MY BACKGROUND:
I was born and raised in Jerusalem to a Japanese father and Australian mother. I grew up with four siblings in a Christian home, attended a Jewish School and Hebrew was my first language. I have an on-going identity crisis but I am so grateful I was exposed to so many worlds and cultures early on.
IT STARTED WITH A DANCE
It's called excessive energy. My mother thought dance would be a good outlet for 4 year old me and it was then that I discovered how much I loved to dance and twirl and 'be a tree in the wind'. With the help of dance, I tortured my sibling a little less and found a new sense of identity and empowerment. In the dance studio it didn't matter what color skin you had, how popular you were or how much money your parents had or didn't have in the bank. There were no labels. Beyond the sheer joy I felt when dancing, I learned so much about commitment, consistency, hard work, teamwork and most importantly the magic and wonder of being alive and living in a human body.
WHAT WAS THE TURNING POINT?
When I was 16.5 , my life took a sharp turn when I was critically injured at the 'Versailles wedding hall disaster'. Thinking that I had lost it all, I made a deal with God that if he let me have my life back and dance again, that I would pursue my dreams relentlessly and with all of my heart. So I seized the day! A year later and against all odds I moved to New York City to attend the Alvin Ailey Dance School.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
After graduating from Ailey I began working as a dancer, dancing in commercials, films, TV and more. I was able to attain an Artist Visa and down the road an Artist Green card.
ACTING??
Looking back, I guess I always possessed the "acting bug", but I only truly discovered it when I knee injury forced me to take a break from dance. I completely fell in love with acting and realized it goes hand in hand with my dancing. In acting I found my voice and a whole new world of expressing and giving of myself.
WHAT DOES MY ART MEAN TO ME?
Well for one - It healed and heals me on a regular basis.. When I dance, I feel free, I feel connected, invincible. Through dance, I feel I am able to impart to others my appreciation of life, of being in the moment.
I feel privileged that I get to explore and better understand the human experience through acting. Our lives, our stories, in all their glory and heartache are to be shared and used to uplift us all, while we are here.
WHAT'S MY GOAL?
I want to dedicate my life to reminding people of the joy of living, and specifically, the joy of living in their bodies. We are here for a short time, let's make the most of it?
With love,
Hanna-Lee
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