Encounter #11: Hip Hop Storytelling with Nobuya
This week's Encounter is with 9 to 5'er artist, Nobuya Nagahama. Nobuya is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher in New York City. While formally trained in several genres of dance, Nobuya has a special affinity for hip hop. For his Encounter, Nobuya has chosen to share his choreography entitled, Dance with Suspense. If you would like to learn more about Nobuya and his passion for dance, please check out his bio on The Characters page of this website.
I first Encountered Nobuya a few years ago in his beginner hip hop class at the dance studio I attend.
Although I love dance, it took quite a few years before I mustered up the courage to take an adult beginner dance class. I was never really formally trained and have the flexibility of a 900 year old tree so attending an open class, with dancers who can hold their leg up to their ear and can make leotards actually look attractive, was a very intimidating scenario for me. But, since I can remember, I could never not move when music was playing and I always dreamed of being part of the dance world in some way.
Two years ago, when I was going through a rough patch, I decided to get over my insecurities and start taking dance classes because dance is an art form that gives me a sense of release and freedom, which is something that I definitely needed at that time. Hip hop seemed like the best choice to start with because it was the genre that made the most sense to me. In my opinion, hip hop is one of the more “welcoming” dance forms because all it asks is that you listen, connect, and then react to the rhythm of the music. It doesn’t care about your body type, your turnout, your flexibility – hip hop is all about feeling, honesty, strength, and letting your unique personality shine through.
In my first class with Nobuya, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I have come to discover that dancers, especially hip hoppers, are very charismatic individuals who seem to have a persona that exists even when they are off stage - it is carried through how they dance, how they walk, what they wear, and down to even how they point a toe. I think compared to the average Joe, dancers learn to embrace and develop their unique identity early on because in a performing arts career, that is your calling card. It still amazes me how 3 dancers trained in the same genre can listen to the same song and yet somehow produce 3 completely distinctive choreographies because their unique experiences, personality, and physicality influence how they interpret and embody the music.
I had taken a hip hop class once or twice before Nobuya’s and those instructors were very loud, outgoing, tough-love personas. Nobuya was intriguing to me because, based on first impression, he was the opposite. He calmly came into evening class in his big sweatpants holding a cup of tea and, after hugging a few students, headed over to the stereo. There was something serene and graceful about his presence and I wondered how those qualities could even translate into the hard-hitting style of hip hop. Then, Nobuya turned the music on and showed me how.
Nobuya is one of the most unique hip hoppers that I have Encountered because he infuses playfulness and even humor into a genre that I used to equate more with the tougher emotions, like anger, resilience, and strength. Although I think all choreographers and dancers try to tell a story through their dance, Nobuya stands out to me because he doesn’t just tell a narrative through his movement but rather he completely transforms into the character telling that narrative. Nobuya utilizes his natural grace to introduce unique variety in his dance style that contrasts between beautiful smooth elegant lines and hard-hitting popping and locking. When Nobuya was featured on So You Think Can Dance (I know, super cool, right?), the judges described his dance style as amusing and they fell in love with his funny dance character. I couldn’t agree more. To me, Nobuya’s “persona” is exciting because it is filled with the unexpected, whether it is in how he approaches a movement or develops a character. Nobuya embodies the simple joy of dance and movement and I am so happy that he has chosen to share the latest chapter of his hip hop storytelling with the Encounters community.
Now, without further ado, I introduce to you our Encounter with the dancer, Nobuya Nagahama (Nobuya plays the main character in this dance piece. He’s the stud in the red pants :P ) Enjoy!
P.S. Liked this Encounter? Then, check out Nobuya's YouTube channel for more of his fun choreography!