Illuminasia’s got talent
Come see the show that left Simon Cowell awestruck
Kenichi Ebina didn’t become a dancer. He became dance- ish.
If that’s a new word to you, it was to the judges on America’s Got Talent back in 2013, too — but that didn’t stop them from being wowed by Ebina’s unique blend of performing talents that translates into a performance that’s unforgettable. ( Ebina won.)
Now Calgary Zoo visitors can experience danceish for themselves over the next 10 days or so, as Ebina will be performing as part of the zoo’s Illuminasia Lantern and Garden Exhibition, which celebrates Japanese culture with different performances through Oct. 11. So what’s danceish? “I’m not good at dancing,” says Ebina, “so that’s why I call it danceish.
“I kind of incorporate dance with other materials or factors, like magic tricks, lighting, technology. What I show is not dance skills or techniques,” he says. “More like total entertainment.”
During his audition for America’s Got Talent, Ebina left judge Simon Cowell slack- jawed with awe.
Part of his show evokes the spirit of Michael Jackson, while another evokes the Rise of the Robots.
Ebina will perform twice nightly on an outdoor stage behind Grazer’s Restaurant, performing both his tribute to Jackson and his robot routine.
The Tribute to Japan show also features Taiko drumming from Paula Nieckar, a sake ceremony, and magic from Atsushi Ono — along with 366 hand- crafted lanterns on display throughout the zoo grounds.
While Ebina grew up in Tokyo, it wasn’t until he moved to the U. S. in 1994 that he really pursued a career as a performer.
“When I was a kid, I was more into sports,” he says. “Baseball, basketball, soccer, that kind of stuff — or in my high school era, I was interested more in motorcycles.”
It was motorcycles that brought him to the U. S., or the dream of a certain American motorcycle.
“My American dream back then, was going all the way ( across America) on Route 66 on a HarleyDavidson.
“But first of all,” he says, “HarleyDavidson was too expensive for me.
“My dream changed,” he says. “I gave it up.”