Megumi Oshikiri
Bio
Megumi Oshikiri is an artist, an explorer and a lifelong learner from Yokohama, Japan. She began training in ballet at the age of 5 at T.K. Ballet Academy, and has developed her movement style mostly through commercial and contemporary dance at Rei Dance Collection in Japan. She came to the United States to attend the University of the Arts for two years, where she received dance training under the guidance of Paul Matterson, Shayla-Vie Jenkins, Sidra Bell, and Amy Aldridge. Megumi is also a costume designer and maker specializing in fashion for dance, led by the mentorship of Martha Chamberlain at UArts. She made her debut for “TRINE” by Omenthrice Dance Company as an independent costume designer. Megumi is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance at Temple University, where she continues to refine her artistry through center-weighted, contemporary fusion dance styles. Her experiences living in the United States as an international student, along with her work beyond performance, have inspired her to broaden her perspective and challenge her own potential. She creates art as a way to share love in all its forms through her everyday life, striving to make her work deeply “relatable” to the audience.
Artist Statement
I am a translator of movements—an explorer and lifelong learner from Japan, creating art as a way to share love in all its forms. My work is based on my name - Megumi - meaning “love seed” with a hope to become a person who can give people love. My mission is simple: to offer care, encouragement, or recognition through my work. Love does not have to be romantic; it can be as small as a moment of understanding. I want my work to radiate even the most trivial spark of positivity. If my audience walks away feeling just a little lighter, then my piece has fulfilled its purpose. I’m attracted to contemporary fusion styles with a little element of Japanese dance, focusing on centered-weight. I cherish my dancers deeply and movements that come from one’s heart, and I view every performance as a mutual exchange of energy, never a one-sided presentation. As a multidisciplinary artist, I build my process from lived experiences. I have dyed fabric with loose tea in search of more sustainable practices, and I let rituals like brewing tea guide how I create. My work is both research and offering—a continual search for new shapes of love translated into movement.
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