How do kpop idols sing and dance at the same time
How to Sing & Dance at the Same Time like Beyoncé & Kpop Idols BTS
Posted on by TeenStar
Learning how to sing and dance at the same time could take your performance to the next level. However, it is very challenging, technically and physically.
You should aim to get physically fit before you sing while you dance. Learning your moves and lyrics is essential but you need to have excellent breath control to put them together. You also need a lot of stamina to be able to perform night after night.
A good dancer’s diet along with some great exercises will help you sing and dance at the same time. Find out how Beyoncé and Kpop superstars like BTS can sing and dance for hours and make it look effortless.
Is it possible to sing and dance at the same time?
- Learn the song and dance separately
- Start with lip-syncing
- Focus on your breathing
- Improve your stamina
- Sing while you exercise
- Bring it all together
1.
Your first step should be to sing the song as well as you can without dancing. The same goes for dancing without singing. This will ingrain the fundamentals of both parts into your head. It’s also good to brush up on your skills as a singer and dancer before you commit to bringing the two disciplines together.
2. Try lip-syncing
A great way to move forward is to dance and lip-sync instead of singing. This will help you get your dance moves down alongside learning the lyrics. You won’t have to focus on your pitching and projection, which will allow your breathing to stay synced with your dancing.
Many artists actually lip-sync in their live shows. This can be when they have a lot of dancing to do or when there is a big production with no time for a sound check. For example, artists sometimes lip-sync for the Superbowl because the stage is set up at the interval.
Do they lip sync in Kpop?
Many fans wonder how Kpop idols sing and dance at the same time so flawlessly. Kpop is a very dance-heavy genre of music and acts like BTS often perform complicated dance routines whilst singing. So are they lip syncing or not?
How do Kpop idols sing and dance at the same time?
There is typically a backing vocal track with most Kpop performances. This can include lead vocals but is mostly harmonies. Kpop singers will sing alongside this but won’t usually sing when their dance moves are intense.
The singers spend a lot of time singing independently. This allows one or two of them to move less while the others take the spotlight with their dancing. You’ll notice that when they are singing and dancing that their feet are planted or they are walking. This way they don’t have to think about their footwork whilst singing.
3. Focus on your breathing
Singing and dancing both require excellent breath control. You might find it very difficult to sing and dance at the same time purely because you’re unable to manage your breathing. This is why you need to plan your breaths.
Breathing should be considered as much as a note of dance move. Breathing is more essential for singing so you will want to plan your breathing with your lyrics. Dance and lip sync slowly but add your breaths. Gradually build it up until you can start singing.
You might want to add more breaths once you start dancing. You’ll realise how much energy you’re putting into your performance and find that your planned breaths aren’t enough. Try dropping lyrics at points where you need to focus on dancing if you’re using a backing track.
Why is breathing important in dance?
Your heart rate and breathing increases as you dance. You will start to get out of breath and light headed if your breathing can’t keep up.
This will prevent you from performing as well as you should and you’ll definitely struggle to sing.
What is the use of breath in dance?
Breathing can be incorporated into part of your dance routine. Some move may require you to make your body seem bigger. You should inhale along with the beat to push out your lungs. The same can be done for moves where you want your body to be smaller. Instead of inhaling, exhale and let all of your breath out.
How do you breathe while dancing?
The best way to breathe is with your diaphragm. This applies to both dancing and singing. It is a muscle located above your stomach that moves as you breathe. Breathing with your diaphragm is the most efficient way to fill your lungs with air because it moves down as you inhale, which helps suck in air.
If you breathe with your chest then you can make your body tense. It can also result in you feeling more anxious. You should practice breathing with your diaphragm when you sing and dance.
You should also do breathing exercises when you aren’t singing or dancing. This will help you stop breathing with your chest subconsciously.
4. Improve your stamina
Your stamina needs to be high if your planning on dancing and singing, especially if you want to tour. You will need to build up your stamina as a dancer and as a singer. This won’t happen overnight but it’s never too soon to start doing the right thing.
How to dance without getting tired
Make sure your diet is balanced because this will be the fuel for your energy. Understand that you’re putting a lot of muscles under stress. A poor diet can lead to your muscles recovering more slowly, which can damage them if you dance before they’ve healed.
