How to dance like a korean
How To Learn K-Pop Dances
So, if you’re anything like me, you love a good K-Pop song and the fun, popular choreography that comes with it.
But I have to admit… if you asked me if I’ve ever actually tried learning any K-Pop choreography… I’d embarrassingly have to say “No”.
Even though the dances are meant to be simple to learn, it’s easy to feel intimidated when you’re watching the moves being executed by idols who’ve been training for most of their lives!
So, I decided to find out what it takes to master K-Pop routines AND perform like a legit K-Pop star.
Now, I’m gonna share everything I learned with you.
Keep reading to get all the tips you’ll need to become a K-Pop dancer yourself!
But first…
The term “K-Pop” is an abbreviation for “Korean popular music.”
While the name is pretty general, “K-Pop” is typically used to describe a mixture of East Asian and Western music genres that can be traced back to the 1880s.
Throughout the 1880s-1940s, Koreans were introduced to Western music through American missionaries and radio broadcasts, but it wasn’t until the 1940s when North and South Korea parted ways that K-Pop music really started to thrive.
Many American soldiers remained in South Korea after the Korean War, and started spreading the latest Pop, Gospel, Rock, Jazz, Hip Hop, R&B, Folk, Country, Classical, and Reggae.
As a result, South Korean music artists started infusing their own music with Western rhythms, instruments, vocalization styles, and languages.
And sure enough, Korean singers started getting their big break within Western circles.
Ever heard of The Kim Sisters?
Around 1959, they were the first Korean artists to drop an album in the U.S!
Of course, this music doesn’t sound like K-Pop as we now know it…
The music we currently call “K-Pop” is most heavily influenced by Western music from the 1990s-2010s.
It was during that time period that the internet made it easier than ever for countries to share music with each other.
The Korean government was putting more focus on marketing their music to other countries, but it wasn’t just the K-Pop industry running the show anymore!
Take the boyband Seo Taiji & Boys for example.
Despite the fact that they scored really low during a televised Korean talent show with their song Nan Arayo, their fans went crazy over that same song AND their album.
They posted their music video online and the song made it to the states where new audiences fell in love with it!
Whether it was Seo Taiji & Boys’ unique fusion of Rap, Hip Hop, Rock, Jazz, and EDM, the sound of the Korean lyrics, or their standout fashion sense, thousands of teens and tweens around the world saw their video and looked at them as “idols” – a term that would become the #1 descriptor for K-Pop group members.
Many other K-Pop artists followed suit and in the 21st century, names like Super Junior, Big Bang, Wonder Girls, Psy, BTS, Blackpink and TWICE were household names.
Of course, one of the main things that sets K-Pop apart is the dancing!
The choreography is full of fun dance moves that are actually easy to learn.
And since the late 2000’s, K-Pop choreography (and the highly produced music videos that showcased it) has heavily contributed to the genre’s virality.
The choreography that went with the chorus of each song was meant to be catchy and attainable, so that anyone in the world could “cover” the choreography just like they would cover the song itself.
Soon, sites like Youtube and Facebook were filled with dance cover videos that gave free advertising to each new K-Pop song.
The moves and combos were heavily influenced by the Hip-Hop-heavy choreography used by 90s/2000s American groups, but K-Pop dances also tended to lean very cute/playful or very edgy – much like the music itself.
For example, compare how Britney Spears’ and Girls Generation’s choreography look.
They’re both filled with sharp and precise movements, hyper-feminine grooves, and playful gestures. And it's not just one person dancing. You get to see lots of bodies moving in unison!
Many of the early K-Pop groups who were popular in the states followed this formula, but the first modern K-Pop song to get serious radio play featured unisex moves that were appropriate for any age.
Enter “Gangnam Style” by Psy!
Due to that “galloping horse” move, this was the first video on YT to receive over a billion views.
If you want to learn how to dance K-Pop, start by choosing a few groups that you really resonate with!
