The "A BETTER FUTURE TOGETHER Dance Project," a project utilizing the basketball court at the Ikesei Youth Exchange Center in Setagaya-ku, which was developed together with Rakuten Group, the company's headquarters, has started.As the first installment, auditions for a dance performance aimed at the halftime show of the World University Basketball Series 2023, also known as WUBS, presented by Sun Chlorella, were held.Chasing the days until future dancers, who have various backgrounds and set high goals, stand on the big stage.

The Basketball court of ‘Ikesei’, located in a quiet residential area, began to light up at dusk.Audition participants, each with a serious expression, appear on the court.On this day, from among the dancers who have cleared the document screening and stand here, the performers for the “WUBS” halftime show, which will be held at the National Yoyogi Stadium Second Gymnasium from August 10th to 13th, will be decided.The judges for the audition are Reiko, Manami, and Anzu, all three of whom have experience as dancers for NBA teams.

The director of this dance crew is Reiko, who has experience as a dancer with the Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz.After retiring last season, I will now focus on utilizing what I learned in America to enhance the value of dancers in Japan.

“This time, there are absolutely no predetermined rules or requirements for building a team from scratch.First and foremost, we want each participant to fully express their own individuality.The most exciting part of my experience in America was acknowledging diversity, such as skin color and faith, and blending in as one team.”Therefore, I would be happy if it becomes an interesting team where each individual’s background and story can be clearly seen.”

The audition rehearsal was led by Manami, a dancer for the Atlanta Hawks.We will carefully lecture each participant on powerful and sharp moves based on HIPHOP, one by one.By the way, the choreography for this Dance project was a collaborative effort between the judges, Golden State Warriors dancer Mari Miyano, and four NBA dancers.

Once the warm-up time on the basketball court ends, we move indoors and the audition finally begins.Here, Anzu, a dancer from the Denver Nuggets, who had been told she wouldn’t make it to the start of the audition due to flight schedules, miraculously joined in time!In front of the assembled panel of judges, participants perform one after the other in groups of several people.

The participants each performed a dance with such high quality that, despite having just learned the routine, it was hard to believe. The surrounding crowd cheered, “Yeahhhh!” and “Woohoo!A voice rises, saying, “!”In the audition venue naturally filled with excitement, the judges also let out smiles as they seriously judge based on their own standards.

The audition came to a successful close once the evaluation of all participants was completed.But the real show starts from here!How many dancers will actually pass?Next time, we will deliver the scene of a dance lesson by the successful candidates!

TEXT: Keisuke Honda PHOTO: Masato Ura