TraPara

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Trapara

(This article is a loose interpretation of the Japanese Wikipedia article of Trapara)
Trapara (Also called Torapara, based off of Japanese phonetics トラパラ) is a Parapara style that goes to the beat of trance music. In a broad sense, it's in the same realm of Parapara, but there are some differences due to the construction of songs, often being considered entirely separate from Parapara and Techpara.

History

The exact date of origin is unknown, but it was around 2003 that some clubs started dancing with Parapara-like choreography to trance songs. In 2004, some clubs distributed practice choreography videos and featured it in gal magazines such as Ranzuki. In 2003, the CD series "SUPER BEST TRANCE" by Avex released and defined the means of choreographing and how to dance to trance songs, particular to volumes 3 in the beginning. Later, people would cite the birth place of Trapara as club CODE in Shinjuku, Kabukicho due to their professional DVD releases by 2005.

Choreography

Trapara is similar to Parapara in that there's a generally decided routine most people know, but the types, complexity, and style of Trapara is much more limited than Parapara. Therefore, it's a lot easier to learn or Manepara at club events.

Example

  • Turn your palms back and spread your hands forward with the feeling of 'welcoming' (Similar to the Egg pose)
  • Align the fingertips of both hands in front of your chest and then spread them out in the shape of a banzai ("Fire")
  • Crossing your hands back in forth from each other in front of your face
  • Make a heart symbol with both hands in front of your chest and moving it
  • One hand on the forehead and the other hand diagonally backwards and leaning forward
  • Stretch both hands straight forward to the left (with your palms together), and move your left hand as if you were pulling a bow and arrow with your right hand. ("Baby")
  • Move the palm from top to bottom while fluttering (once left and right)

Features

  • In Parapara, there are usual leg movements. But in Trapara, there is often only upper body movement.
  • Often, only the parts with a clear melody, the chorus parts, and the build ups are choreographed. In this respect, this in contrast to Parapara's full song choreography.
  • If a song that already has a Parapara/Techpara routine but is arranged for trance, the choreography often will change. For this reason, even if you remember the choreography of Parapara, it may not work as a Trapara routine as is.
  • Even for the same song, the choreography that is popular in each club may be slightly different. This tendency is remarkable when the clubs are far apart from each other. For example, even within the same Tokyo area, there is a slight difference between Roppongi and Shibuya, but there are many cases where there is a large difference between Nagoya and Osaka.
  • Even if there are people who dance with a choreography different from their own, they rarely change their choreography accordingly, and it is common for each person to enjoy themselves in the way they remember.

In addition, only common songs are on commercially available DVDs. Because of this, if you want to be comfortable on the otachidai, you need to attend clubs and learn from the people around you. This makes learning and standardizing choreography difficult.

Choreographed Songs

Among trance songs, there are many songs with a clear melody made by Dutch epic trance artists (especially songs with vocals) that became popular in Japan after 2000, and then made popular by Japanese DJs. This is because the notes are choreographed according to the movements and beats of the notes in the main melody. It may also be choreographed in house and hyper techno songs as well, but the latter is generally called Techpara and is distinguished from Trapara. On the other hand, Japanese music also has songs arranged in a trance style, but since it is unlikely to be played at a club, there is no choreography.

Common Songs

These are songs that are commercially available on DVDs Videos from FARMIX were on their website, but are now unavailable due to shutting down.

