{"id":56,"date":"2013-06-08T23:18:48","date_gmt":"2013-06-09T04:18:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/?page_id=56"},"modified":"2020-09-16T18:27:45","modified_gmt":"2020-09-16T23:27:45","slug":"team","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/about\/team\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Story"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\"><strong>Our Mission<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\"><strong>Our Approach<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>EKS-D strives to promote parapara with a casual, socially-focused approach.&nbsp; After all, what is a hobby if it isn\u2019t fun?&nbsp; We encourage noncritical, self-paced learning and improvement, and remain supportive of our members both on the dance floor and off.&nbsp; Rather than being a results-driven machine, we aim to remain a network of friends joined by a common love of the dance.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the Team<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-magicblock-magicblock\" style=\"float: left; width: 150px; height: 110px; padding: 10px;\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel  su-image-carousel-has-spacing su-image-carousel-has-lightbox su-image-carousel-has-outline su-image-carousel-slides-style-minimal su-image-carousel-controls-style-light su-image-carousel-align-left\" style=\"max-width:150px\" data-flickity-options='{\"groupCells\":true,\"cellSelector\":\".su-image-carousel-item\",\"adaptiveHeight\":true,\"cellAlign\":\"left\",\"prevNextButtons\":true,\"pageDots\":false,\"autoPlay\":4000,\"imagesLoaded\":true,\"contain\":false,\"selectedAttraction\":0.025000000000000001387778780781445675529539585113525390625,\"friction\":0.2800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875}' id=\"su_image_carousel_69eb9fe07913e\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/G2-Artistic-Logo.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-caption=\"EKS-D Prime \/ EKS-D\n(2008-Present)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"214\" src=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/G2-Artistic-Logo-300x214.png\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/G2-Artistic-Logo-300x214.png 300w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/G2-Artistic-Logo-600x429.png 600w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/G2-Artistic-Logo-768x549.png 768w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/G2-Artistic-Logo.png 875w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2-Silver.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-caption=\"EKS-D Prime \/ EKS-D\n(2008-Present)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"186\" src=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2-Silver-300x186.png\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2-Silver-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2-Silver-600x372.png 600w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2-Silver-768x476.png 768w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2-Silver-1024x634.png 1024w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2-Silver.png 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2_XDSE-Silver.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-caption=\"EKS-D Southeast\n(2016-Present)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"186\" src=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2_XDSE-Silver-300x186.png\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2_XDSE-Silver-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2_XDSE-Silver-600x372.png 600w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2_XDSE-Silver-768x476.png 768w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2_XDSE-Silver-1024x634.png 1024w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2_XDSE-Silver.png 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2_XDCyber-Silver.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-caption=\"EKS-D Cyber\n(2020-Present)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"186\" src=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2_XDCyber-Silver-300x186.png\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2_XDCyber-Silver-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2_XDCyber-Silver-1024x634.png 1024w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2_XDCyber-Silver-768x476.png 768w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2_XDCyber-Silver-1536x952.png 1536w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2_XDCyber-Silver-640x396.png 640w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2_XDCyber-Silver.png 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2_XDA-Silver.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-caption=\"EKS-D Atlanta\n(2008-2016)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"124\" src=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo2_XDA-Silver.png\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Simple-Logo.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-caption=\"EKS-D Prime \/ EKS-D\n(2008-Present)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"73\" src=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Simple-Logo-300x73.png\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Simple-Logo-300x73.png 300w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Simple-Logo-600x145.png 600w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Simple-Logo-768x186.png 768w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Simple-Logo-1024x248.png 1024w, https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Simple-Logo.png 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/EKS-D.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-caption=\"EKS-D Prime \/ EKS-D\n(2008-Present)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"146\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/EKS-D.png\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo1-White.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-caption=\"EKS-D ParaPara\n(2006-2008)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"72\" src=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo1-White.png\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/KKM_logo.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-caption=\"Kikimo-dan\n(2002-2006)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"147\" src=\"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-content\/uploads\/KKM_logo.png\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><script id=\"su_image_carousel_69eb9fe07913e_script\">if(window.SUImageCarousel){setTimeout(function() {window.SUImageCarousel.initGallery(document.getElementById(\"su_image_carousel_69eb9fe07913e\"))}, 0);}var su_image_carousel_69eb9fe07913e_script=document.getElementById(\"su_image_carousel_69eb9fe07913e_script\");if(su_image_carousel_69eb9fe07913e_script){su_image_carousel_69eb9fe07913e_script.parentNode.removeChild(su_image_carousel_69eb9fe07913e_script);}<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>EKS-D ParaPara was founded in November 2006 by high school friends <em><strong>Neko\u00b2 <\/strong><\/em>and <em><strong>Ali <\/strong><\/em>after disbanding their previous parapara group Kikimo-dan in March 2006 following a nearly two year hiatus.