When it comes to performing a specially choreographed routine, it’s all about hitting the right moves. Some may say that dancing doesn’t require any special set of skills or techniques but we say, there’s no harm trying to invent some of the craziest dance moves that feels personal to you.
Not everyone possesses the ability to dance well or even sing well – case in point, we can neither dance nor sing. Having watched so many dance movies in the past, everyone would at least want to try and learn some amazing dance movies from these movies. Thus, the passion for dancing is born. To promote exchange and collaboration among street dance groups in the ASEAN region, the Japan Foundation Asia Center proudly presents us “Dance Dance Asia– Crossing the Movements “, a project that features Japanese dance groups including Wrecking Crew Orchestra, Time Machine, and Blue Tokyo.
Wrecking Dance Orchestra
Wrecking Crew Orchestra
Wrecking Crew Orchestra are no strangers to the world as they’re best known for their “EL Squad’s Dance of Light”, which is more commonly known as the “Tron”-inspired dance routine. Formed in 2003, the Osaka-based 8-member dance crew constantly evolves in pursuit of new possibilities for street dance. As a pioneer of the street dance scene, the crew frequently fill the venues of their showcases both at home and abroad. Just last year, they left a lasting impression on the crowd through their worldwide hit “Beat Bumper” at klpac and the George Town Festival.
The crew became a Youtube sensation through their “EL Squad’s Dance of Light” video that has been viewed on YouTube more than 25 million views and counting. Since then, Wrecking Crew Orchestra attracted a total of more than 8,000 for their 10th anniversary live performances in Tokyo and Osaka. They were also invited as representatives from Japan for the 60th anniversary of the establishment of a Japan-Myanmar diplomatic relationship, which was held in the spring of 2014 in Yangon, the capital of Myanmar, where they passionately entertained over 2,000 guests.
However, this time around, the 8-member crew will return to the original style that established their name in the Japanese street dance scene.
Watch one of their performances here:
Time Machine
Award-winning dance crew “Time Machine” has been described as a group of artists who control time and space, which is understandable if you’ve seen their performances in real life or through YouTube videos.
Led by the award-winning Koutei Sennin, the crew put together will make a highly-anticipated appearance at Dance Dance Asia. Sennin’s charges are known for being so in-tune with one another that they seem to share a collective consciousness as they progress through their set pieces. Time Machine is a common fixture at such international tournaments as the Dance @live World Cup, Gatsby Dance Competition, and VIBE Dance Competition.
The dancers have been attracting attention from creators around the world for Sennin’s world-class, revolutionary choreography. It was even used in a Uniqlo commercial and won the grand prize for the advertisement category at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, as well as 23 other ad awards worldwide. The company’s unbelievable body control and extremely fine attention to detail, as well as the composition of their performances that features a variety of tricks and gimmicks, displays mastery of both time and space, wowing audiences in the process.
With a concept that goes beyond our imaginations, the group continues to showcase creative new works that are not limited to dancing alone.
Check out their award-winning performance below:
Blue Tokyo
Last but not least, we have Blue Tokyo to complete the lineup for Dance Dance Asia workshop in Malaysia.
Known for their highly artistic acrobatic bodily expression, the dance group comprises male rhythmic gymnasts who stepped into the world of dance upon graduation from Aomori University and Aomori Yamada High School. In addition to lending their services on film, at corporate events and as back-up dancers to artistes, members regularly return to their respective alma maters to train the next generation of championship-dominating athletes.
This group was established as the first professional performance unit from the world of Japanese men’s gymnastics, and the members went from being athletes to artists. The group has masterfully utilised the strength of body and spirit that they sculpted during competition to create highly artistic performances in which they express a world refined through acrobatics. They have worked as performers for Ayumi Hamasaki, Daichi Miura, Lead, Hiromi Goh, and other top artistes.
They also notably performed as part of the cast of “Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour by Cirque Du Soleil”, performed on the French TV program “The Best” in January 2014, and continue to expand their scope of work to this day.
Though the dance groups have different dancing styles, young and aspiring dancers who hope to learn the ropes from the professionals will be heartened to know that all three groups will run workshops this weekend.
The full details are as follows:
- Date: February 7–8.
- Venue: Studio 5, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac)
- BLUE TOKYO: Slot 1 & 4 – Sat & Sun – 10:00am ~ 11:30am
- TimeMachine: Slot 2 & 5 – Sat & Sun – 1:00pm ~ 2:30pm
- WRECKING CREW ORCHESTRA: Slot 3 & 6 – 3:00pm ~ 4:30pm
- Fee: RM10 per slot (Total RM60 for all workshops)
- Workshop Enquiries & Registration: DDAmalaysia@jfkl.org.my
Dance Dance Asia will travel to three other Southeast Asian cities. s**t kingz, Tokyo Gegegay and Tapdancerize gets the ball rolling in Manila on January 17–18. March will see Memorable Moment, Moreno Funk Sixers and 90’s wowing audiences in Hanoi while Umebou, Tokyo Gegegay and 90’s are scheduled for Bangkok.
For more information, visit their official website and Facebook page or contact the Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur at 03 2284 6228.