Dance
Find out how the next level Waacker is transforming Japan’s dance scene and gaining a huge fanbase around the world.
Back in 2008 when Britney Spears sang the lyrics "All eyes on me, in the centre of the ring, just like a circus", Ibuki was still trying to gain attention in the dance scene in Japan. Fast forward a decade and over on Instagram you’ll find the Waacker mouthing the same lyrics while performing a series of razor-sharp moves that have earned her a legion of fans around the world.
When Ibuki starts to move there's no denying her showmanship and her feminine energy helps her produce a unique vibe. Combine that with her ability to catch complex beats, incalculable charm, super speed and her unique threads – and it’s no surprise she’s gaining plenty of attention.
I'm trying to make Waacking choreography really big, this is my main challenge
Ibuki has cemented her status throughout 2020 with her highly sought-after online classes, which attract thousands of dancers. She's also locked down prime-time television spots in Japan, expanded her fashion company and taken a seat alongside a string of famous hip-hop dancers as one of the judges for the first-ever Red Bull Dance Your Style Challenge on TikTok.
Destined for superstardom and still just at the start of her career, Ibuki is the hugely talented Waacker you simply can't afford to miss. Here are 10 things about Ibuki that you need to know...
1. Her introduction to the scene came early
"I was born in Osaka, Japan and my mum had me when she was very young. She’d always wanted to be a dancer, so she brought me to a studio and put me in classes when I was six years old. I started with hip-hop first, learning the roots of the culture and all the different foundations of the dance. In our culture, it's important to learn all the different elements and take all the classes in order to grow."
2. A lack of confidence was her first real challenge
"Starting out with dance classes so young isn't unusual for us in Japan. But I was a timid person, so that part was hard for me. After that, my next challenge came because we have a culture where the teachers pick the good girls for competitions and to be in the battles. I was so nervous for those first ones."
3. Waacking came into her life in America
"When I went to America at 11 years old, that's when I was introduced to Waacking. I travelled to LA and New York for a battle called House Dance International, where I joined the choreography competition. Then when I saw the Waacking battle, I decided to change everything. That was almost 10 years ago. Now my favourite scene in the world for Waacking is Canada. I love Montreal!"
4. Her proudest win was the Dance Alive World Cup
"I won the Dance Alive World Cup, which is the most famous freestyle battle in Asia. There were a lot of guests from other countries and I won the freestyle."
5. She's only just getting started
"My biggest challenge now is to grow the scene, as Waacking is still so small. In the past, I was still focused on freestyle and the other categories in battles, but now I'm trying to make Waacking choreography really big. That’s my main challenge."
6. She knows what she wants to see as a judge
"The first thing I look at is the skill. Then the musicality and then the character."
7. As well as a dancer, she's also a model
"I collaborate with a lot of brands. I'm an ambassador and model for Puma and work with them a lot. Normally I'm travelling around the world so much, but in 2020 I stayed home and got to work with many new companies here in Japan. I also do a lot of things with different make-up brands and you can check out my make-up tutorials on Instagram @ibuki.beauty."
8. She designs her own dancewear label
"I have my own fashion brand called IBIM, but I would say that's fun stuff for me. I create most of the designs for that as well. When people hear about everything I do, some say I have many talents. I say I'm Japanese."
9. She hopes to elevate the scene in Japan
"I live in Tokyo now and I have a lot of students. This year, during quarantine, I also started doing choreography challenges for them to post on Instagram, which I really loved to watch. I offered some free classes and I'm really pushing the scene. I don't have my own studio yet, but I want to have one in the future. Right now, the most important thing for me is that I want to help my dancers grow so that Waacking in Japan is respected and well-known around the world.”
10. Her advice is to follow your heart
"2020 was an extraordinary year for me. I've grown so much inside and out. If I had to give advice to the next generation of dancers coming up, I'd say that if you want to be successful, you have to work hard to build your style. Don't worry about what other people say. Focus on your own style and believe in what you like.”
