Takahiro · Jun 19, 11:36 AM

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It took Takahiro at least 20 minutes to walk to the front of the Apollo Theatre on 125th street after exiting through the back door on 126th. First a girl who had seen him dance that evening stopped to congratulate Taka on his performance. Then a couple pass but only whisper to each other, “That’s the dancer.” A few more people pass and shout, “You’re the best,” to which Taka just smiles. Once we hit the street though, Taka is mobbed. A group of 12 guys who hadn’t seen tonight’s show, but recognized Taka, stopped to request an encore. Taka gave it, slapped hands, and bowed to his audience before walking to the front of the theatre where his mom, dad, brother, and sister waited. The family had taken the flight from Japan that their son had taken alone, ten months before.
Taka moved into the YMCA near Columbus Circle where he stayed for a month before moving to Harlem to learn about “Harlem’s people and culture,” to prepare for the challenge he had set for himself, winning the amateur contest at the Apollo Theatre.
His routine begins with Nelly and Karate moves then goes into the Super Mario Bros theme music and finishes with DJ Shadow’s “Organ Donor,” mixing Japanese and American cultures. Taka is the embodiment of a new era.

Young Philosopher: How long have you been living in New York?

Takahiro: 9 months ago I came to New York.

YP: What did you set out to do in moving from Japan to New York?

T: My dance style is new. I want to show lots of generations of people my style. But Japan keeps its customs. For example, if you are living in New York, if you did a good job, your age doesn’t matter, if it’s really good, everyone will admit it. Japan is different. You should respect the guy who is older than you even if he is a jerk. I wanted to show everybody my style but I couldn’t because of my age. Most of the choreographers in Japan are over 30 years old and I am only 25.

YP: You wanted to dance professionally in Japan?

T: Yes, but my style is a new style and they don’t like new style. But if I win a championship or title in New York they should admit [that I am qualified to teach].

YP: If you win contests in New York and then bring those titles back to Japan with you, you’ll be able to find work?

T: Yes.

YP: Is the Apollo Theatre amateur contest the first contest you entered in America?

T: Yes.

YP: Why the Apollo?

T: Japanese people think the Apollo contest is the number one contest, absolutely number one for dancing. Apollo Theatre is considered to be an old, classical, traditional theatre.

YP: Where did your dance style come from? What influences helped create it?

T: First, when I was a child I liked pantomimes. I’d watch videos; I’d watch TV and I practiced myself.

YP: Pantomime, like a mime, with white face?

T: Yes, exactly. I practiced how they moved.
Second, I see Michael Jackson. I get an incredible feeling and I think pantomime is very close but he is dancing. I think pantomime is good. Dancing is good. Oh, I want pantomime and dancing mixed style with (an accent) on the pantomime style.
Dancing style pantomime we already have, but pantomime style dancing we haven’t.
I wanted to make a new style.

YP: Would you describe your dancing style as ‘fun’?

T: No, but close. It is not fun every time. My dancing is like a film or theatre show, not just fun. Sometimes crying, sometimes happy. It’s a story, like life.
My dancing is like telling a story. Every time I make choreography I make a story.

YP: Would you be interested in making a show, like a Broadway show?

T: Yes.

YP: Would you include any dialogue in your performance?

T: Sometimes I would use voice but like music, no words. I would use my body to communicate. If I used words it would just be for impact. No talk.

YP: Outside of dancing, can you read people’s body language, and tell how they are feeling?

T: Yes. Even if I am watching somebody’s back I can imagine he feels like “this.” I am always examining the body and trying to figure out its movements, its structure.
I think I am a better reader of another person’s body than the average person.
Even if I don’t speak the same language as another person I can tell a lot from their posture and movements and emotions.

YP: Have you gotten a lot of support from family and friends in pursuing dancing?

T: I have so many people who have helped me. If I didn’t have the support of my friends I wouldn’t be here. I appreciate them so much.

YP: Did people support you by just being there for you or did people offer you financial support?

T: Some people helped me out financially but not too much. Most people come to see me and that makes me happy. Just them being there is the most important thing.

YP: How does someone know where to see you dance?

T: My homepage is takahirony.com. You can find information there.

YP: Have you suffered any injuries since you’ve been here?

T: In New York, two times. I hurt my back. I’ve started doing Karate.

YP: You started doing Karate in New York, not in Japan?

T: In Japan I did Judo and Kendo (you wear armor like a samuri and use a bamboo sword). In New York I try Karate. One time though I broke my back.
I got injured just before the first Apollo theatre contest. This was in June.

YP: And when was the Apollo contest?

T: June.

YP: Did you think about not dancing so you wouldn’t further injure your back?

T: It was my first chance but it was my last chance.

When I went to the tryouts for this contest I almost didn’t make the cut because I used my own music. I used classical music, very dark. The judges told me they liked my dancing but they didn’t like the music. After I finished dancing, they told me, “Change the music. This is a hip hop contest, it’s supposed to be entertainment. Your dancing is good but it is not entertainment.”

I was living in Harlem. I studied Harlem’s people, black people and black culture and hip hop. I know hip hop music but I tried to research what music is popular in Harlem so I could use that for my performance.
I asked so many people on the street.

YP: How did people respond to you asking them questions about their culture?

T: I learned that hip hop culture is not only dancing and fashion. It includes so much.
Living in New York made me realize that I didn’t respect so many things about black culture.

YP: You just thought about dancing?

T: Yes. I thought maybe I should learn more about black culture [in general].

YP: You moved straight from Tokyo to Harlem?

T: No. First I lived into the YMCA at 59th Street near Columbus Circle. Then I moved to Harlem.

YP: You live in Harlem now?

T: Now, I live in Astoria, Queens. One time I got beat up.

YP: Did the guys rob you?

T: They tried to take my electric dictionary, but I saved it.
I lived in Harlem for six months. I love Harlem but my family was coming to visit from Japan and I thought I had to change my apartment.
I wanted to stay but this was their first time staying in New York and they were targets, very tourist. I was scared for them so I moved.

YP: You like Astoria?

T: You can learn something from anything.

YP: How long do you plan to stay in New York?

T: I thought I’d go back to Japan in March but the Apollo contests will be shown on television and I am thinking about staying longer.

YP: Have you achieved what you set out to do in New York? Can you go back to Japan with your title and find work as a dancer, or as a dance teacher?

T: Yes. But now I have new goals. For the first three months I was sick. Everything was scary for me. I didn’t leave my room for a month. And, it wasn’t even dangerous around 59th Street, but I was scared. My only purpose in visiting New York was to win the Apollo contest. I focused on this. Then I began to think that New York is not so dangerous. I like New York, even though I got beat up.

YP: What advice do you have for up and coming dancers?

T: My advice is- everybody has yourself, your interest in something. In your mind you have something burning but that is not enough. You should learn other people’s culture. You should see other people. You should learn new things all the time. You should talk to all people. If you don’t like something you should still try. You can do it.

Takahiro on Showtime at the Apollo

— Albin

Comment

1. hey albin,
   thanks for sending a copy of the mag. very cool that you’re doing this. one thing: you need a Contact link on your site. it’s taken me a week to figure out how to reach you.
   cheers,
   david wales

   — david (from the spotted pig) · May 15, 01:18 PM · #

2. BPHer is on the subtitles! wish i was in new yids to see the screening!

   — joey-o · Jun 19, 12:40 PM · #

3. I love this interview!
   x
   Mengly

   — mengly · Jun 22, 01:38 PM · #

4. Yo, Albin! Happy early berfday, kid.

   — Jason · Jun 25, 01:06 PM · #

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