Then, you can dissect what makes their choreography unique and master their style!
For example, if you really love BLACKPINK’s Lisa, you might notice that she’s all about intricate details and putting serious power into her stage performances.
So, as you’re learning a BLACKPINK or Lisa routine, really focus on those style elements as you practice each move.
Be thoughtful about flicking your wrist to finish a move or tilting your head at a particular moment.
Remember to stay powerfully grounded when you strut, rather than bouncing lightly on your feet.
Once you know which idol you want to look like, you can then focus on mastering the actual dance steps.
If you’re totally new to dance, start by looking for choreography that’s a little more smooth and groovy.
Basically, you want to look for the same types of moves that you’d do at a club or party.
A great example would be the routine from “Pretty Savage” by BLACKPINK.
Related article: Top 10 K-pop Girl Groups in 2022
The chorus section is all about hair whips, booty shaking, and bouncy moves that hit right on the beat. Even if you don’t look exactly like the idols when you do this routine, you’ll still look great!
P.S. If you wanna learn this choreography step-by-step, we have a tutorial on STEEZY Studio. ;)
Click here to learn it!
If you’re further along in your dance training, then you can choose a faster, more precise routine.
Typically, these types of choreographies will test your ability to use speed and control at the right time - all while dancing to more complex rhythms.
Take ATEEZ’ “Say My Name” choreography for example:
During the chorus section, you’ll notice that there's a lot of jumping, quick hand movements, and sudden transitions from fast moves to slow moves.
You’ll need to practice this routine a lot since many of the moves won’t come naturally to you!
P.P.S. You can learn “Say My Name” on STEEZY Studio too! Just click here.
After you know the style of choreography and routine you want to learn, you’re ready to really dive in!
There are a few ways to go about learning K-Pop choreography.
A lot of people learn the routines by studying the highly produced music videos that come with most K-Pop songs.
You can find the videos on YouTube, slow down the tempo, study the movements, and then practice in a mirror at home.
Many other K-Pop songs come with what’s called a “practice video” – basically, this is a video of the music group rehearsing the routine in a clean, simple environment.
These videos are much easier to learn from since they don’t include all of the fancy cuts/editing that can make it harder to see what the idols are doing.
Here’s an example of BTS practicing their routine for “Fire”:
Of course, when you’re learning a K-Pop routine, you’re not limited to just videos from the music groups themselves.
There are also tons of K-Pop covers artists on YouTube who break down the routines into step-by-step tutorials.
One of the most popular cover artist duos, Ellen & Brian, has nearly 3M followers!
Now, while all of these YouTube options are useful, they definitely come with some learning limitations.
You’ll likely spend a lot of time pausing and rewinding, stopping to check yourself in a mirror, and digging for videos where the content is flipped on screen so that you can copy the instructor directly (basically, if they lift their left arm on screen, you wanna be able to lift your left arm too.
You don’t wanna have to think in your head, “ok, her left arm is going up, but the camera is reversing the image, so I should lift my right arm, right???”).
Luckily, all of these annoying issues are solved for you on STEEZY Studio!
Unlike YouTube, STEEZY’s a platform made for learning dance routines.
You can flip the video’s orientation with the tap of a button, play tricky sections of the routine on loop while you practice, and use your webcam as a virtual, on-screen mirror so you can see yourself right behind the instructor.
We’re regularly dropping the latest and greatest K-Pop tutorials so definitely check it out here!
And if you’d like to try STEEZY out for free, start with these 10 FREE K-Pop moves classes.
One last tip before you dive into allll the K-Pop routines!
It’s important to keep in mind that K-Pop choreography doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
Choreographers from all over the world put together the routines for your favorite groups, and those choreographers have unique styles and dance backgrounds that are worth learning about!
For example, if a certain choreographer regularly creates routines for your favorite group, and that choreographer is a big fan of Jazz dance steps and lots of hair movements, it might be worth it to take their classes directly so that you can perfect those skills.
