I didn't participate to win originally. It was more for promotion, and I put more importance on the first audition round because I believe the first audition is the most important than winning for promotion purpose in terms of YouTube influence. But Winning AGT was a surprising gift for me.
1. Tell us more about your upbringing and journey.
I was born and grew up in Japan until I was 20 years old. I went to the US in 1994 for learning English and went to college in Connecticut, US and I started dancing as a hobby during college years. After graduated from college, I moved to New York City and I've kept doing what I love. That's what makes me now.2. When did you first decide you wanted to pursue dancing and how did you start?
There was no "decision-making" for me. During college, I was asked to teach at a local dance school and after graduated from college and moved to New York City, I kept teaching at a few dance schools for living and then somehow I've got performing gigs more and more by mouth to mouth.
It wasn't like I was eager to be a dancer or performer, but more like surround people led me to performing art industry. It was kind of natural path in a sense.
3. How did you feel about being in and winning America's Got Talent?
It was one of biggest mile-stone moments in my life for sure. I didn't participated to win originally. It was more for promotion, and I put more importance on the first audition round because I believe the first audition is the most important than winning for promotion purpose in terms of YouTube influence.
Winning AGT was a surprising gift for me and I couldn't believe it at that time. But of course it was fantastic moment and thankful present for me.
4. Can you throw some light on opportunities one gets as a dancer?
First of all, I'm not that good at dancing as you can see. You can tell that my dance skill itself is "so-so" if you have "dancer" eye. That's why I call myself "Dance-ish Performer". Also I started dancing when I was 20 years old which is relatively late-start in dancing.
There are so many young dancers who dance much better than me, so from my point of view, I see extremely bright light on them and there are a lot of opportunities and possibilities.
5. Is format training required or can one train themselves purely on the basis of talent?
6. What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?
If you want to be "performing artist" like me, you should try to be creative and unique, and having your own style in order to differentiate yourself from others, but need to be captivating, too.
If you're trying to be a "dancer" like back-up dancer for singers, dancing in dance companies or theme parks, etc, it would be totally different path and training is required. You definitely should take lessons and learn high level skills from professional teachers and try to achieve ability to fit well for director/choreographer's vision as well as to be shining than others.
7. What are your future plans?
Keep performing as long as I can perform and there is demand for me. Also, I'm trying to expand my career in directing and producing other performers and events.
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Kenichi Ebina
Kenichi has performed at many events, TV shows and has taught in over 30 countries throughout the world. Kenichi has also performed, directed and choreographed for many projects and dance and theater companies.
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