Choreography[edit]
editOne of the most prominent forms of choreography in Kpop routines is rooted in "B-Boying"[1]. B-boying is also commonly known as break dancing. This unique street style dance originated in the west, specifically New York city [1]. Although this trend of dance dates back to the 1980's, it remains a popular style of choreography in Kpop[1]. Similar to break dancing, hip hop dance is also a common style. Hip hop moves are recognized as vigorous and forceful, stemming from the 1990's[1]. Despite the popularity of break dancing and hip hop dances, the most widely used Kpop dance is freestyle. Freestyle is a broad term that encompasses many different styles of dance. Utilizing a freestyle routine allows a Kpop group to experiment and highlight multiple skills[1]. Because of the unique combination of styles and techniques used in Kpop routines, fans take great interest in recreating or covering routines. Each dance becomes a signature of a specific group or song.
The training and preparation necessary for Kpop idols to succeed in the industry and dance successfully is intense. Training centers like Seoul's Def Dance Skool develop the dance skills of youth in order to give them a shot at becoming an idol [2]. Physical training is one of the largest focuses at the school, as much of a student's schedule is based around dance and exercise [2]. The entertainment labels are highly selective, so few make it to fame. Students at the school must dedicate their lives to the mastery of dance in order to prepare for the vigorous routines performed by Kpop groups. This of course means that the training must continue if they are signed. Companies house much larger training centers for those who are chosen[2].
An interview with Kpop choreographer Rino Nakasone lends insight into the process of creating routines. According to Nakasone, her focus is to make dance routines that are flattering for the dancers but also complimentary to the music [3]. Her ideas are submitted to the entertainment company as video recordings done by professional dancers [3], Nakasone mentions that the company and the Kpop artists themselves have input on a song's choreography [3]. Choreographer May J. Lee gives another perspective, telling that her choreography often starts out as expressing the feeling or the meaning of the lyrics [4]. What starts out as small movements, turns into a full dance that is better able to portray the message of the song [4].
According to Soompi, some of the most noteworthy choreography sections of 2016 include Exo's 'Monster' and BTS's 'Fire' music videos [5]. Such praised dance routines often create "signature" moves that are easily recognized by fans and used again in other videos [1].
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- ^ a b c d e f "Kpop Magnetism: What pulls in the fans and why? The Choreography". hellokpop. 2013-04-04. Retrieved 2018-10-12.
- ^ a b c "Inside the Intense Training Centers Where Young Girls Compete to Be K-Pop Stars". Broadly. 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ a b c "Behind the Scenes in K-pop: Interview with SM Choreographer Rino Nakasone - Beyond Hallyu". Beyond Hallyu. 2013-04-26. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ a b Herald, The Korea (2018-01-30). "[Video] Exploring the art of K-pop dance". Retrieved 2018-10-17.
- ^ "Here Are The Top 15 K-Pop Choreographies Of 2016". Soompi. Retrieved 2018-10-17.