Song Name Artist Source of Choreography
ADDICTED TO LOVE (DIGI-TIZIO MIX) DIGIMIND club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST CHAPTER #2
愛の東京コール (OVERHEAD CHAMPION REMIX) TOKYO CALL PROJECT feat. Kwenji Hayashida SUPER BEST TRANCE VI
ARE YOU WAKE UP? (LIVE VERSION) YINLING OF JOYTOY vs. TAKESHI KONGOCHI SUPER TRANCE VI
ASS UP! (DJ TEN REMIX) BARACUDA THE TRAPARA / SUPER BEST TRANCE VI
AXEL F THEME (OVERHEAD CHAMPION REMIX) JUMPY FROGS FARMIX
BEAT! OVERHEAD CHAMPION SUPER BEST TRANCE IV
BIG BAD LOVE (CASCADA REMIX) SPRING BREAK SUPER BEST TRANCE IV / THE TRAPARA
BAD BOY CASCADA club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST CHAPTER #1
BIBLE WATER BLADER club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST ROUND 1
BODY 2 BODY DJ KAOS THE TRAPARA
CAN I GET A WITNESS ROB MAYTH club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST CHAPTER #2
CAN'T UNDO THIS!! 2006 SHAM-POO feat. YINLING OF JOYTOY THE TRAPARA
CARLITO SPAGHETTINI club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST ROUND 1
CHOCOLATE (CHOCO CHOCO) (OVERHEAD CHAMPION REMIX) SOUL CONTROL SUPER BEST TRANCE VI
CLOSE MY EYES ASTROLINE 俄然パラパラ学園~入学編~ / SUPER BEST TRANCE IV
DISCO BEAT (DJ e-kawa's PARADISE MIX) SHOT FARMIX
DRAGOSTEI DIN TEI (OVERHEAD CHAMPION REMIX) O-ZONE 俄然パラパラ学園~入学編~ / SUPER BEST TRANCE IV
EVERYTIME WE TOUCH CASCADA club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST ROUND 1
GET UP!! DJ YOSHINORI club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST CHAPTER #2
HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH (PASCAL MIX) SODA CLUB feat.HANNAH ALETHEA SUPER BEST TRANCE IV
HEY THE PUMPIN' HORSE GANEZA club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST ROUND 1
HOLD YOUR HANDS UP HIGH MEGARA VS. DJ LEE SUPER BEST TRANCE VI
HOPPY STEALTH club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST ROUND 1 ]
I WANNA DANCE (OVERHEAD CHAMPION REMIX) DOMINO SUPER BEST TRANCE VI
I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY FLIP & FILL SUPER BEST TRANCE IV
INDEPENDENCE (MIKE NERO MIX) DJ ENDO.CH club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST CHAPTER #1
IT'S KILLING ME DJ TOXIC club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST CHAPTER #2
LAST ECSTACY ORIENTAL SPACE FARMIX
LONELY DEEP SPIRIT club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST CHAPTER #2
LOVE & JOY (LOVE S MIX) PROJECT Y'S FEAT. 田中みゆき club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST CHAPTER #1
MERMAID (4 SKIPS VS. SHOHEI MATSUMOTO REMIX) TSUKASA SUPER BEST TRANCE VI
METHANE HYDRATE CLIONE club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST ROUND 1
MONSTER (PROJECT Y'S SM MIX) DJ YOSHINORI club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST CHAPTER #1
MOONLIGHT SHADOW (EXTENDED VERSION) GROOVE COVERAGE SUPER BEST TRANCE IV
MOSKAU (DIGIMIND MIX) KHUBILAI KHAN club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST CHAPTER #1
MR.VAIN RECALL(Recall Mix) CULTURE BEAT FARMIX
OHHH! NO! SHAM-POO THE TRAPARA
PERFECT GAME OVERHEAD CHAMPION SUPER BEST TRANCE IV
PIECE OF HEAVEN AKIRA club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST CHAPTER #2
PITCH! OVERHEAD CHAMPION SUPER BEST TRANCE IV
READY TO GO (STAGEDIVERZ MIX) STAGEDIVERZ SUPER BEST TRANCE IV
SCORPION (CRITICAL SYSTEM MIX) ORIENTAL SPACE サンモニ
SHAM-POO SHAM-POO THE TRAPARA
SHINING STAR OLE VAN DANSK club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST ROUND 1
SOUND OF MY DREAMS EAST ROKERZ club complex CODE TRAPARA BEST CHAPTER #2
S.P.A.M. THE HOSUE NEGRO FARMIX
SPREAD YOUR WINGS system F SUPER BEST TRANCE IV
SUNDAY (OVERHEAD CHAMPION REMIX) NUAGE SUPER BEST TRANCE IV
SUNSHINE 2006 (SHOHEI MATSUMOTO REMIX) SEAN & KIM SUPER BEST TRANCE VI
TAKE IT FARMIX
TAKE OFF STIMULATOR THE TRAPARA
THE PARTY (DJ SCHWEDE EXTENDED MIX) DJ SCHWEDE FARMIX
TOKYO, GO! (SHAM-POO REMIX) JOHN ROBINSON THE TRAPARA
WHAT'S UP Alexis Hart FARMIX
YESTERDAY (DJ KOUSUKE REMIX) CHERRY SUPER BEST TRANCE IV
そこにあるかもしれない 尼崎まゆみ FARMIX

Others

Songs that have known choreography in clubs but are otherwise not visually documented.

