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Robby Klein.
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Robby Klein.
Each year we celebrate the incredible people that make Nashville a beautiful place to live. This year, we toast a lineup that includes creatives, business people, culinarians, and everything in between. With a passion for philanthropy and a beautiful outlook on life, these are the men and women who make Music City shine.
Name: Lily Saito
Age: 24
Hometown: New York, NY
Occupation: Ballet Dancer
How would friends describe you in three words?
Positive, diligent, and outgoing.
Name the person who has been the greatest influence in your life.
The person who has inspired me the most in life is my mother, Kumiko Saito. As a performing artist in musical theater herself, she was able to guide me through my journey as a ballet dancer. At the age of three, she was my first ever ballet teacher and she always pushed me to pursue what makes me happy and fulfilled. Whenever things would get hard during my ballet journey, she would always be there to support me and tell me exactly what I needed to hear to persevere. I can honestly say, I would not have been living my dream if it wasn’t for her.
What are a few of your favorite places in Nashville?
After moving from New York City, Nashville was a big change for me. Within the first week I had moved, I found a gem of a place that made me feel like home; Rudy’s Jazz Room. Afterall, Nashville is Music City and I was grateful to be welcomed to a spot that specialized in jazz and latin music. I have a soft spot for salsa dancing and Rudy’s is definitely the place to be for that! You’ll find me anywhere that offers social latin dancing, and I also LOVE to explore all the amazing restaurants in and around Nashville. Shout out to Sonobana for having great, authentic Japanese cuisine!
Tell us about your routine/tips for looking and feeling great inside and/or out (salon, spa, fitness, wellness, well-being, etc.)
Every morning, I make sure to start my day off with meditation and some yoga. Even five to ten minutes of each will make a huge difference in the rest of my day. Tuning into the subtle sensations of all five senses in the morning and feeling comfortable my body prepares me for the day of dancing ahead. This allows me to be fully present throughout my day and treat each new day as a fresh start.
Do you have a favorite quote you live by that you would like to share (and why)?
My favorite quote comes from one of my favorite books, Mastery of Self by Don Miguel Ruiz Jr. and it goes, “Any seeking of perfection outside of yourself is actually a movement away from perfection.” This quote resonates with me so much because as a ballet dancer, we strive to reach a point of “perfection” of our craft and it is so easy to get into the habit of comparison and competition. But really, the only person you are competing against is yourself. This quote is a reminder that the goal isn’t to be the best in the whole world, but it is to be the best version of yourself and to perform at the best of YOUR ability in the present moment.
What is your definition of beauty—as it pertains to yourself and/or others?
I believe the definition of beauty is to love yourself unconditionally and with that love, you inspire and share light to those around you. Beauty is being unapologetically you and to constantly set goals that will challenge you without losing your authentic self.
Special thanks to Grogan Jewelers by Lon for bringing some extra sparkle to our shoot!
Lily Saito is wearing: 6.52 oval diamond solitaire set in a pavers gold pave setting; Rose gold diamond flower pendant- 3.50 carat total weight; Marli Cleo Rev full diamond slip-on bracelet 18k rose gold- 5.70 carat total weight; Rose gold diamond oval hoops- 2 carat total weight.