Kristi Toguchi: The Best of All WorldsInside MagicMagic News Updated Daily for the Professional Magician

Kristi Toguchi is an accomplished performer of both magic and dance with an incredible resume for someone of her young tenure.

You will be able to see her perform with San Diego’s Fern Street Circus this weekend. The high-energy circus began its run in April and will wind-up this weekend. You can check out the full schedule for this weekend’s shows in San Diego by visiting the Fern Street Circus website.

Ms. Toguchi was kind enough to take the time to tell us about her work in magic and dance, her early training, and what she enjoys the most.

The lithe performer tore a ligament in her right arm recently and was sidelined from some of the routines she expected to perform in the circus. Her physicians have pronounced her practically fit to return to her full form and she is anxious to take-up the physically demanding work of entertaining audiences.

Ms. Toguchi will perform with the Circus this weekend (Friday at 8:00pm; Saturday at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, and 8:00 pm; as well as Sunday at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm.

As a third-generation magician from Hawaii, Ms. Toguchi’s immersion into our art began early and was supported consistently. Her father, Terry Toguchi, and grandfather, James Yoshida are magicians of international renown. Mr. Yoshida serves as a SAM International Ambassador, started the SAM in Hawaii and was the first magic dealer to bring products from Japan and Asia to the US.

Ms. Toguchi reflected on her training within such a rich magic tradition.

“I started doing magic in my family’s magic store at the age of 5 or so. Then at the age of 12 I began to study magic more seriously. I have worked with Fukai and Joanie Spina a lot. When I was 18 I went to New York City to pursue dance at the Alvin Ailey School of Dance.”

While training at the world famous Alvin Ailey School, Ms. Toguchi decided she did not need to give up one of her two passions – dance and magic – but could pursue them both. She moved to San Diego, received a Bachelors of Arts in Dance from U.C.S.D. and joined the Fern Street Circus.

Ms. Toguchi’s acts in the Circus featured her skills as a magician and an aerial acrobat – using tissue, aerial silks, and contortion.

Kristi and Lance – Two of a Kind

We asked if she enjoyed one art form more than another. “I can honestly say that dance is my passion. I love dancing and I think it will be a part of me for the rest of my life. Magic has been apart of my life from as far back as I can remember. It is such a beautiful thing to make people smile from just doing a single trick. It is so hard to choose. I don?t think there is one without the…

Kristi Toguchi is an accomplished performer of both magic and dance with an incredible resume for someone of her young tenure.

Ms. Toguchi was kind enough to take the time to tell us about her work in magic and dance, her early training, and what she enjoys the most.

Ms. Toguchi will perform with the Circus this weekend (Friday at 8:00pm; Saturday at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, and 8:00 pm; as well as Sunday at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm.

Ms. Toguchi reflected on her training within such a rich magic tradition.

“I started doing magic in my family’s magic store at the age of 5 or so. Then at the age of 12 I began to study magic more seriously. I have worked with Fukai and Joanie Spina a lot. When I was 18 I went to New York City to pursue dance at the Alvin Ailey School of Dance.”

Ms. Toguchi’s acts in the Circus featured her skills as a magician and an aerial acrobat – using tissue, aerial silks, and contortion.

Kristi and Lance – Two of a Kind

me now. In the last two years I have began studying circus arts and I just think I am just as passionate about it as I am with magic and dance. I find it so challenging and I think some of the things you can do in circus arts is just as magical as the illusions we do in magic.

“The honest truth is, my passion in life is performing: It doesn’t matter what I am doing if I am on

stage. This season with the circus I had the opportunity to work in a clown act and even that was fun to me. it is just so crazy to me that I am making a living doing something I just love so much.”

Amen, sister.

So where does she derive inspiration and whom are her influences?

“I look towards many other art forms for influences. Martha Graham, Cirque du Soliel, and Madonna. As for influences in my career in the magic circle, I would have to say that Joanie Spina has been the most influential person in my career. Her advice has really affected the choices I have made in my career.”

We could not be the only ones who tried and failed to choreograph their own magic show, right? We all wanted to be like David Copperfield or Rick Thomas. What are the mistakes magicians make doing their own choreography?”

“One of the biggest mistakes I think I have seen comes when an inexperienced choreographer

attempts to stage the show. Choreography should make the star look as good as possible. Consequently it is also important for the choreographer to understand magic. Because the way I approach dance choreography is totally different from the way I would approach a magic choreography. The only advice I could really give is to not choreograph it yourself. Hire someone with expertise.”

Other than professional ballroom champion Rick Thomas, can magicians dance, at all?

“If you know anything about the history of dance, you would know that dance legends like Martha Graham have said that it takes 10 years to make a dancer. Those 10 years consists of training in dance 6 to 8 hours a week 5 times a week. How many magicians do you know train in dance this much? like magic, dance takes a lot of practice, and it is a serious codified technique. I am not saying that magicians can’t dance, I just think that from what I have seen in my lifetime so far, I have not seen many magicians who look like they are trained dancers.”

She is a diplomat. We all know the truth. We’re terrible.

Other than “read Inside Magic every day and tell your friends” how would you advise young magicians?

“The best advice I can give to everyone is to always look outside the box. If you want to make magic your profession make sure you study many different aspects of visual and performing arts. Having many different influences is very important in creating your own style of magic and persona.”

Check out Ms. Toguchi’s website — it is absolutely beautiful in form, function, and substance. If you are in the San Diego area this weekend, be sure to catch one of her many performances.

Magic is such a wonderful art mostly because there are such wonderful people in it.