&nbsp; 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.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>The name \u201cEKS-D\u201d was chosen as a phonetic spelling of the letters in the internet emoticon \u201cXD\u201d, which reflects the general lighthearted nature of the parapara community.&nbsp; A joking bacronym, <em><strong><span style=\"color: #ffff99;\">E<\/span>nergetic <span style=\"color: #ffff99;\">K<\/span>inetic <span style=\"color: #ffff99;\">S<\/span>ynchronous <span style=\"color: #ffff99;\">D<\/span>ance<\/strong><\/em>, was later created in response to questions about the name\u2019s meaning.&nbsp; 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 <em>(San Antonio, TX \u2013 Aug. 2008)<\/em> and Sakura-con <em>(Seattle, WA \u2013 April 2009)<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Our regular activities include parapara-centered gatherings, annual workshops at numerous conventions, and the choreography and filming of several new and existing parapara routines.&nbsp; EKS-D is a hobbyist, social group with open membership and is created by fans, for fans.&nbsp; So come and dance with us and ask yourself&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #ffff99;\"><em><strong>\u201cCAN YOU FEEL THE BEAT?\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\"><strong>Credits \/ Accomplishments<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-default su-spoiler-icon-plus-circle su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span>CLICK HERE TO SHOW\/HIDE<\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\n<\/p>\n<p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-magicblock-magicblock\" style=\"\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #ffff99;\">Conventions<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>EKS-D has attended and presented at the following conventions.  Contributions have included near annual instructional workshops, dance performances, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A-kon <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">2008-2019 \u2013 (Dallas\/Ft. Worth, TX)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AnimeFest <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">2008, 2010-2019, 2022 \u2013 (Dallas, TX)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Anime North Texas <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">2017 \u2013 (Dallas, TX)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AniMetroplex <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">2019 \u2013 (Denton, TX)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Animix <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">2008-2009 \u2013 (Killeen, TX)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ikkicon <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">2008 \u2013 (Austin, TX)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>MomoCon <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">2017-2019 \u2013 (Atlanta, GA)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sakura-con <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">2009 \u2013 (Seattle, WA)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SanJapan <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">2008-2011 \u2013 (San Antonio, TX)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SeishunCon <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">2020 \u2013 (Atlanta, GA)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Texas Furry Fiesta <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">2023 \u2013 (Dallas, TX)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #ffff99;\">Appearances \/ Performances<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Danced on stage with Sweedish bubblegum pop group <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"SMiLE.dk (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/smiledk.se\/bio.html\" target=\"_blank\">SMiLE.dk<\/a> during concerts at\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SanJapan <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">Aug. 2008 \u2013 (San Antonio, TX)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sakura-con <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">April 2009 \u2013 (Seattle, WA)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Guest performed at Mustache Envy&#8217;s <em>&#8220;Around the World&#8221;<\/em> show at Sue Ellen&#8217;s <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">March 2018 \u2013 (Dallas, TX)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #ffff99;\">Special Projects<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Participated in <em>TechPara International volumes 1-4<\/em> presented by KamikazeRave <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">2015-2018 \u2013 (Annual Release)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Participated in <em>ParaPara International volume 1<\/em> presented by Joshua Moore <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">Feb. 2016<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Participated in <em>ParaPara International ~RE-START~<\/em> presented by ParaParaChile <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">June 2019<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Participated in the <em>GLOBAL &#8220;ORIPARA&#8221; PROJECT 2<\/em> presented by ParaParaChile <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">April 2020<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hosted <em>Running in the 90&#8217;s<\/em> club event at Regan&#8217;s Place <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">June 2019, Jan. 2020 \u2013 (Chattanooga, TN)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ran a multi-day gaming room featuring EKS-D ParaMania <sub>(powered by Project OutFox)<\/sub> &#8211; a custom-designed, arcade-inspired parapara dance game at AnimeFest\/GameFest <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">2019, 2022 \u2013 (Dallas, TX)<\/span> and Texas Furry Fiesta <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; color: #ffff99;\">2023 \u2013 (Dallas, TX)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p><p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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.&nbsp; After all, what is a hobby if it isn\u2019t fun?&nbsp; We encourage noncritical, self-paced learning&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2412,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"nf_dc_page":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-56","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/56","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/56\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4385,"href":"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/56\/revisions\/4385"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kirakira.org\/XD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}