Singer and actor Azusa Sheshe Dance doesn’t wait for permission to get what she wants. A self-taught performer with a powerhouse voice and a signature shock of pink, she’s carved out a life on her own terms, from a breakout role in a production of “Hairspray” to becoming a beloved fixture in New York City’s subway through the MTA’s Music Under New York program. Whatever stage she chooses, Azusa always shows up as herself.
In the 142nd dinner interview, Azusa traces her path from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to the Big Apple, sharing stories of later-in-life creative discovery, fearless reinvention, and the joy and success she’s discovered walking her own path. Whether she’s singing to hurried commuters, writing and starring in her own stage work, or live-streaming performances to tens of thousands of TikTok followers, her philosophy is simple: authenticity connects.