You should dance regularly to improve your fitness. If you aren’t dancing a lot then you should still exercise. Going into an intense training routine before a performance will be very difficult if you aren’t physically fit enough to handle it.
If you aren’t able to exercise, the least you could do is stretch to maintain your flexibility.
Your technique is also important, especially for more technical forms such as ballet. Regularly work on your fundamentals, including holding your body and distributing your weight correctly.
Finally, always warm up and warm down your muscles. This will help them cope with long dance sessions and really reduce your risk of injury. Don’t forget to have rest days to let your body recover and prepare it for the next day of dancing.
Singing stamina
Your vocal cords and larynx need to be warmed up and exercised just like any other muscle in your body. Like dancing, this will prevent damage to your vocal muscles in the long term and will make it easier to perform for a long period of time.
Your technique will also go a long way in improving your vocal stamina. You ideally want to start with strengthening your diaphragm for breathing. From there, keep your larynx positioned low and balance your vocal resonance so that you are able to hit high notes with less effort.
Putting too much strain on your voice will make it more difficult for you to sing long sets. If you are dancing at the same time then it is really going to become challenging to maintain your energy levels. The key is to be as efficient as possible without sacrificing quality in your voice or your dance moves.
5. Sing while you exercise
If you haven’t already noticed, you need to be really physically fit to be able to sing and dance at the same time. Once you’ve worked on your breathing and stamina, you should start looking at singing while you exercise.
Is singing a form of exercise?
Singing is actually a form of exercise but it doesn’t focus on the same muscles as other forms of exercise. Practising vocal exercises will help you work out the muscles needed to sing. However, it won’t work out other muscles needed for dancing and improve your cardio.
Working out and singing
Working out while you sing is a great way to get used to singing and exercising before you start singing and dancing.
Dancing requires a lot more cognitive effort than lifting weights or running does. If you start running and singing, you can put your planned breathing into practice and improve your stamina.
Does running make you a better singer?
Running and any form of exercise will make you fitter and it can also have a lot of mental benefits. This will make you a better singer and performer. When singers end up at huge stadium shows then they have to cover a lot of ground to work the stage. Running and improving your fitness will be a great way to prepare your body for these massive stages.
Is singing while running good?
Singing whilst running is good if you are preparing yourself to sing and dance professionally. Beyoncé’s celebrity trainer Mark Jenkins stands by this by making her and other performers sing and run. If you can sing and run then it builds your stamina and makes it significantly easier to sing and dance.
Jenkins also goes a step further by adding altitude masks and hot conditions.
We definitely wouldn’t recommend this unless you are absolutely certain that you can handle it. In fact, you shouldn’t jump into singing and running. You could find yourself really out of breath and doing damage to your voice if you aren’t careful.
Singing while you exercise should only be practised if you’re already physically fit and singing with a good technique. Build yourself up to it if you are going to try it. If you can get to this stage then you will be ready to sing and dance.
6. Bring it all together
Hopefully, you have learnt your dance moves and lyrics with your lip syncing. Your breathing should be planned out and your increased stamina will help you maintain a good standard of performance. The only thing that is left is to sing while you perform.
Practice in a dance studio and film yourself. You’ll be able to see how well your moves are going and whether you’re hitting the right notes. Remember that if you are in a group then you all need to be physically fit enough to perform the same routine.
Keep practising and it should all come together in an amazing performance.
Who are your favourite artists that know how to sing and dance at the same time? Let us know in the comments below!
Inside The World Of K-Pop Dance Covers with Ellen & Brian
With YouTube making music videos accessible to anyone, anywhere, the K-Pop music scene has seen an EXPLOSION in popularity in the last several years.
And the most popular music videos? They feature much more than music.
It’s the eye-catching choreography including fun, wordplay-based moves, cleanly synchronized steps, and stage-ready poses and facials that has led to K-Pop Music Videos (or MVs) gaining millions of views.
But now, there’s another type of K-Pop video that’s taking YouTube by storm: K-Pop Dance Covers.
In these videos, skilled dancers break down the exact moves seen in the latest K-Pop MVs and teach the steps to the masses.