Song Name Artist
21st Century Digital Girl (Overhead Champion Remix) Groove Coverage
3D (love Again) Dj Joker Project Nasca
All out of Love The Foundation feat. Natalie Rossi
And She Said (Overhead Champion Remix) Lucas Prata
Another Night (Dj TORA+R-SEQ) Morgana
Arigato (Original Mix) Aya
A-Round (Dj Hibiki & Ken-Bow Mix) Delaction
Baby, I Love You Dj ET-Q
Bad Boy (Club Mix) Cascada
Be the One Overhead Champion
Black or White (Original Mix) HEAVENS WiRE
Blue Sunshine Nish
Body 2 Body (Shohei Matsumoto Remix) Dj Kaos
Can't Undo This!! 2006 Sham-Poo feat. Yinling Of Joytoy
Craft Back Sonic-R
Crazy 4 Love (Dj Kaya Remix) Dr. Dj Cerla vs Jo Smith
D.O.U.B.T!!! ~愛の駆引きはダ☆ウ☆ト~(Original Club Mix) 4Skips Vs. Floorbreaker
Dead Or Alive (Original Mix) HEAVENS WiRE
Distance〜In Your Love〜 Daito
Elevator (Up & Down) (Rico Bass vs. Sasha Van Holt Mix) Space Jockeys
Eternity Overhead Champion
Every Time Caribbean
Everybody (Klubbingman Remix) Rocco
Everytime We Touch (Delaction Remix) Cascada
Flashback (Original Club Mix) Alphazone
Fly Away feat Jax t-xign
Free Radical (Dj Ken-Bow Mix) Delaction
God (Original Mix) Dj Kaya
Grand Shake (Naska's World Radio Mix) Dj Joker Project Nasca
Harder?! Pedro Del Mar
Hardstyle Disco Yoji Biomehanika
Heaven Dj Sammy
Herz an Herz(Club Mix) RE-Vival
Holylance (Crystal Mix) Dj Yoshinori
I Can't Stop Raving (Original Mix) Adrima
In My Heart (4 Skips vs. Dj ET-Q Remix) TSUKASA
Independence Dj Enzo.Ch
Inspiration (Remo-con vs. Toshio Ueki Remix) Strike
K.O (Fighting Spirits Mix) Dj U☆HEY?
Kiss (Airscape Remix) Vengaboys
La Bomba Eddy Wata
Layla (Original Club Mix) Dj U☆HEY? Vs. Dj MINAGAWA
Let Me Go feat. Jax (Floor Edit) t-xign
Let Me Love You Hanna
Listen to Your Heart D.H.T feat. Edmee
Livin' on a Prayer Cyber X feat. Sean
Look @ the Heaven Yoji Biomehanika
Love Sunshine Arpeggio
Mermaid (Delaction Remix) TSUKASA
Merry Christmas(戦場のメリークリスマス) Mr.Lawrence (Heart of Asia) Watergate
Methane Hydrate Clione
Move Your Love (Sham-Poo Remix) Sean & Kim
Ohhh! No! Sham-Poo
One More Time (4 Skips vs. Floorbreaker Club Mix) Daft Punk (Cover:Yinling Of Joytoy)
Out of Border (Red zone Mix) MSG
Poison Groove Coverage
Right Here S.T.F. Presents Dj You
Rockin' (Original Club Mix) Alphazone
Run to Me(Trank Extended) Al.Ben
Sagittarius (Original Mix) Nish
Sham-Poo Sham-Poo
Show Me Love Indien
So Yesterday Hilary Duff
Sound of My Dreams (Decibel Edit) East Rockerz
Stars are Blind (Overhead Champion Remix) Paris Hilton - London Hotel
Stay (Airscape Mix) Wendy Phillips
Sunrise (Rob Mayth Remix) Angel City feat. Lara McAllen
Survivor (Alphazone Remix) Dj U☆HEY? Vs. Dj Minagawa
Touch Me (Overhead Champion Remix) Gunther feat. Samantha Fox
The Anthem (HEAVENS WiRE Mix) T・R・C
The Load (S.T.F Remix) T.A.K.E
The Music is Movin' (Delaction Remix) Fargetta
The Sign Sven-R-G vs. Bass-T
The Summer is Calling (Extended Mix) Aquagen
Tokyo Dj Kaya feat. Keen & Steven a.Haynes
Tubthumping (Everybody Handz Up in Japan Mix) Hi-End Attack
Wait For You (Overhead Champion Remix) Wait For You
When I'm With You Zane+Foster feat. Dany
You Fill Me Up (Dj Ten Remix) S.T.F. Feat. Keen
Songs that aren't trance but are frequented in trance events
Song Name Artist
Can't Take My Eyes off You (君の瞳に恋してる) Frankie Valli
Everlasting Love GTS feat. Mink
Heavenly Star 元気ロケッツ
恋はgroovy×2 伊藤由奈
Let the Joy Rise (Thunderpuss Club Mix) Abigail
[[LIFE (キマグレンの曲)  キマグレン
Lotta Love m-flo
Meu Sonho Kaleidoscopio
September Earth Wind & Fire
Sweetest Day of May Joe T. Vannelli Project feat. Harambee