Here are a few K-Pop choreographers who you can train with on STEEZY:
Choreographer Brian Puspos is known for working with BTS and being one of Jimin’s favorite dancers.
Teen dancer sensation Bailey Sok choreographed for Red Velvet.
Swag queen Rie Hata is the genius behind several NCT, BTS, and Red Velvet routines.
All of these K-Pop choreographers and many more (Ian Eastwood, Lyle Beniga, Ellen Kim…) have classes on STEEZY Studio that will teach you how to dance smooth, sharp, fast, slow – everything!
Planning to make your own K-Pop dance cover video?
Now that we know what K-Pop is and how to do K-Pop dances, the last step is learning how to look the part!
Make sure you:
1.
Wear a mix of fitted clothing pieces like skinny jeans and tight tops, combined with clothing that’s loose and baggy. The fitted clothes will show the lines of your body as they cut through the air while the baggy pieces will add more motion to each of your movements. Leggings or shorts with a loose buttoned-up shirt or a skirt with bike shorts underneath are great options. Use the music videos for inspiration.
2. Have fun with your hair – it’s often part of the choreography! You can search “k-pop hair ideas” on Pinterest to come up with fun ways to style ponytails, pigtails, and braids that will complement your outfit.
3. Set up the “set” you’re going to dance in front of! You don’t need to do something super fancy like the music videos themselves – mainly focus on creating a set that’s visually interesting without being distracting. If you want a city skyline in your background, you can dance on the high floor of a parking garage. You can use brightly colored walls in your town as a backdrop.
You can throw some string lights behind you in your bedroom or make use of a color changing bulb. Just make sure there isn’t any clutter in your space!
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Now, who’s ready to learn some K-Pop moves?
Head over to STEEZY Studio and immerse yourself in the K-Pop world y’all!
Related article: 4 of the All Time Greatest K-Pop Groups Everyone Should Know
10 K-pop Dance Tips & Tricks For Beginners
If you’re new to dancing and thinking of where to start, you’ve come to the right place. K-pop dance is beginner-friendly, free, and can be done at home by yourself.
K-pop dance is a form of cardio exercise that tones your entire body. It is also a perfect way for you to boost your self-confidence as you replicate concepts and personas just like your favourite idols.
As a K-pop cover dancer myself, I would like to share 10 tips and tricks that will help make your learning journey a fruitful and enjoyable one.
1. Choose a suitable K-pop dance choreography
The difficulty levels of K-pop dance choreographies range from super simple to challenging even for seasoned dancers.
If you are a total beginner with no prior dance experience, start with an easy choreography.
Image adapted from: Big Hit Labels
3 factors can help you determine the difficulty of a choreography: repetition, speed, and style of song.
Repetition refers to how often dance moves are repeated throughout the song. Speed refers to the tempo of the song and how many steps there are in 8 counts. Style refers to the overall concept of the dance, such as “sexy”, “swag”, and “cute”.
Beginner-friendly choreographies usually entail repetitive dance moves without half-counts. In terms of style, cute concepts are the easiest to emulate while powerful concepts tend to require more control and speed.
Here are some examples of beginner-friendly choreographies:
Very Very Very – I.O.I
아이오아이 (I.O.I) - 너무너무너무 (Very Very Very) MV
Mic Drop – BTS
BTS (방탄소년단) 'MIC Drop (Steve Aoki Remix)' Official MV
2.
Choose a member to copy from
Image adapted from: BLACKPINK
Most K-pop songs performed by idol groups have dance moves that differ among members, especially during solo parts. Choosing a member to copy from simplifies the learning process.
Image adapted from: SMTOWN
Generally, rappers give off more “swag” when they dance, main dancers deal with slightly trickier choreography for their solo parts, and the visual members of the group focus more on stage presence and facial expressions.
3. Source for good mirrored dance videos on YouTube
One way to learn K-pop dance is through mirrored videos of dance practices, fancams, and live performances. A good mirrored dance video shows a high-quality full-body view with no interruptions for the entire duration of the song.
