SHIDO
Born in Edogawa, Tokyo, SHIDO encountered street dance in middle school and began his journey as a dancer. With Breakin’ at the center of his activities, he competed as a B-boy in various competitions, achieving strong results while gaining experience performing on stage and collaborating with artists. Through Breakin’, SHIDO became fascinated by HIPHOP as a “culture” and began exploring its roots more deeply.
Through frequent visits to New York, widely known as the birthplace of HIPHOP, SHIDO encountered a dance style called “Rock Dance.” Developed in New York before the birth of HIPHOP, Rock Dance is one of the earliest street dance styles. After learning its culture directly from pioneers in New York, SHIDO continues his work in Japan as a successor of the culture, sharing its roots and appeal. He is an artist who carries culture forward through dance and music, connecting it to new forms of expression.
THE JOURNEY
2017 — THE FIRST ENCOUNTER
In 2017, SHIDO visited Papo and Enoch’s studio in New York, where he met Papo—the dancer who would become his Rock Dance mentor.
At the time, SHIDO was in New York to participate in an event by Rock Steady Crew. Through his connections with the crew, he was introduced to Papo and Enoch, and they met in the Bronx at their studio, where Papo shared the history and foundations of Rock Dance with him. After years of studying Rock Dance through videos, SHIDO finally had the opportunity to learn directly from its pioneers.
After returning to Japan, SHIDO continued to stay in touch with Papo through social media and other channels. As Papo shared advice on his dancing, SHIDO gradually deepened his understanding of Rock Dance and the culture behind it.
2019 — LEARNING
In 2019, SHIDO learned about a Rock Dance Camp and traveled to New York again. Wanting to deepen his understanding of Rock Dance, he returned to their studio and learned directly from people who had lived the culture firsthand. This became a significant experience for SHIDO as he continued to carry the culture of Rock Dance forward.
Before SHIDO returned home, he and Papo made a promise to meet again in Japan next time.
2023 — ORIGINAL TO NEW WAVE
After the planned visit to Japan was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Papo finally made his first trip to Japan in 2023.
In Japan, SHIDO and Papo held lectures on the history of Rock Dance, dance workshops, and events where participants could connect with one another. They named the event “ROCK – Original to New Wave -”.
The name expresses SHIDO and Papo’s desire to respect the roots of Rock Dance—not simply leave them in the past, but embrace them through their own sensibilities as people living today and carry them forward to the next generation.
PAPO’S MESSAGE
Papo told us, “I want you to show me your own ROCK.”
Rather than simply recreating the style of the 1970s, we dance to the music of today, in our own style, based on the spirit of ROCK that was born in that era.
That is what New Wave Rock is.
2025 — TOKYO ↔ BRONX
In the summer of 2025, SHIDO returned to New York, where he filmed a Rock Dance video with Papo in the Bronx and released it.
It was a collaboration made possible by the relationship SHIDO and Papo had built over the years.
In the winter of the same year, Papo visited Japan for the second time.
Papo appeared as a guest at an event in Edogawa, where he strengthened his connections with people across generations and borders.
2026 — CONTINUING THE WAVE
As of 2026, SHIDO continues to build his relationship with Papo while documenting and sharing the history and cultural background of New York street culture, including Rock Dance.
Knowing the history. Listening to the words of those who came before. Exploring the music. And, most importantly, dancing.
Preserve. Share. Evolve.
Not simply recording the past, but learning from it, connecting it to SHIDO’s own expression in the present, and passing that new wave on to the next generation.
That is “Original to New Wave.”