Trapara & Clubs

There are many clubs that have platforms for people to perform, called otachidai, often to the listed songs above.

  • In Shinjuku, "club complex CODE (closed on February 18, 2008)" Sunday Morning Report
  • In the Roppongi area, "club Vanilla (closed on April 1, 2007)", "Nishiazabu alife", "studio FLOWER", "GARDEN (closed on September 2008)", "club XROSS (closed on June 13, 2009)
  • In Shibuya, "CLUB ATOM", "club CAMELOT"
  • In Osaka, Umeda's "SAZA*E (closed on January 1, 2008)", "ON AND ON", and in the Shinsaibashi area, "GRANDCAFE", "Club Joule", "PLATINUM (OSAKA)", "club N3"
  • In Nagoya, "MAVERICK", "OZON", "PLATINUM (NAGOYA)"
  • In Sapporo, "Sapporo a-life"

In clubs with many platforms set up, they often play music of many genres to generate revenue throughout the week outside of trance events as well as playing multiple genres with trance on the main stage. For this reason, there's a lot of social air around the otachidai etiquette and limits. For clubs with multiple rooms, it's possible to keep dedicated trance space, but they often have to be shared among regular club goers outside of Trapara enthusiasts.

This results in fewer men dancing Trapara than women because men aren't often allowed on the otachidai and may be considered a nuisance to the people around them on the main floor. There is a strong tendency for men to get on the platforms but then be removed due to utilizing women as a selling point on the platforms. However, the platforms can be accessible on weekday events that aren't as busy.

Merits & Demerits

As mentioned above, the background of the spread of Trapara was that the clubs used it to attract customers in 2005 and major record labels pushed forward with the same spread strategy. On the other hand, as of January 2007, it is also true that there are several clubs that have banned Trapara. Both the merits and demerits of Trapara have been pointed out from each position related to the clubs.

Clubbers Position

Merit
  • If you remember a certain number of choreographies (if you have a repertoire), you can easily get excited even if you dance with people you meet for the first time or at a club you have gone to for the first time.
  • By dancing with the same choreography and teaching it, it becomes an opportunity for communication.
  • You can request the DJ to play the choreographed songs you have learned.
  • It can satisfy the desire to stand out and look cool.
Demerit
  • Since there are many movements in which both hands are swung around, it may cause trouble to other guests who are enjoying themselves, whether on the platform or on the floor.

DJ's Position

Merit
  • You can easily liven up the floor by playing Trapara trance tracks continuously.
Demerit
  • If you keep playing Trapara tracks, group psychology comes into effect, but other people could be alienated.
  • If you change genres after playing Trapara tracks you could risk splitting the dancefloor.

Organizer Position

Merit
  • You can use Trapara as a hook for attracting customers. For example - By distributing a choreography practice DVD created by DJs and organizers, increasing the number of otachidai, and in some cases requesting DJs to play more Trapara songs in a short period of time. You can increase the ability to attract customers.
Demerit
  • If the organizer accepts Trapara, the number of customers who gather for the purpose of Trapara will increase, and it will not be as easy to attract a wide range of customers. For this reason, if the Trapara audience gets too concentrated, they'll cut events to broaden appeal.
  • Since the club is basically subject to the Fudosan Law, they will be closed at 1 AM under the guidance of the administrative authorities. There was a time when clubs with trance were banned because customers started to enter around 11PM and started to attract a wide range of customers in a short time. This was pointed out around 2005-2007, when the spread of Trapara accelerated.