Image adapted from: K-Pop Dance Mirror
Entertainment companies usually release dance practice videos of title tracks during their idols’ comebacks.
Such dance practice videos are perfect learning material because of the clarity in showing both the choreography and overall formations.
Image adapted from: M2
Fancam videos and live performances, on the other hand, are best when you are trying to pick up smaller details such as facial expressions and gestures. These zoomed-in videos are usually not mirrored, but they are good reference for details that you cannot find in dance practice videos.
4. Set small goals and divide the choreography
Dividing the choreography into segments – first verse, chorus, bridge, or even by seconds – allows you to set small goals for each practice session and to plan a rough timeline for yourself. Having small goals and achieving them also keeps you motivated throughout the learning process.
There’s no hard and fast rule that dictates the need to learn from the start of the song. You can start from any part of the song you like, and you don’t have to learn the full choreography if you prefer not to.
5. Find a learning style that works best for you
In K-pop dance, learning styles can differ greatly but no one style trumps another.
Most people would first slow down choreography videos, usually at 0.5x, 0.75x, and 0.9x, when learning. After this step, three variables determine your learning style.
How to break down dance steps
Image adapted from: 여자친구 GFRIEND OFFICIAL
It is natural for seasoned dancers to learn the dance steps by counting, but it might not be as intuitive for beginners. If you find yourself struggling to break steps down into counts, you can try matching the dance moves to the lyrics or beats in the song instead.
Level of detail to capture
Image adapted from: BLACKPINK
You should decide for yourself how detailed you want to be during the initial learning stage. Some choose to learn the overall choreography for an entire part first before moving on to small details such as gestures and gaze.
Learning order
Image adapted from: TREASURE (트레저)
Some choose to learn a short part at 0.5x speed, repeat, and only move on to a new dance move after they are able to do it at full speed. Others prefer to learn an entire verse at a slower speed before trying it at full speed. It all depends on what you are comfortable with.
6. Break down difficult steps
In any choreography, there are bound to be moves that seem unfamiliar and difficult to execute.
Break it down by observing which body parts are used to execute it. Key body parts to note are the chest, arms, hip, and knees.
Image adapted from: Stone Music Entertainment
Mimic the dance movement while focusing on the different body parts involved. Through trial and error, you will be able to identify which is the key body part that guides the rest of the body in executing the difficult dance move.
Certain dance moves such as chest isolations and body waves appear often in K-pop dances in nuanced variations. Therefore, having the habit of breaking down difficult steps will gradually increase your learning speed and improve your execution of such steps.
7. Refer to dance tutorials
Dance tutorials are helpful when you find yourself struggling with breaking down the steps by yourself.
However, dance tutorials might not always follow the exact way idols execute dance moves. They are usually also member-specific, so you might not be able to find a tutorial for solo parts of the member that you are covering.
Here are a few YouTube channels with easy-to-follow K-pop dance tutorials:
Lisa Rhee
Here is her tutorial for BLACKPINK’s How You Like That:
BLACKPINK - 'How You Like That' - Lisa Rhee Dance Tutorial
LEIA
Here is her tutorial of TWICE’s More & More:
[FULL TUTORIAL] TWICE - 'MORE & MORE' - Dance Tutorial - FULL EXPLANATION
Ellen and Brian
Here is Brian’s tutorial of TXT’s Can’t You See Me:
TXT - 'Can't You See Me' Dance Tutorial (Explanation + Mirrored) | Ellen and Brian
8.
Learn facial expressions and lip-sync partsImage adapted from: BLACKPINK
Facial expressions add flair to the dance. The best way to learn facial expressions is by watching videos of live music performances with close-up shots of the idols.
While lip-syncing is not a must for K-pop dance covers, it helps you emulate the idol persona better and makes your cover more well-rounded. For those who are unfamiliar with the Korean language, you can look for romanised song lyrics on websites such as Color Coded Lyrics and KPOPEASY.
