The Phenomenon of K-Pop Dance
In the past decade, South Korean pop music has taken the world by storm. Audiences across continents have been enchanted by Wonder Girls' sensual voices and dance moves, while PSY has created a massive troop of followers hooked to his catchy "Gangnam style" and his horsey hip wiggle dance routine.
It is not only these idols' songs, but also their mesmerizing, fascinating choreographies which attract masses in Asia and, more recently, in the West. These celebrities reflect the country's exciting dance scenery. For instance, Korean B-boys are known as the best in the world. There are 3,000 B-boys and 1,000 bands in South Korea.
This trend is known as K-pop –a musical genre consisting of pop, bubblegum pop, dance, electronic, electropop, hip hop, rock and R& B music originating in South Korea- which has also become a popular subculture among teenagers and young adults around the world.
Dance is a vital component of K-pop. When the show includes multiple singers, the artists frequently switch their positions while performing by making prompt synchronized movements. The turning point for the establishment of K-pop choreography was the introduction of a strategy called "formation changing", which consists of multiple singers switching their positions while singing and dancing. This strategy was first presented by Seo Taiji & Boys.
For those who want to follow the path of their Korean pop idols, there are specialized dance schools in South Korea that teach to dance K-Pop, Hip Hop, Rap Music , and R&B. These choreography schools train their students for a year or two and then send them to agencies' auditions to try their luck.
Some of the academies have uploaded instructional videos on YouTube, which teaches a worldwide audience some K-Pop Dance moves that include "Bo-beep", Rainbow's "A", Secret's "Madonna", "Sherlock", and Brown Eyed Girls' "Abracadabra".
The tendency seems to indicate a growing K-Pop influence in the world. Korean pop idols keep amassing success while the world dances to the beat of their catchy tunes mimicking their eye-catching choreographies.