Page 18 - MidWeek - Feb 9, 2022

18 MIDWEEK FEBRUARY 9, 2022
FROM PAGE 15
while, is in the realm of cho- reography, and the Studio 808 dancer happened upon the art form “on a whim,” to hear him tell it.
involuntary made me take dance class to lose weight, and I ended up falling in love with it.”
Grammy-nominated produc- er Chris Sernel and Jason Blume, who has written for the likes of Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears.
“From that point on, I fell in love with the expression and movement,” he says. “The art of dance brings out my cre- ative and emotional side.”
Morgado — the group’s other choreographer-minded member — has experience with Kāne‘ohe-based 24-7 Danceforce, and learned how to dance thanks to his sister, who would take him to all of her classes.
The talent behind each track is matched with the heart and soul Crossing Rain puts into each performance, and the audience will feel that energy within the walls of Blaisdell Concert Hall later this month. Most of all, though, Crossing Rain hopes to share aloha with Hawai‘i and beyond through their shared love of music and dance, which is why the group’s name is more than appropriate.
Teruya, also a member of Studio 808, is no stranger to the entertainment industry. He was a finalist for an in- ternational artist audition for a K-Pop mega group, but it was show tunes and weight loss that set him on this path.
“It’s my favorite way to communicate,” he explains.
“I became inspired to sing when I saw my first Broad- way musical,” he recalls. “I love the drama of the songs and the dynamics of the sing- er’s vocal abilities. I got into to dance because my mom
Takasawa, a native of Ja- pan, moved to O‘ahu four years ago and started taking dance classes — “I fell in love with it,” he says. The decision to enroll wasn’t out of the blue, though, as his dad was a J-pop star in a band called TOKIO.
“In the Hawaiian culture, rain represents blessings and nourishment,” the guys explain. “Aside from the beautiful islands themselves, the spirit of aloha and the harmony of so many diverse cultures have raised us. We want to cross oceans and con- tinents to bring that blessing to the world.”
(Above) All the members of Crossing Rain live, work and play in Hawai‘i. (Below) The band enjoys taking in the beauty the Aloha State has to offer. (Bottom) In addition, to harmonious vocals, expect well-choreographed moves at Crossing Rain’s Feb. 26 performance at Blaisdell Concert Hall. (Left) Crossing Rain members performed for a full house at Hawai‘i Theatre for their debut showcase concert.
PHOTOS COURTESY RUSSELL TANOUE AND TIRZAH ENTERTAINMENT
Those looking forward to the Feb. 26 concert can take a listen to DREAMS on Am- azon Music, Apple Music or Pandora. The nine-song album harmoniously blends some original composi- tions — Kealoha-Yamanaka penned Water and Not My Type, the latter of which he co-wrote with Kaneshiro — with a handful of tracks featuring contributions from American recording artist and
To purchase tickets for “Nice To Meet You!,” vis- it ticketmaster.com, and to learn more about Crossing Rain, visit crossingrain.com.
Members of Crossing Rain share their favorite places in the Aloha State
WYATT “MONARCH” KANESHIRO
“My favorite place on the island is Waimānalo Beach. The water there is amazing and the view of the Ko‘olau Mountains makes me feel peaceful and connected to the earth.”
EVAN “HARU” DORIA
“Any place with high elevation. I love to appreciate the picturesque beauty of O‘ahu.”
ASHER MORGADO
“I love to visit Pipeline on the North Shore to watch the surfers.”
JORDEN “J” KEALOHA-YAMANAKA
“My favorite place is Ala Moana Shopping Center because I love shopping.”
DEVIN TERUYA
“Any spot is perfect when I’m surrounded by the people I love.”
SHOTARO TAKASAWA
“I love Koko Head because I like to feel the breeze at the top after the accomplishment of hiking such a hard trail.”
Dreams Coming True For Crossing Rain