9. Record and review your dance practices
Consolidate your learning and track your progress over time by recording your dance practices. Always ensure that you stay in frame and that the camera captures your full body. Try using a tripod or placing your camera on a chair.
If you don’t have a full-length mirror at home, a dance practice video is essential in showing how your entire body looks when you dance.
Recording yourself will also help you discover your dancing “bad habits”. For example, I only discovered my habit of staring at the ground after I reviewed my recorded dance practice recordings.
Image adapted from: Victoria Ow and MNH Entertainment
You can also create side-by-side comparison videos of your dance practice vs. the idols’ original choreography. This helps brush up your accuracy and timing when executing moves.
10. Explore different K-pop dance styles
Certain dance styles have go-to moves. After you pick up a few choreographies of the same genre, you’ll be familiar with it. But don’t limit yourself to just one genre – move out of your comfort zone instead.
Image adapted from (clockwise from top-left): APRIL, JAY PARK, ATEEZ and Stone Music Entertainment
K-pop dance offers a wide variety of concepts. It is an opportunity to branch out to other dance genres, such as street jazz, urban, and hip hop, all of which are increasingly being integrated into K-pop dance choreographies.
K-pop dance for beginners
With K-pop dance, there is no need to worry about techniques or basics because it will come to you naturally over time with practice. The plethora of concepts and choreography difficulties will allow beginners such as yourself to be motivated to grow as a dancer.
The ultimate beauty of K-pop dance lies in the fact that there will always be a space for anyone at any stage of their dance journey. My K-pop dance journey for the past 8 years has been deeply fulfilling and I am sure that it will be the same for you too.
Here are other Hallyu-related articles:
- K-pop comebacks in August 2020
- Korean Instagram photo tips
- Underrated K-dramas
- Romantic K-dramas
- Top K-drama OSTs
Cover image adapted from: BLACKPINK
What is k-pop cover dance
K-pop, that is, Korean pop, is not only a musical genre, but also a whole culture, including a dance direction, which is becoming more and more popular outside of South Korea.
We tell you how to dance k-pop, what is k-pop cover dance and where to learn it (spoiler: here!).
Dancing is the most important part k-pop . The release of a single by a k-pop artist also implies the release of a video in which there are a lot of dances. To create the image of an idol, that is, a South Korean pop star, along with vocal abilities, one must take into account his appearance, style and dancing skills. After all, every performance of idols is a show that is built not only through scenery, costumes, singing, but also dancing. Therefore, would-be idols spend as much time in dance classes as they do in singing lessons, if not more.
The dance direction of K-pop is based on the stage choreography of idols. In the early days of K-pop, dancing didn't play such a big role. They served a decorative function, the movements were simple and catchy, and sometimes "viral" so that fans could easily repeat them. By the beginning of the third generation, the choreography has grown a lot, it has become quite complex, it is now difficult for fans to repeat it without dance training.
That's why k-pop cover dance classes appeared .
K-pop cover dance is a popular dance style that learns the choreography of famous K-pop artists, such as idols such as BTS and BLACKPINK .
Learning idol choreography is so popular not only because of the large number of their fans around the world, but also because of the specifics of the dances themselves. The fact is that k-pop cover dance combines a variety of elements from several modern dance styles. That is why it is not necessary to be a fan of Korean pop culture, the choreography of the k-pop cover dance direction can resonate with those who just want to develop in dance. And the thing is that k-pop cover dance is able to reveal your potential and captivate you into the world of a new, perhaps still unfamiliar, culture. His bright presentation and stylish music will cheer you up and will not leave you indifferent.
What kinds of dance styles can be found in k-pop cover dance? These are, of course, complex elements of hip-hop, which are more often performed by boy bands.
The female choreography is simpler. Other styles include JazzFunk, House, Dancehall, Locking and Vogue.