Today, two of the most popular K-Pop cover artists on YouTube are Ellen & Brian – a couple credited with teaching millions of dancers around the world the exact choreography to 100+ iconic K-Pop songs.
We're so excited to announce that this talented dance duo is now bringing their K-pop expertise to STEEZY Studio, where dancers can learn the routines faster and better with our intuitive video tools!
We caught up with Ellen & Brian to learn about how K-Pop Dance Covers became an integral part of today’s dance culture, and how you can learn to dance just like the idols themselves!
What are your dance backgrounds?Ellen: I started dancing by taking ballet classes when I was 7 years old. When I was in middle school, I found interest and started training in many other styles such as hip hop, jazz, and K-pop. Since then, I joined my high school dance team, college dance team (ACA at UCLA), and also continued to learn many K-pop dance classes.
Brian: I started dancing in freshman year of high school (when I was around 14) and started learning popping by watching videos online! I loved watching popping battles and was mainly interested in freestyling.
After I joined the school’s dance team, I learned more styles such as hip hop, contemporary and jazz. I then started doing more choreography based routines in college.
The catchy melody and viral point moves drew us into K-pop in the first place. We love how there is a huge variety of genres and styles portrayed within K-pop music and choreography. It's just always so fun to sing and dance along with the K-pop songs!
Why do you think K-Pop music has BLOWN UP in the last decade?With social media and everything getting bigger, there are more chances for the world to see things they have never seen before. Aside from music and lyrics, K-pop performances bring something artistically unique and that's probably a big reason why so many people are drawn to it. K-pop stage performances usually put a big emphasis not just on the choreography aspect, but also from changing up their outfits, make-up, hair styles, and stage set up every time they perform.
It is very refreshing to see how creative and innovative K-pop artists are, and the amount of effort put into the production.
K-pop songs have always been known to be very catchy – not just the melody but also the choreography. K-pop places a huge emphasis on all aspects of the performance of each song, which constantly draws people’s attention to the unique, fun, and engaging choreography. Whenever K-pop artists release a new album/song, they typically perform their title track on music/TV shows multiple times a week, with a different costume and stage set-up every time, allowing the audience to be familiarized and fully immersed in their performances even though it is the same song and routine every time.
Since a lot of the iconic moves are easy to follow and very memorable, more and more K-pop fans started learning the dances and made dance covers to the songs they liked. As both the K-pop culture and dance culture have been drastically evolving over the years, K-pop dance covers have also been a hot topic for both people who like to dance to K-pop and those who like to watch dance covers of their favorite songs/artists.
K-Pop has definitely become more global over the years. With its increasing popularity comes more content that are more catered towards international fans. For example, some artists might have songs that include more English lyrics, allowing more fans who don’t know Korean to be able to sing along at home, at concerts, or in their dance covers. Many dance cover groups across the globe also like to film their covers at popular landmarks to represent their home country/location so that the viewers can easily identify or remember that specific cover.
It is also a great way of showing the artists that their influence has reached so many fans all over the world. Another interesting thing to point out is the “Random Dance” games that are often hosted (before COVID-19) in a public, open, and large area where a series of K-pop songs (only the chorus parts) are being played one after another.
People are encouraged to dance together if they know the choreography to each song. This is a great way for K-pop fans to enjoy and bond with each other over the songs and dances they love, and it is also very impressive to see hundreds of people who probably don’t know each other to be dancing altogether.
A lot of the time, the most popular K-Pop choreographies are linked directly to a catchy part of the song. The “point move” (which is basically the stand out move of the song) is unique and fits well with the vibe of the part of the song. Typically, the title of the song will be sung or sometimes even repeated multiple times during the chorus of the song, which is when the “iconic” move happens. This allows people to easily remember and link the song name to the melody and dance move. A lot of the time, these “iconic moves” involve more movement from the upper body as opposed to the lower body.
They are usually short, easy, and also very creative so that this exact move can be associated with this specific song. The most iconic ones can easily be identified via a frozen frame with no music or even just a silhouette cut-out of the move, which shows the power of iconic K-pop moves.
