Kyoka Okuda Moves to the Arthur Murray All Star Finals

Kyoka Okuda Advances to the 2017 Arthur Murray All Star Championships

• Name:  Kyoka Okuda
• Studio:  Kobe, Japan
• All Star History:  This is my first time. 
• Year You Started in the Business:  April 2017
• Position:  Rookie

What is the AM All Star Competition? 

The Arthur Murray All Stars is a skills competition for every level of professional within each location around the world.  The goal is to grow, develop, and reveal the professionals that demonstrate the best customer service, communication, problem solving, critical thinking, and teamwork skills.  The competition begins in each studio and winners advance to small region, or District, competitions.  From there the District winners advance to the large region, or Area, competition.  Finally, the Area winners advance to the World Championships in Las Vegas where each Area team tests and one team is pronounced the winner. 

More importantly, the real winners are the students of the Arthur Murray Dance Studios as these tests, and accompanying training, help to deliver better communication, teamwork, problem solving, and confidence from every member of the staff. 

AML: First off, congratulations on moving into the finals in Last Vegas. How did you react when the announcement was made?

KO: Thank you.  I was in shock.  I felt the responsibility to complete my role as Area 10 rookie.  I couldn't believe it.  The last competition in the area was really challenging for me and thought I didn't do well at all. 

AML: How did you feel going into the Semi-Finals?

KO: Nervous, don't know how much I can do.  However, very much excited to be able to meet wonderful experienced teachers at Arthur Murray from all over the world.  Would be an honor to be talking with them. 

AML: What kind of last minute things did you do to prepare?

KO: Tried to remind myself how I felt when I just started to learn dancing at Arthur Murray.  What made me want to come into the studio as a student.  What kind of feeling I felt comfortable with.  Also, maybe speak in English with colleague to pull out my 'English brain'. 

AML: How has this process made you a better professional?

KO: Through competition, I faced to different situations and people who come to learn partner dance.  I think this gave me more depth in the way to deal and be helpful to students in the real situation. 

AML: What's you All Star backstory? If you can give a little synopsis of the highs and lows of this competition over the years.

KO: Didn't know about All Stars before the competition was held this year.  Don't have much backstory, sorry. 

AML: What will it mean to you if the team wins it all this year?

KO: Another great experience! Achievement is not everything, but if I can be a part of team that wins at the final, this gives me a chance to pay back little to my teachers who taught me. 

AML: Who are some people that helped you get to this point? 

KO: Susan and Michael Mitsui, Katsuya and Yoshiki, all teachers who gave me great lessons and supported when I was student, the experience I had helped me a lot to get through the competition.

AML: Last question: What does this mean to you? What makes it special?

KO: This is a great opportunity for me to get to know more about what it means to be an instructor at Arthur Murray.  Las Vegas is such a far way place from Japan, and the Dance-O-Rama itself is big scale, therefore it is challenging but I believe being able to participate in the competition gives me a fantastic experience as a teacher.  Also, would love to learn from other teachers from all over the world. 

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