Our Story

Our Mission

To Promote the Japanese parapara dance style as well as the fun-loving, electronic music it accompanies and to embrace all parapara enthusiasts regardless of skill level.

Our Approach

EKS-D strives to promote parapara with a casual, socially-focused approach.  After all, what is a hobby if it isn’t fun?  We encourage noncritical, self-paced learning and improvement, and remain supportive of our members both on the dance floor and off.  Rather than being a results-driven machine, we aim to remain a network of friends joined by a common love of the dance.

About the Team

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EKS-D ParaPara was founded in November 2006 by high school friends Neko² and Ali after disbanding their previous parapara group Kikimo-dan in March 2006 following a nearly two year hiatus.  The focus of this new team was to reach out and become an inclusive network for the North Texas parapara community and to provide a resource for those interested in learning more about the dance style and the music it accompanies.

The name “EKS-D” was chosen as a phonetic spelling of the letters in the internet emoticon “XD”, which reflects the general lighthearted nature of the parapara community.  A joking bacronym, Energetic Kinetic Synchronous Dance, was later created in response to questions about the name’s meaning.  Since its founding, EKS-D has more than doubled its core membership, chartered a sister team in Atlanta, GA, and has been privileged to join Swedish bubblegum pop group SMiLE.dk in their performances at SanJapan (San Antonio, TX – Aug. 2008) and Sakura-con (Seattle, WA – April 2009).

Our regular activities include parapara-centered gatherings, annual workshops at numerous conventions, and the choreography and filming of several new and existing parapara routines.  EKS-D is a hobbyist, social group with open membership and is created by fans, for fans.  So come and dance with us and ask yourself…

“CAN YOU FEEL THE BEAT?”

Credits / Accomplishments

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Conventions

EKS-D has attended and presented at the following conventions. Contributions have included near annual instructional workshops, dance performances, and more.

  • A-kon 2008-2019 – (Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX)
  • AnimeFest 2008, 2010-2019, 2022 – (Dallas, TX)
  • Anime North Texas 2017 – (Dallas, TX)
  • AniMetroplex 2019 – (Denton, TX)
  • Animix 2008-2009 – (Killeen, TX)
  • Ikkicon 2008 – (Austin, TX)
  • MomoCon 2017-2019 – (Atlanta, GA)
  • Sakura-con 2009 – (Seattle, WA)
  • SanJapan 2008-2011 – (San Antonio, TX)
  • SeishunCon 2020 – (Atlanta, GA)
  • Texas Furry Fiesta 2023 – (Dallas, TX)

Appearances / Performances

  • Danced on stage with Sweedish bubblegum pop group SMiLE.dk during concerts at
    • SanJapan Aug. 2008 – (San Antonio, TX)
    • Sakura-con April 2009 – (Seattle, WA)
  • Guest performed at Mustache Envy's "Around the World" show at Sue Ellen's March 2018 – (Dallas, TX)

Special Projects

  • Participated in TechPara International volumes 1-4 presented by KamikazeRave 2015-2018 – (Annual Release)
  • Participated in ParaPara International volume 1 presented by Joshua Moore Feb. 2016
  • Participated in ParaPara International ~RE-START~ presented by ParaParaChile June 2019
  • Participated in the GLOBAL "ORIPARA" PROJECT 2 presented by ParaParaChile April 2020
  • Hosted Running in the 90's club event at Regan's Place June 2019, Jan. 2020 – (Chattanooga, TN)
  • Ran a multi-day gaming room featuring EKS-D ParaMania (powered by Project OutFox) - a custom-designed, arcade-inspired parapara dance game at AnimeFest/GameFest 2019, 2022 – (Dallas, TX) and Texas Furry Fiesta 2023 – (Dallas, TX)

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