Introduction

The Parapara dance is unknown of it's origin but there are rumors of how it occured, but no one actually knows which is true. It is believed that Parapara began in Japan in the 70's. While the Japanese were going crazy over this new type of dance called "Disco", they began to think this dance was crazy. They then started their own type of dance called Parapara. It has many forms and styles of Disco, but it is also very different in many ways.

History

In the late 70s and early 80s, groups of people were kept out of clubs because they were considered strange. Their style of clothing was more outrageous than most at the time, with Japanese having deep skin tans, too much makeup, 3" to 5" soled shoes, and very short skirts. Men were also kept out for associating with these girls. Their dance style was also looked down upon by the enthusiasts of disco. These outcasts were the first paralists, or Parapara dancers. They did little foot movement and concentrated more on hand motions. As time went on, Parapara dancing caught on and became a trend in the 80s. It would stay for a while then disappear, repeating the process every year throughout the 80s. These would be called Parapara "Booms" while they would get extremely popular, and then die down, and another "Boom" would occur.

J-Pop Singers

In the Mid 90s a singer of the name "Namie Amuro" got into the Eurobeat scene. With her hit single "Try Me", this began Parapara to slowly get more popular and popular. Another popular J-Pop singer also got in the action. Her name was "Ayumi Hamasaki", possibly the #1 J-Pop singer in Japan! She began by making Eurobeat remixes of her hit songs, and Velfarre and Twinstar began making routines. In her concerts she would stop, and teach the songs. This making Parapara more familliar to the Japanese. Another hit Artist also got into the Eurobeat Action it was "Max", not as popular as Ayumi Hamasaki, but also popular. They re-did the ever popular "Tora Tora Tora / Domino", "Kiss To Kiss / Mako" also a few others.

Basic Parapara

There are many Basics to Parapara, you will have to first start there before you learn the more Technical, and hard Parapara's.

Stepping: This is basically the first thing you will need to learn, this is in every song, and you will need to learn this before you advance. Basically when you step you always go to the right. You slide your right foot to the right, then your left to your right. Then your left to the left, and your right to the right, then you repeat. This might sound very complex, but it actually isn't at all. You might actually be suprised at how easy it is to do!

Emotion: Without this, Parapara looks lame, and no excitment. Parapara is the total opposite of this! Have fun with it, be free and loose. If your movements are tight, and not loose you look bad, and like your not having fun! So just loosen up while you dance. This is for fun not a drill, so if you smile your wont have to do 50 pushups! So just have fun! That's the other important rule about Parapara!

Basic Eurobeat

I won't go too in-depth with this since this is a Parapara site but I will just touch on a few points on Eurobeat. Before Eurobeat there was Italo Disco from the early 80s up to the late 80s. Then formed Eurobeat, which is mostly Synth music (if you don't know what that is don't worry much, basically it is Keyboards.) In the early 90s Eurobeat was slow, but not too slow. Now the speed is much faster, and you can dance to it easier, formed just for Parapara!