Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai - [article] TRF dancers keep 'a-nation' moving

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TRF dancers keep 'a-nation' moving

Steve McClure / Special to The Daily Yomiuri

In Japan's hot and humid summer weather, the idea of dancing frenetically outside under the blazing sun sounds just slightly mad--downright crazy, in fact. But that's exactly what TRF members Sam, Etsu and Chiharu will be doing during the "a-nation" series of music festivals, which kicks off in Oita on July 30.

Now in its fourth year, a-nation is organized by Avex, Japan's biggest independent label. For fans of Avex's brand of glitzy, upbeat J-pop, it's a unique chance to see superstars like Hamasaki and BoA on the same bill, along with TRF, Every Little Thing, Do As Infinity, Kumi Koda and Ami Suzuki, among others.

The shows will also feature performances by "surprise" artists including (depending on the venue) "yanki" rock band Kishidan, Globe, T.M. Revolution and Hitomi Shimatani.

During an interview at his Shirokanedai, Tokyo, dance studio-school, Sam says that on days when he's performing he drinks no less than two liters of water. He says what he, Etsu and Chiharu want to get across to their audiences is simply to be "genki."

"We want to lift people out of their melancholy," says Etsu.

Genki is definitely the right word for this terpsichorean trio. They're fit and trim, and brimming with the same glow of energy they displayed when TRF debuted back in 1993. The group, whose other members are DJ Koo and vocalist Yu-ki, rocketed to the top of the Japanese charts under the tutelage of producer Tetsuya Komuro with hits such as "EZ Do Dance," "Crazy Gonna Crazy" and "Boy Meets Girl."

TRF, by the way, stands for Tetsuya Rave Factory, although Komuro hasn't been officially associated with the group since 1998. "We've been 'self-produced' since then," explains Sam.

That might explain why TRF hasn't released any new music in the last five years.

"Instead of concert tours, we've been doing club tours," Sam notes. And in contrast to TRF's past emphasis on pop-flavored music, the band has lately concentrated on trance styles.

Although TRF's collective star has faded in the past few years, compared to the group's mid-'90s heyday, it's hard not to be impressed by the fact that the group has remained intact over the years. Few bands in the fast and fickle world of J-pop can match that kind of stability and consistency.

The trio work out their dance routines collectively, acting as their own choreographers. If one person has an idea for a dance move or routine, they share it with the other two and then all three see if they can develop it into something that can be used in performance.

So what's the main attraction with TRF: the music or the dancing?

"Well," says Sam diplomatically, "it's not so much a question of just listening to the music [as it is with other bands]."

During TRF's 20-minute performance at the a-nation gigs Sam, Etsu and Chiharu dance nonstop, and without their funky, precision choreography TRF just wouldn't be TRF.

All three dancers cite foreign performers as crucial influences. For Chiharu, it was the experience of seeing a Mariah Carey performance with backing dancers.

"I got a lot of information from them," she says.

For Etsu, it was the energy shown by the dancers in West Side Story.

For Sam, Fred Astaire is The Man.

"He's my biggest influence," says Sam, who with his tanned, athletic body and longish hair looks decidedly different from his cafe society role model.

In advance of the a-nation shows, Sam, Etsu and Chiharu have been visiting each of the cities (Oita, Osaka, Kobe, Nagoya, Tokyo and Sapporo) on this year's a-nation itinerary to hold auditions for young, up-and-coming dancers. This marks the second straight year that TRF has held such auditions under the a-nation banner.

"About 600 people applied to be auditioned in each city," says Sam, "and we selected about 60 people in each city." They will be given a special guest spot just before the a-nation show proper starts.

"About 80 percent of the applicants are female," notes Sam, adding that about 10 percent of the total number of hopefuls were of school age.

"Some of them will go on to become professional dancers," Sam says confidently.

Chiharu's advice to dancer wannabes? "Hold on to your dream," she says matter-of-factly.

"a-nation" featuring TRF, Hitomi, Every Little Thing, Ayumi Hamasaki, Do As Inifinity, Kumi Koda, Globe, BoA, Ai Otsuka, Ami Suzuki, T.M. Revolution and more (lineup varies depending on venue) will take place July 30 at Sports Park Big Eye in Oita, (0180) 999-3212; Aug. 6 at Makomanai open-air stage in Hokkaido, (011) 614-9999; Aug. 13 at Port Messe Nagoya open-air stage in Nagoya, (052) 320-9100; Aug. 20-21 at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo, (03) 3498-9999; and Aug. 27-28 at Port Island 2nd Stage Mega Kobe open-air stage in Kobe, (06) 6233-8888. For more details visit

www.a-nation.net/pc/schedule/index.html

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