Kenichi Ebina

Kenichi Ebina is a dancer act from Season 8 of America's Got Talent.

Background
Kenichi Ebina is a solo self-taught dance performer, started out dancing Freestyle HipHop and expanding his style to Poppin’, Lockin’, Mime, House, Jazz, Contemporary and Ethnic dance.

In 2001, Kenichi founded a dance group with all Japanese dancers, BiTriP. BiTriP won in the final grand championship of “Amateur Night” at the world famous Apollo Theater in 2001 as the first and only Japanese performer. In 2007, Kenichi appeared on dance contest of “Showtime at the Apollo” as a solo performer and became the grand champion of 2007 season after winning 7 times. Kenichi is the only two-time grand champion in the Apollo theater history.

Kenichi has been performing at many events, TV shows and teaching in the United States, Europe, Russia, China, Korea, Singapore, Japan, Morocco and Australia. Kenichi has also performed, directed and choreographed for many projects and dance and theater companies.

Ebina Performing Arts's first full-length show premiered at USA's national Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Also, Kenichi was invited as a speaker to TED 2007. Kenichi has appeared on the show, PBS Kids "Angelina Ballerina" as a featured dance performer. Occasionally he has been performing for high class show club, "The BOX" in NYC and London, and "The ACT" in Las Vegas. 1

Audition
Kenichi Ebina's audition in Episode 803 consisted of dancing a Matrix-inspired performance with martial arts and mime included. Howard Stern, Heidi Klum, Mel B, and Howie Mandel all voted "Yes," sending Kenichi to the Vegas Round.



Vegas Round
Kenichi Ebina was one of thirty acts to advance straight to the Quarterfinals in New York without performing in Las Vegas in Episode 808.



Quarterfinals
Kenichi Ebina's Week 3 Quarterfinals performance in Episode 814 consisted of dancing and miming to create the impression of him fighting monsters, swimming, encountering a fire breather, and destroying a robot. To create the illusion, a video played on a screen behind him; the video featured pre-recorded footage in which he dressed up and acted as the monsters, fire breather, and robot in a video game-themed story. All four judges responded with standing ovations. Howie Mandel claimed that Kenichi deserved to win the season.