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Joyce Siu

Japanese dancer Higuchi Hideyuki will be  hotfooting it to our shores with four energetic tap dance performances next week.

Hideyuki, better known as Hideboh, leads a six-member Tokyo-based troupe called STRiPES. The group   has been dazzling Japanese audiences this year with their funky tap-hip hop fusion.

Even as a child, Hideboh was immersed in the world of dance as both his parents were professional dancers. He started tap lessons   when he was six, and became a tap instructor

at 16.

After meeting renowned tap dancer Gregory Hines, winner of 1992 Tony Award for the musical Jelly's Last Jam, Hideboh travelled to the United States and took  lessons with Hines' teacher, Henry LeTang.

When an American tap dancer suggested he add some Asian flair to his moves, Hideboh began to think about his identity as a Japanese dancer.

He was inspired to leave past styles behind and formulate his own, more personal steps.  'The challenge was to create a  style that has never existed before,' the tap dancer said. So he formed his own tap dance troupe The STRiPES in 1998.

'The name was taken from the American flag - Stars and Stripes - to show respect for the US, the birthplace of tap dancing,' he said.

Hideboh fused  Broadway-style tap and Rhythm tap and called it 'funk-a-step'. Rhythm tap  originated from African immigrants in the US and is characterised by dancers moving mainly  their legs and feet, making a louder  sound.

Hideboh describes his troupe as more of a band than a dance group. As musicians of the body, the dancers create rhythmic tapping sounds which melt seamlessly into the drumming beat  out by percussionist Noriyasu.

Hideboh's fame rocketed in 2003 when he was invited by renowned director Takeshi Kitano to  choreograph his film Zatoichi - The Blind Swordsman. Set in the Edo period, the film's last scene features a group of farmers  tap dancing with joy at a festival.

Hideboh said he learned a lot from the director and his impressive  imagination. 'The idea of farmers, Japanese sandals and tap dance didn't seem to fit.  But Kitano managed to fuse these elements,'  he said.

The STRiPES disbanded early this year and reformed as  STRiPES (dropping 'The' from their title). The troupe now has  two female hip-hop dancers who add street spice to the  performance.

Hideboh is keen to promote tap dancing in Japan and he is  pleased to see more young people showing an interest in it.  He hopes his fusion style will inspire others to experiment.

'Many Japanese dancers are very good, technically speaking. But  most just mimic  other dancers. I hope they will now focus on creating something new,' he said.

Funk-a-Step LIVE takes place at 8pm from Thursday to Saturday at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and on Sunday at the Tuen Mun Town Hall. A meet-the-artist session will be held on Friday. Tickets cost $45 to $90 for students ($90 to $180 for adults). Bookings from Urbtix on 2734 9009.



Tap into hip hop