Since we have never been K-pop trainees before, we cannot give concrete answers and can only make educational guesses on how long they train for. It varies for each person and company but based on our knowledge, a typical K-pop idol can train ranging from a few months to 10+ years with the average being around 3-6 years. K-pop idols not only have to practice dancing, but also need to train in singing, rapping, modeling/acting (if applicable), language lessons, and more. Therefore, a lot of their time is devoted to perfecting the whole package and not just practicing dance.
Singing and dancing at the same time requires a lot of extra practice and technique that the average dancer may not need to worry about.
If we are only focusing on the dance training portion, we would definitely recommend to focus on cleanliness and accuracy. Having a thorough understanding of what each move and pathway should look like would really help ensure your own cleanliness. Go through each move slowly until you are comfortable with the speed and happy with all your angles/pathways. Filming yourself, watching yourself, and even comparing with the artists or instructors can help you identify areas that you can work on. Most importantly, the facial expressions, the overall vibe, and stage presence is what brings your performance to the next level. We like to watch the artists’ performance videos over and over again to fully grasp the right feel of each specific song and then practice improving our own facial expressions and charisma on top of the movements. At the end of the day, continue to stay happy, motivated and confident in order to train more effectively and enjoy the whole process! :)
We love the fact that each K-pop artist has his or her own persona while still cohesively portraying the overall group concept/style as a whole.
When we do dance covers, we try our best to emulate each idol’s style by paying close attention to each person’s facial expressions, body posture, hand gesture, textures, and any details that stand out to us. While we imitate these characteristics, our own style might still show through based on our different dance backgrounds and experiences, which helps us add a personal touch to our covers.
In our STEEZY tutorials, we go more in-depth when explaining the moves and in how we interpret what the choreographers (as well as the in-house choreography teams) intend for the original artists to do. We usually look at all the members of the K-pop groups to see how each of them execute the choreography in order to figure out what the final choreography might look like and share our best input on how each move should be executed. Instead of just going over each move, we also like to share more details for each move (like the exact head angle or finger positioning) and give our two cents on how to match the vibe/concept/style better.
We sometimes explain different variations as well in the event that the artists themselves have different moves.
Our advice would be to always enjoy the process no matter what! There will always be some moves or routines that are difficult to execute, but the key is to continue practicing and stay positive. K-pop dances have evolved a lot over the years and some new routines are getting more difficult and complicated as the idols themselves have improved in their own technique and dance skills as well. Therefore, it is normal to not look like them who have been practicing the same routine thousands of times. As long as you set your own personal goal and work hard for it, you should be proud of yourself!
✨ Start learning the dance covers to the latest and greatest K-Pop songs, step-by-step, with Ellen & Brian’s new weekly class series on STEEZY Studio! ✨
Tap below to learn more:
Do K-pop idols sing live: what does AR, MR, LAR and LMR mean?
Do K-pop idols really sing live?
This question is not easy to answer, because you can say yes and no. But we would like to touch upon the details of K-pop idols performing live on stage. Have you ever heard of MR, AR, LMR and LAR? If you learn about their differences, you will be able to understand the live performances of K-pop stars well.
See also: Cultural cooperation between China and Russia: the new channel "Katyusha"
- MR (music recording)
Basically, MR stands for instrumental accompaniment. Have you been to karaoke? MR is the music in a karaoke song that does not contain the sound of the singer's voice. However, there is no one among the idols who uses such a pure MR: all K-pop MRs contain the sounds of their voices.
Before performing their songs on music shows, idols must record their MR. And how does it happen? The volume of the voices in the original is reduced, while maintaining the volume of the sound of the instrumental accompaniment. So, with respect to K-pop idols, singing to an MR record does not mean that they sing live only with instrumental accompaniment. This means that when performing, idols overlay their voices to the MR recording of the original song. Why is it so popular? Because it makes their live singing better and brighter.
- AR (full plywood)
AR not only contains the sound of instrumental accompaniment, but also includes the voice of the performers. Yes, these are the same original songs that are available on various online music sites and directly on physical media - this is AR. So, when K-pop idols lip-synch, sort of singing along and getting hit with the veneer, they're just dancing to their AR record, pretending they're singing live.