End of the Trapara Boom

Due to the closure of club complex CODE and AVEX stopping the release of trance CDs, the departure from trance was accelerated beyond expectations. Around 2011, the number of clubs holding trance events has decreased, but there are cases where they are held jointly with other genres like Eurobeat and Techno. Recently, with the decrease in the Trapara boom, Trapara has been accepted in most clubs around the world.

Media

Avex
SUPER BEST TRANCE II
At the beginning of the Trapara boom, guides on dancing were introduced in the CD booklet.
SUPER BEST TRANCE III
A "How To Dance To Trance" guide was included as a CD-EXTRA file with gyaru model Aya Hoshi. Though not specifying Trapara, it included elements of dance and some arm movements for lyrics.
SUPER BEST TRANCE IV
The first of SUPER BEST TRANCE to release a full DVD of choreography with various gyaru models. However the CD was pulled due to the "Noma Neko Problem" where Avex was forced to pull production of all products featuring the flash animated cat from 2Chan community members for the song Dragostea Din Tei by O-Zone (Also known as Numa Numa) due to copyright reasons.
SUPER BEST TRANCE -THE BEST-
A "Best Of" 2 disc compilation where the first disc is entirely danceable to Trapara.
SUPER BEST TRANCE VI
6th entry into the series that shared Trapara choreography featuring more gyaru models. However, these weren't intended to showcase proper lessons but just created promotion material for the SUPER BEST TRANCE series.
The Trapara
Official choreography DVD produced by Avex, compiling many of the songs from previous entries of SUPER BEST TRANCE as well as new songs.
club complex CODE
CODE Trapara Best series
Consisting of three entries to the series, Chapter #1, Chapter #2, and Round #1. The songs featured in these are songs owned and licensed by Exit Trance, and it's sublabel Decibel Entertainment. The most popular and well known choreography came from this series given CODE is considered the birthplace of Trapara.
FARM Records
Parazoku, Sunday Morning Party
DVDs released with the club group CODE choreography with songs owned and created by FARM records. club complex CODE had several record labels providing DJs music to play. However, commercially releasing them had its own licensing issues so while several record labels created DVDs, the majority were choreographed by CODE.
Clubs

Very few independent releases of Trapara were made. The majority of the choreography was shared among people at the clubs. However some are still documented.

MzA トラパラ教本Gの法則 Series
Series of two club DVDs by the event group MzA at Club Garden in Roppongi , Tokyo.
MEGA PARA
A single DVD produced by the event group MEGA PARA that threw many events through N3, On & On, and New Cellblock.
TV & Movie
Gyaru Sa (Gal Circle)
A TV drama about gals and their community, prominently featuring Trapara.
Parazoku
A gal circle movie sharing the same name and songs of the CD and choreography DVD.
Magazines
Ranzuki
Ranzuki released two articles on Trapara in March and September 2004 issues.
Karaoke

Major karaoke companies have released a hand full of songs to be danced at karaoke bars.

Song Names and Request Numbers

Song Name DAM JOYSOUND
エイベックス トラパラメドレー(トランス編) 1133-14
ASS UP 3021-62 192058
BIG BAD LOVE 3021-31 164082
CLOSE MY EYES 3021-63
HEAVEN 3021-32
HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH 3021-64
HEAVENLY STAR 3106-99
Move Your Love 3021-30
SPREAD YOUR WINGS 3021-29
SUNSHINE 2006 3021-65
Everytime We Touch 1162-06
パラパラ基礎講座 192057
トラパラメドレー《パラパラ振り付き・Original》 192064
DRAGOSTEA DIN TEI(恋のマイアヒ) 192050
PERFECT GAME 192054
PITCH 192053
POISON 192028
TOKYO,GO!(SHAM-POO REMIX) 192055
YESTERDAY 192051
愛の東京コール(オバチャンリミックス) 161199
愛の東京コール《パラパラ振り付き・Original》 192059