+ community, they gathered a shared goal to create art about and for humans. Their company advocates for a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. sarAika movement collective’s mission is to help people find possibility and freedom within themselves. No matter the mediums in which they work – movement, dance, theater, music, voice, paint, lightpaint, poetry, AR technology – the themes of their work are rooted in the sense of what people desire or need to let go of. Emotions, opinions, and experiences are what art embodies, capturing vulnerability. When one witnesses vulnerable work, they feel something. The ability to relate to this kind of art increases one’s connection to their authentic self, and allows us to connect to ourself and community. sarAika movement collective pursues this value of authenticity to bond their community. Their art is a form of activism documenting key issues and personal insights, to highlight minority groups and underrepresented communities, and create a safe space for reflection.
We make art about and for human.
Sara Pizzi (she/her) from Italy, began her dance studies with Urban Dances performing in concerts, music videos & TV shows. In 2017, Sara moved to NYC with a scholarship from Steps on Broadway; later joining the Certificate Program, Contemporary/Ballet Track at Peridance Center, graduating in 2020. Sara is a company member of The Next Stage Project, Valerie Green/Dance Entropy, Light Painting NY, Six Degrees Dance, sarAika movement collective co-founded with Aika Takeshima & She define her creative space/identity S|R|P|Z in 2020. She was a guest artist/choreographer at CreateArt, Dixon Place, Green Space, City Center Studios, Lincoln Center Plaza, Movement Research, Gibney, HERE, The Brick & more; in 2022 she premiered her first commission for “Et Alia”. Sara is also educator for Musicamente, dance program for people with disabilities and Woodside on the Move, a preschool program for seniors and kids besides being teaching artist for Valerie Green/Dance Entropy and sarAika movement collective for community classes and residencies. Lastly, Sara is a photography/videography assistant for BECCAVISION.
Aika Takeshima(she/her) from Japan, is a 10+ year career dance artist, DEI practitioner, and a co-founder of sarAika movement collective with Sara Pizzi. In 2014, Aika attended the International Dance Program in the Academy Peridance Center in NYC working with Amy Jordan “Victory Dance Project Company”, Ashlé Dawson “ESTADO INGRAVITTO”, Julia Eshstrand and Elisabetta Minutoli. Beginning her dance education with hip hop and locking, expanding further to ballet, contemporary, dance-theater, jazz, now her major is contemporary, with a strong floor-work and unique mix of various dance styles. When she dances, she takes everything “NOW” —what is around her, what comes into her sight, how she/someone is feeling now etc— and improvise getting inspiration from them, and keep making chains of movements. Aika is a performer for Light Painting New York by Chanette Manso, The Next Stage Project, and sarAika movement collective co-founded with Sara Pizzi. She was a guest artist for: 7MPR, Dixon Place, The Craft, IKADA, JCAL, BAAD! The Bronx , Movement Research, Dance Parade, Pride Parade, Japan Day, Japan Parade, SJAC, Creative Performances, The Dynamite Experience, Crossmove Lab, Queensboro Dance Festival, Turnout NYC, Liberty Hall Dance Festival, ESTIA, 3:33, 4533, Honey’s Brooklyn, EMERGING ARTISTS THEATRE, HERE, JCAL, Red Tail Residency, The Brick & more; in 2022 she premiered her first theater commission for “Et Alia”. She is also a founder of “LIVABALL”, a DEI (Diversity Inclusion Equity) consultant for her ultimate goal; to help people find more freedom and possibilities in themselves, aiming to make the society more livable.
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