The documentary film "Lil Buck: Rise of a Swan" will be released on Friday, August 20, 2021. How did dancer Lil Buck become a world-renowned performer and an idol for children in his hometown of Memphis, USA? What does he reveal in his interviews?

Charles Riley, nicknamed Lil Buck, grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, a city known as one of America's most crime-ridden areas and the place where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. There, he gradually became immersed in "Memphis Jookin'," a street dance originating in Memphis. In the film, "Jookers" (those who dance Jookin') testify: "We'd rather dance than be killers."

"I want to get better at dancing." With this single wish, the boy eventually earned a scholarship to try classical ballet. He fused Jookin' with ballet and performed "The Swan" (The Dying Swan) to a famous melody. World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma saw his performance, invited him to a charity party, and even performed with him.

By chance, Spike Jonze, the director of the film "Her," was present. Captivated by the extraordinary dance, he filmed it on his phone and posted the video. That single video changed Lil Buck's destiny.

This is a moving documentary that chronicles the journey of a boy from a tough neighborhood who becomes a one-of-a-kind global dancer and a beacon of hope for the children of Memphis. It's a film that will not only overwhelm you with its breathtaking dance performances but also allow you to experience Lil Buck's personality through his own narration.

Lil Buck (hereinafter LB)Honestly, when I was offered this film, my first thought was, "Isn't it too early for me to do this?" I wondered if the audience would gain anything from it, if I was even big enough yet to inspire people after they watched it. But now, the fact that it's being released in Japan feels like the answer to that. I was hesitant at first, but in reality, I felt relieved after watching the film. It features many dancers and people from Memphis, and I'm so happy that their stories can be heard by everyone. That's a very important element of this film for me.

So, my favorite scenes are the interviews with the other dancers. I really want people to hear the voices of those who were born and raised with the dance that originated in Memphis. Another scene I like is where I'm teaching the children. It's important to me that many children can gain something and experience something through my experiences.

LBI've learned a lot and my world has expanded. When people think of high fashion, some focus only on the money spent on it, but what I find amazing is the artistry of these brands. For example, with clothing brands, the designers are true artists. There's incredible artistry in their designs, their craftsmanship, and the way they present it to the world. I'm inspired by that. I also want to capture the positive influence of art that they possess.

One of the reasons I wanted opportunities to collaborate with fashion brands is that I grew up wanting to wear them. My family was poor when I was young, and wanting to wear Versace shoes or Gucci pants was a small, yet big dream. I couldn't afford such luxuries back then.

Also, as I continued to learn dance, I realized that to be respected as a dancer, I had to pay attention to my appearance. My dance always has a fashionable aspect to it. That was another reason I wanted to collaborate with high fashion brands.

But what I ultimately learned, as I said at the beginning, is that behind these high brands lies true artistry. Many people only see the commercial aspects, but from an insider's perspective, they are genuine artists. Some of my friends don't want to work with the commercialized world, and they have their reasons, but I respect high fashion from a different viewpoint and have a different perspective than my friends regarding the artistry behind it.

LBFirst, regarding priorities, there's a scientific aspect. It depends on the surface I'm dancing on. Whether it's a hard wooden floor, concrete, or a studio floor. I choose my shoes based on the surface I'll be dancing on.

I often dance in Nike shoes. They have soles that are easy to dance in, and even when I'm dancing on my toes, they're very comfortable. Using those soles makes it easier to do sliding moves. I have two favorite sneakers right now: Jordan 3 and Air Griffey. The Air Griffey is a sneaker that baseball player Ken Griffey Jr. collaborated on with Nike. It's my secret weapon for dancing.

Other sneakers I often wear include Air Force 1. The Jordan 11 is also a fantastic shoe that makes me feel like I'm walking on clouds. However, I often spin with the sides of my shoes facing down, so they tear quickly and don't last long. Of course, nobody spins in their sneakers like I do (laughs).

LBM.A.I. is basically a project where we create short films that convey messages through street dance. Through these films, we tell various stories that hold great meaning for us. Stories that are rooted in our surroundings and can help change society. That's why we made "Color of Reality" to depict the issues of police brutality and Black Lives Matter that are happening in America right now. These are things happening around us. We also created a short film called "Am I A Man" in collaboration with activist and lawyer Bryan Stevenson. It's a film about the incarceration of Black people. We always conduct M.A.I. activities to tell stories that deserve to be heard and to draw attention to the various events happening in our society. Recently, I choreographed for the TV series "Blindspotting," which deals with many social issues. We use dance to enhance the stories told in each episode, so please watch it.

LBWhat I want people to take away from this film is that no matter where you're from, no matter what culture or environment you grew up in, if you have a passion for something and are doing what you love, don't let anything stop you. Don't let anyone else's opinion dictate what you want to do. Believe that you can achieve it. What I want to convey is that people can direct their lives in any direction. Whether it's wanting to be famous or just wanting to dance. Speak your feelings out loud. Let people hear them. You have that power. If the world doesn't believe in you, believe in yourself even more. That's what I want to convey with this film. I hope that by watching this film and getting to know me, more people will start believing in themselves.