The D Soraki
Japan
·
Dance
Nationality | Japan |
|---|---|
Career start | 2007 |
Discipline | Dance |
The D Soraki was born into the dance world, literally. His mom went into labour on her way to his older sister's dance contest. He started taking dance seriously at four-years-old after he saw DANCE ALIVE, Japan's renowned street dance battle. By the time he was five, Soraki was competing alongside his sister.
His older sister was his first instructor, teaching him the basics and today, alongside his mom, she remains Soraki's biggest fan. He trained in soul, hip-hop and various other styles, but found mastering such a diverse mix challenging, as it made it harder to maintain his unique style.
He battled past personal hardships like being bullied in school, fighting his father in court and repeatedly losing in dance battles. At his lowest, Soraki admits that he felt like a "lost cause", but dance thankfully pulled him out of those dark times.
A full-circle moment came at the 2022 Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final in Johannesburg, South Africa, when the Japanese hip-hop freestyler mesmerised thousands of spectators and took home the title. But more than that, Soraki triumphed while battling to songs like I'm Coming Out by Diana Ross and Mo Money, Mo Problems by Biggie, both seminal tracks that helped him get past the rough patches he faced in high school.
After being crowned world champion, Soraki's life did a complete 180. His victory went viral on TikTok and his inbox started blowing up. Offers for gigs, photo shoots and sponsorships poured in.
Since then, Soraki's demand has continued to skyrocket, landing him collaborations with Adidas and G-Shock. He's walked as a dancer and model in catwalk shows for Syuman and Animus, starred in Louis Vuitton campaigns, a Spotify ad and a short documentary for Applebum Tokyo on hip-hop’s evolution, featuring pioneer Buddha Stretch.
When it comes to pop and all-genre styles, Soraki credits Japanese freestyle icon Yoshie as his dance master, shaping his artistry and career. For hip-hop, he looks up to Takesaburo (XXX-Large), Tetsu and Meth, whom he calls his "dance parents" for guiding him in both music and life.
Beyond his unmatched style and finesse, Soraki's passion for dance is driven by authenticity – always approaching it with a student’s mindset, staying fresh and dancing from the heart.