The "chip" of the dance direction is simple movements-markers , which coincide with the lyrics in meaning. Thus, any fan can remember them, he does not have to attend dance classes.
Idol choreography is now available for you! At the Oriental Culture Center KITSUNE we offer courses in k-pop cover dance. How are our classes going?
- At the beginning of each class there is a good warm-up.
- Then there is a review of the new choreography and a repetition of the previous one.
- The dance is divided into parts, each of which is analyzed in detail by counting.
- After the analysis of all parts is completed, the choreography is worked out in its entirety.
You can sign up for courses, see the schedule of groups and meet our teachers at this link .
Lezginka is in his blood - News - KOREANS.KZ There is a legend about a young man who met a girl of extraordinary beauty, rushed to her and began to spin in a dance, falling to his knees. So the lezginka was born, which personifies beauty, nobility and love. In the Caucasus, the "Dance of the Eagle" is danced by both old and young. The number of his fans is growing, and today representatives of different nations dance lezginka. Among them is 12-year-old Artem Yugay, a member of the well-known in Kazakhstan ensemble of Caucasian dance "Bakhar". Just the other day, the team returned from Moscow, where they won the Grand Prix in a prestigious international project.
In Moscow on February 3-4, for the first time in Russia, a television project on folk dance "Folk of dance" was held. Selection rounds were held in 12 cities of Russia, CIS and Europe, more than 1000 dancers or more than 100 teams took part in them. Representatives from 25 countries of the world fought for the title of the best dance group in the final.
As a result, the winners of the Grand Prix in six nominations were determined.
Kazakhstan at this authoritative competition was presented by the ensemble of the Caucasian dance "Bahar", which eventually won the Grand Prix of the competition in the nomination "Mixed teams".
The "Bahar" Ensemble is a multinational group, Dagestanis, Russians, Kazakhs, Turks, Azeris, Uighurs, Armenians and 12-year-old Korean Artem Yugay dance in it.
Immediately after returning to Almaty, we met and talked with Artem.
- Artem, tell us about yourself, why did you choose lezginka?
– I am 12 years old, studying in the 6th grade. I have been doing lezginka for three years. Before that, he was engaged in taekwondo and even received a black belt, was fond of football. Once I saw at the wedding of my cousin how they dance the lezginka, became interested in this dance and wanted to do it. My parents supported my choice and I am very grateful to them.
I am interested in both the dance itself and its history, culture, people and traditions of the Caucasus. I have made many friends, our ensemble "Bahar" is very close-knit, friendly and multinational. We all go out into nature very often, celebrate holidays, help in difficult times, in a short time we have become one family.
– What is the most difficult thing about dancing for you?
- There is nothing difficult - because I dance from the heart. Incendiary and rhythmic music itself makes you move. Lezginka is perfect movements, beautiful costumes and, most importantly, discipline. We must always keep our posture and stay on our toes for almost the entire dance, without looking down. Thanks to the classes, I got stronger physically. For me, lezginka is the embodiment of courage, I learned how to move clearly and gracefully at the same time. I enjoy attending classes and never miss.
– What are your impressions about the Folk of dance project…
- When we won, there were indescribable emotions of delight, many tears of joy and pride for our ensemble and our Motherland.
We have worked wholeheartedly. After the final dance, the jury gave us a standing ovation, there were a lot of words of gratitude to our ensemble.
– Artem, tell us about your plans for the future.
- There are a lot of plans. In addition to dancing, I study the Korean language and dream of visiting my historical homeland. In the future, I want to take up lezginka more professionally and even open my own school. I think it will be a unique school, because it will be led by a Korean. I want to thank my parents for believing in me and supporting me. Thanks to them, I always have the desire to achieve the best result.
Here is such a purposeful, confident, noble and grateful boy Artem Yugay. And here I would like to make a small digression. 12 years ago, when Artem was just born, he was given a terrible diagnosis - hydronephrosis of the kidneys, which sentenced the child to be disabled. But Artem and his parents defeated this disease.