- LAR (Live All Recorded)
Idols lip-synching on stage to a studio recording can be a real problem, as the entire public may find out that the singing is "fake". Therefore, the K-pop industry came up with LAR, which is a kind of AR recording, but it not only contains instrumental accompaniment, the artist's voice, but we can also hear the sound of the artist's labored breathing.
- LMR (Live Music Recording)
Although LMR sounds like LAR, there is a noticeable difference between the two. If idols sing using a LAR recording, it cannot be said that they are singing live, because LAR contains all the sounds of the music, while the artist is just pretending to sing live. However, unlike LAR, LMR includes some parts that sound exactly like normal MR recordings. So, singing to an LMR record means that the idols sing some parts of their songs live.
- But why don't K-pop idols sing to a clear sound - absolutely live?
Some of you may think that this is because of their lack of ability.
Yes, there are some idols who can't sing well, but that's not all. In fact, the level of equipment and sound of many music shows in Korea is still quite low. For example, we all know that most of the performances of idols on such programs are recorded in pre-recording, that is, the dance performance and singing are recorded separately.
So, based on the realities of the music industry, MR, AR, LAR, and LMR type recordings can be effective vehicles for K-pop idols to show their fans the best live performance.
Bublos_blu (c) YesAsia
The inconvenient truth about K-pop: what's behind the curtain?
K-pop (K-pop) is a fascinating foreign word that came to us from distant Korea. Who are idols? And why is it so hard for us to understand Asian culture?
When you hear about K-pop, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Many people wrinkle their noses in advance, others simply remain silent. Why did the Koreans dislike us so much? First, K-pop is not taken seriously.
Pretty guys with makeup on their faces, crazy video clips and overly sweet songs about eternal love. They are aimed at a certain age, namely their main contingent - teenage girls. Secondly, we are not used to seeing so many colors: most of the videos are so bright that you have to wear glasses in order not to go blind. Thirdly, hidden hostility towards representatives of Asian culture. You yourself can follow the reaction of your friends to the question of what they think about Koreans. Most will answer in a dismissive tone and be sure to add that they are all "the same person." But is it worth judging a book without knowing its contents? I want to introduce you to an incredible phenomenon, nothing less than a revolution in the world of music. So, what is k-pop and what is it served with?
Korean pop, or k-pop for short, is somewhere between hip-hop and pop. It originated, oddly enough, not in Korea itself. The story begins as early as 1885, when an American missionary began teaching American and British folk songs in a Korean school.
In Korea, such songs became known as "changa". In those difficult times for Koreans, these verses were of great importance, as they expressed all the hostility against Japanese oppression. They did not have a special variety, everything was sung monotonously. Most often, these were Japanese poems rewritten in Korean.
Another equally important step into the future of Korean pop was made by Seo Taiji and Boys. They laid the foundations of K-pop as a separate genre. The guys experimented with different MIDI sounds and eventually came up with new jack swing (new jack swing). It was a soul hybrid with a clear rhythm section. It included rap parts and solo chants. And thanks to these guys, a whole era of Korean pop appeared.
If you carefully watched the video, you may have noticed some differences from the same American bands. The guy comes to the central position, basically all the attention rests on him.
And the light, and the number of lines, and the joyful exclamations of fans. He is the main vocalist of the group and the visual at the same time. In Korea, several concepts are used to conveniently distribute roles in a group. There are visuals (these are usually the most beautiful members) - they are the faces of the groups; there are also main vocalists, rappers and dancers. In Korea, it is customary to call their performers the word "idol". The fact is that artists must fully comply with this status and be perfect in everything. A little selfish, but this is the word that the entire Korean entertainment industry is built on. Another, no less important fact: only singers are called idols, and, for example, actors will be just artists.
An equally difficult factor for all newbies who are getting into K-pop is the large number of participants. There may be seventeen or twelve. Apparently, the scheme “the more the better” works here. But how are these creative teams created? Let's figure it out!
There are production centers in Korea.
These companies are recruiting artists. Let's take an ordinary group, don't think that they just came and know how to do everything at once: to sing, to dance, and to be cute. In fact, everything is much more complicated.
