When I was in Japan, I was the manager of street dance studio for a short while.
It was one of my toughest experiences, like I had only 15 MINUTES sleep everyday when the studio hit busy time.
But on the bright side, I got to meet a lot of “legends” of street dance. Him, Ejoe, was one of them. (There is his bio at the end of this post)
I ran into the trailer of his recent work “EJOE’S HOUSE” and it was dopest clip so I wanted to share here.
Long story short, I want this DVD so bad. I might as well buy one. This clip is so cool that I actually feel like start dancing.
Ejoe’s House
This clip below is also awesome.
This is a promotional clip for a street brand called “en4th”. Man, these guys and dances are beautiful.
I still remember, once I attended his house dance workshop as an assistant/translator. His lesson was pretty tough (I still don’t understand his move to these day) but at the end of the workshop, he said;
House dance literally means “a house” to any type of dance. You can mix them up under the roof of house and that is what makes it so wonderful.
It is very simple yet deep. It even made a lot of sense to me and what I do. I want to talk to him someday again.
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EJOE’S BIO (From his official website)
Since 1990 Ejoe Wilson has been considered by many to be on the forefront of a new direction in dance. Through his teen years after appearing in in numerous music videos after winning the Apollo theater’s “Amateur Night” competition 4 consecutive times, his abilities and talents would lead him further, gaining entrance into the prestigious High School of Music & The Performing Arts. Later, in the midst of New York’s developing house music scene he would find his calling, making a full transition from hip hop to the house style of dance. A few years later on tour in Japan, Ejoe became the first to introduce house-dance to a predominantly Hip Hop based Japanese community, creating a nationwide following while choreographing and dancing with Japanese pop super-groups ZOO, T.R.F, and Namie Amuro.
In 1993 he would begin working as a “principal” dancer for international superstar Mariah Carey, a position he would hold over the next decade. Also joining the “Elite Force” dance crew he would Will Smith in major videos “Men in Black” and “Getting Jiggy Wit It” as well as opening the Soul Train 25th Annivesary Special, American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and Divas Live.He has been directed by Bruce Weber, Brett Ratner, Hype Williams, Diane Martel, Leonard Tepper, and Millecent Sheldon and has taught thousands of students worldwide, In 2002 he joined the Off-Broadway musical sensation “Stomp” working with both touring and N.Y. based cast.
Ejoe is the founder and host of the EJOE’S HOUSE & E.S.P dance parties held monthly in Williamsburg Brooklyn and Manhattan’s Lower East Side where he is also a DJ.He is the host of the annual House Dance International dance competition. and founder and artistic director of dance company “BeyondPhenomenon”.
Ejoe has taught and continues to teach thousands of students worldwide and has recently launched his own t-shirt line and his first DVD. For over 20 years Ejoe Wilson remains to be one of the most influential pioneers to come to the world of dance.
