Hanna Westi: True to Her Roots

Hanna Westi’s journey to the New York stage began long before she ever set foot in Manhattan. Inspired by the operatic legacy of her grandfather, Hanna traveled from Germany to New York to turn a family passion into a professional reality. Today, as a performer and the Associate Director of Chasing Dreams, Hanna has become a cornerstone of the international artist community in NYC. In this intimate Q&A, she reflects on her transition from Germany to the Big Apple, the challenges of the immigrant experience, and why staying true to your roots is the ultimate superpower.

Did you always know you wanted to become an artist?

Yes and no. I started being active in the arts when I was really young, but I was still too young to know that this was the career I wanted to pursue. In school I was very interested in journalism, but I quickly realized that performing was what I wanted to do for a living. My Grandpa who was an opera singer in Denmark played a huge role in my decision making as well. He has always been my role model, although I never got to meet him. When I was very young, my mom would always show us his performances on video tape and they would move me to tears. I'm just grateful that I can step into his footsteps. In doing so, I feel connected to him.

Tell us about your beginnings in NY and what brought you here.

It has been a really exciting but tough journey. I think all of us internationals can relate to this. The first thing that my parents told me was “you are crazy”, but I always had the dream of living in New York. For my 18th birthday my best friend gifted me a trip to Paris and it so happened to be the date that AMDA was holding auditions there. I auditioned and got accepted. I am truly convinced that I only made it to NY thanks to that trip, otherwise I would have stayed in Hamburg. The beginnings in NY were overwhelming, I didn’t feel at home at first. I was homesick a lot; everything was new to me- the city, the people, but my roommate at AMDA took such good care of me. It was also really helpful to connect with the international community at AMDA.

*Hanna Westi in “Snow White” at the Galli Theatre*

How would you describe your experience in New York as an immigrant artist?

Challenging. You have so many days in which you don’t want to keep doing it and fight anymore. NYC is exhausting because of its fast pace. If you don’t have a community it can quickly become very lonely. Thankfully, I found mine. Even on challenging days I now see the beauty the city and the people have to offer.

What does a space like Chasing Dreams, which aims to create visibility for international artists mean to you?

It means the world to me. It is such an important community especially as an international artist. We need to support each other. I remember, I had just graduated from AMDA when I first participated in the show . My debut on a NYC stage was a mix of energy and nerves. It felt like a Broadway experience to me. I felt supported, safe, and got to meet other international artists.

What was your journey to becoming Associate Director of Chasing Dreams?

I started as a performer. I think I participated three times before you girls left New York. I felt extremely sad when the show stopped running because this project was so needed in NYC. So when Cami reached out after months asking me to be a part of the team, hosting it and performing in it, I jumped up and down. I was so excited and scared at the same time, because I‘ve never taken on such a complex role before. But, ever since then it’s been such a fun journey. Working with the team has taught me quite a bit. I’m so grateful.

*Hanna Westi at Rumbamena Dance Company*

It’s more than just a show to me, it's connecting with other performers. I still get nervous sometimes as if it was my first time. The atmosphere in the room is so magnetic. Every single show is so different but I always leave the venue with a big smile on my face.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?

To stay who you are and be true to yourself. I have been too critical with myself for too long and always tried to be perfect, but I think being who you are will get you the job in the end. Being unique and different is a strength in this industry. You have to stand out and you can only do so if you stay true to your colors. My mom always used to tell me “never forget where you come from and your roots”. Especially in this city.

What current projects are you working on?

I’ve been a permanent member of the Galli Theater New York for almost four years now. We perform musicals for children and teenagers like “Cinderella” and “Snow White“. It’s very fun. We regularly perform at hospitals, which is such a heartwarming program. It showed me that no matter how many people are in the audience, if I can reach the few people sitting there and make their day better then that’s all that matters. I was also part of the Rumbamena Dance Company last year. Definitely, a different experience because I hadn‘t danced in such a long time but very rewarding. Recently, I started a project with a friend of mine called the “InBetween Project" where we support other artists, talk about job opportunities, what to do when you don‘t feel motivated, and point out what the city has to offer. It’s like being a big sister to people who are new here. Eventually we want to hold events to welcome and connect everyone.

What dreams are you chasing next?

Of course, I am still chasing to be on Broadway one day. I’m only waiting for Wicked to call me. My dream role will always stay Elphaba in Wicked because I connect with the character so incredibly much. I think it’s because it was the first musical I had ever seen. I had never experienced something like this before. I was sitting in the theater and watched these artists make magic. It was simply mesmerizing, captivating. I've at least seen the show five or six times. But Broadway is not everything to me. I want to take on projects that speak to me and have meaning, no matter how big the production.