Charismatic Tap Dancer who Takeshi Calls "Teacher"

HIDEBOH, THE STRiPES Leader

The closing tap dance scene in which farmers dance with joy at a festival, shown in the re-make of the movie "ZATOICHI" by widely known director KITANO Takeshi (Best Director Award at Venice International Film Festival, 2003), must have left a vivid impression on the world of movie fans. Under his new and surprising direction, the image of ZATOICHI changed quite dramatically from the popular original movie series starring KATSU Shintaro, and the scene was the highlight of ZATOICHI.

It was THE STRiPES, a four-person tap dance unit with leader HIDEBOH, RON×?, SUJI. and NORIYASU, that danced in the center in the last scene. With their precision tapping rhythm and a performance that goes beyond the limits of conventional tap dancing, THE STRiPES have a reputation not only in Japan, but also around the world. Last year, they were invited to represent Asia at the World Tap Dance Festival held in Chicago, USA.

Born to be a tap dancer
HIDEBOH was born to the father of an OSK dance choreographer and the mother of an SKD dancer. As his parents opened a tap dance studio, HIDEBOH started to learn dance from his parents from the age of 6 and began teaching at age 16. For part-time work during his junior high school years, he became a camera rehearsal substitute for SHIBUGAKITAI, at the time the most popular idol group in Japan. "I didn't mind working in the show biz world, but I thought that if I would work around the world, my specialty should be tap dance," he says. Hence, HIDEBOH decided his path at a very young age.

Two common styles of tap dance are the Broadway style featured in musicals, and Rhythm tap, which is more creative and uses more ad lib dance steps. HIDEBOH practices the latter. The root of tap dance is the clock dance of the African-Americans. It was developed from the idea that "Though our hands were chained as slaves, our feet can still move."

HIDEBOH had been living in the USA for about 18 months to improve his skills. Since he has been influenced by his favorite talent Sammy DAVIS Jr., he had tanned skin and his hair was in a style commonly worn by black persons.' "An American tap dancer once asked me, 'Who are you?' and said that I should show some Asian taste as a Japanese." After returning to Japan, he asked himself, "Who am I?" It helped him to define his dance style.

"NORIYASU, a musician, became the first member of THE STRiPES. He isn't like an ordinary musician, but that's why he is attractive. RON×? and SUJI. used to be my students," HIDEBOH said about his members. They took their name "THE STRiPES" from the American flag "Stars & Stripes," to show respect for the USA, the birthplace of tap dancing.

I learn many things from director Kitano
Without a doubt, it was ZATOICHI that made THE STRiPES famous, and their opportunity to participate in the movie occurred when HIDEBOH appeared in the TV program "Takeshi's Anyone can be a Picasso." For your (non-Japanese) information, director Kitano is also the most famous talent (comedian) in other fields besides movies, in which he uses the name "Beat Takeshi." He also acts as MC for several TV programs. HIDEBOH began to teach Takeshi tap dancing after appearing on Takeshi's TV program 5 years ago.

Talking about Takeshi, HIDEBOH says, "He wanted to learn tap dancing from the beginning again. It seems not just for his work, but because he had a special interest. He has a view that it is an obligation for entertainers to master entertaining skills. So he has a very enthusiastic attitude. I am teaching him at his home or at studios before his programs start. I heard he practices for two hours a day. He calls me "teacher." As this is too much I asked him to call me "HIDEBOH" but he refused to. Takeshi is surprisingly shy, but really clever and his imagination is amazing. It is me who is learning many things from him."

New possibility for tap dance
The members of THE STRiPES teach tap dancing even now whenever they have time. The majority of tap dance students are in their 20s and 30s, and 90% are women. "Culture comes from fashion. So without thinking that tap dancing is difficult, we have to expose it to the public showing it simply and easily," says HIDEBOH, who seemingly has more passion than anybody to expand the dance market as the leader of tap dancing.

Last November, the group's DVD containing footage of their live concert held at the Shinagawa Prince hotel in June 2005 was released. By watching it, you will feel HIDEBOH's enthusiastic attitude for tap dancing. The video portrays not only the groups' superb skills, but also various fun stories. Among these is a hilarious story about bus passengers and the driver. You will be touched and feel a fresh impression from the members who finish their 100 minute stage performance with so much sweat that it looks like they have just played a full-on football game. It is not an exaggeration to say that they are showing new possibilities for tap dancing, which sometimes takes a back seat in the entertainment world.

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