There are special divisions: the most successful companies, medium and the most mediocre. The big three are: SM, JYP and YG ENTERTAINMENT. They are considered very prestigious and rich compared to the rest. Almost everyone wants to get under their wing, however, the dreams of not all singers are destined to come true.
Singers go through so many trials before debuting that many can't stand it and leave the company before debut. In order for a young guy or girl to get into the agency, you should work hard. They must have vocal skills, artistry and charisma. Applicants must pass an interview where they will be asked to prove themselves. Here is an example of how it goes.
Agencies face a difficult choice.
They can both destroy and elevate a young star to heaven. Therefore, all auditions are carried out very tensely and for a long time. After the set closes, the remaining lucky ones are given a schedule with a schedule. Let's say if the interns are still in school, managers adjust to his usual everyday life. If classes start at eight or nine, then the schedule may be: physical exercises from 6:00, then dance practice from 7:00, after which the students leave. They are obliged to return after the end of all classes and practice again in a stuffy basement.
They have teachers in singing, dancing, acting and other disciplines. Young people are taught how to behave in public, what to say and what not to say. If you are preparing to debut and it is about to come, managers will be especially strict with you. These children live in their studios, sleep, eat and practice there. One of the now popular artists recently shared how his group prepared for their debut:
“We danced almost all day.
The rest of the time was spent singing. We slept sometimes, if it worked out, for four hours” - Park Jimin.
An equally important factor is the appearance of idols. Since the Koreans have given their stars the status of "idols", it is assumed that they must unquestioningly comply with it. The trainees are kept on the strictest diet and exercise all the time. This is the answer to the question why are all Korean artists so skinny. Koreans do not tolerate excess weight and cannot allow their pet or pet to weigh more than 60 kg. The weight of the children is carefully monitored. Let's say you train, work hard, but at the general weigh-in you gained or simply did not lose weight. An alarm bell is already ringing for you. Some guys, who just don't have enough to eat right, go on exhausting hunger strikes and diets, which, of course, negatively affects their health.
The best trainees sometimes have the opportunity to perform with debuting artists.
This happens to draw attention to the favorites of the agency, so that a certain singer is already fixed in the memory of the fans. It holds all the attention, all the love and glory. It's good that K-pop of my generation is no longer so strict and now not a single participant is left without due attention.
What about the music itself? Now in K-pop there are a huge number of divisions. There are ballad singers, solo artists, rappers, even rockers. Solo singers are the fewest, but they are no less popular than the same groups. I'll leave a playlist of my favorite solo artists here:
However, solo artists are inferior to groups in many ways. Of course, there are seven or even fifteen handsome men here at once. Why do Korean guys so lure their audience? I would say it's all about simplicity. The melodies are absolutely easy to perceive, they are like a light afternoon nap from which you don't want to leave. The voices of all the singers perfectly complement each other and give birth to a new sound.
It is very fashionable in Korea for guys to have high voices, and such performers are very popular among all ages. I also noticed a certain pattern that is present exclusively in K-pop. Clips, both female and male, are made in such a way as if there is only you and your favorite singer. He addresses the camera, confesses his love, asks for a date and behaves like a real gentleman. Well, how can you resist?
In addition to the fact that almost all bands are unique in composition and have some kind of history, Koreans treat their fans very carefully. No swearing, obscene language or loud statements. Education still plays a role here, since Koreans are very traditional and for them such a model of behavior is the only correct one. If you can't get over the language barrier, turn on the subtitles and just watch what they sing about. I would say that their work forms the right values and teaches to appreciate and respect everyone.
One of my favorite parts of K-pop is the dancing.
Just an indescribable feeling. All participants move very smoothly, as if each of them graduated from a dance school. Live performance is also very popular. Some artists specifically train in such a way that they are able to withstand a large load. They dance and sing at the same time, getting all the fans to sing along to the beat. You should definitely see this.
The most popular artists are mostly in bands. Now trending groups such as: BTS, EXO, BLACKPINK. They have incredible influence both in Korea and beyond. Fans deify their favorites, in turn, they are forced to completely hide their personal lives. This is one of the points of their contract, some companies put bans on relationships. Others simply make sure that no information is leaked to the Internet. In the end, if it turns out that the star is revealed, the fans quickly change the mask of friendliness.
