In recent years, Korean pop music, or K-pop, has received international attention for its catchy hooks and influential style. And with K-pop’s meteoric rise, K-pop dance has staked its claim in pop culture consciousness. Captivating videos, sharp choreography, and viral dance moves have helped K-pop catapult to worldwide fame. Let’s take a look at the origins and evolution of K-pop dance. Then, we’ll explore some of the most famous dancers in K-pop history. 

How Did K-Pop Dance Begin? 

We can trace the origins of modern K-pop music back to the late 1980s. The changing political culture and democratization in South Korea gave rise to a robust music scene. And in response to the influence of Western cultures, K-pop bands began to form into the early 90s. The 2000s brought an even more broad international reach, and the rise of the internet helped K-pop reach new heights of popularity.

Seo Taiji and Boys are considered one of the first K-pop groups. But by the time they officially disbanded in 1996, there were already numerous other new K-pop bands emerging on the K-pop scene. 

In the early days, K-pop dance was famous for its fusion of traditional Korean dance elements with popular American styles of choreography, such as hip-hop. As the popularity and international reach of K-pop grew throughout the generations, so did the evolution of K-pop dance. 

Korean Dance Music Evolving Through Generations

K-pop dance has continued to evolve over the years. At its core, it blends the Western influences of jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary dance choreography and style. The history of K-pop dance, of course, follows the evolution of K-pop music. Each decade has brought new acts with their own unique musical styles. Let’s take a look at three generations of K-pop dance, from the late 80s and early 90s to today. 

First Generation (the 1990s)

Let’s take a look at some popular styles from the first generation.

H.O.T.

Considered one of the first idol groups, the boy band H.O.T. came onto the scene in 1996. They achieved worldwide success, even receiving a nomination for the International Viewer’s Choice award at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1997. Though the style of dance in their videos would be considered fairly basic by today’s standards, they were instrumental in popularizing the highly choreographed dance routines that would come to define K-pop.

Second Generation (the 2000s)

The second generation brought a new generation of K-pop idols. Their dance styles developed into more complex and physically demanding choreography, especially as EDM and nu-disco influenced global pop music.

BoA

BoA is recognized as one of the original “Queens of K-Pop.” She came onto the K-pop scene in 2000 at the age of 13. BoA was the first K-pop artist to enter the Billboard top 200 Albums chart, and her music made her the first K-pop solo idol to bring her popular music to Japan and America. Part of her success can be attributed to her amazing skills as a dancer. BoA is able to quickly learn new choreography and is such a talented dancer that she even helps choreograph some of her routines. 

Super Junior 

Super Junior debuted in 2005 and has won many awards throughout the years, including Best International Artist at the Teen Choice Awards. This group is still active today and continues to push the boundaries of K-pop with catchy music and edgy choreography. 

Third Generation (the 2010s)

The third generation of K-pop has brought boundary-pushing Korean megastars to the forefront of global pop culture. Their music and dance continue to receive acclaim on international stages, bringing the influence of Korean culture to fans worldwide. Moreover, the viral nature of dance practice videos and the random dance challenges that accompany them have made K-pop fans one of the most culturally powerful fandoms in history.

BTS 

BTS is a global phenomenon with international acclaim, and its music is on radio stations and on charts in every corner of the world. The band debuted its first single in 2013, quickly winning over Korean audiences before going international. Since then, they’ve collaborated with Western artists such as Coldplay and Halsey and received two nominations at the 64th Grammy Awards in 2022. BTS is known for its exceedingly complex choreography, and some members struggle to perfect the moves during their intensive training sessions. Nonetheless, BTS’s music videos are the subject of many viral dance videos that dominate social media today, including Permission to Dance and Fire. 

Girls Generation

2017 brought about the rise of the Girls Generation. This nine-member all-female group blew up on the K-pop scene in 2009 with their hit song ‘Gee.’ The members of Girls Generation are some of the best performers in K-pop. So, it’s no wonder fans were eager to study and learn their choreography by heart.

BLACKPINK 

Blackpink is an all-female K-pop band that quickly achieved international recognition. They became the most followed girl group on the Spotify streaming platform. Blackpink’s record-setting music videos have made waves in K-pop dance circles, where fans are quick to break down each move step-by-step. They notoriously practice their choreography for hours on end, making Blackpink’s members some of the best dancers in all of K-pop.

Rising of Co-Ed K-pop Idol Groups and their Unique K-pop Dance Style 

The rise of co-ed K-pop groups has delighted and surprised fans in recent years, bringing a fresh new vibe onto the K-pop music scene. And with the unique collaboration between members of famous idol groups, fans are always guessing what will happen next. Though co-ed K-pop music groups have been considered risky for critical success, the mixed-gender dynamic offers a fresh perspective on K-pop choreography. And that new dynamic has greatly influenced the evolution of K-pop dance.

KARD

Formed in 2017, this four-member South Korean group is known for its trendy music that embraces the latest on the Top 40 charts. Their musical style varies from electro-pop to hip-hop to alt-R&B and EDM, but this group is most known for their Latin dance music and Reggaeton influences. The Latin and Reggaeton influence on KARD’s choreography makes it one of the most interesting international acts to date.

Troublemaker 

Troublemaker is a co-ed duo group composed of former Beast members Hyun-Seung and Hyuna (from K-pop bands 4Minute and Wonder Girls). This group is notable for its racy music videos and sexually suggestive choreography. K-pop Idols fans love Troublemaker’s on-screen chemistry incorporated into their dances. 

Triple H 

Troublemaker was not Hyuna’s only co-ed K-pop group. Hyuna, E’Dawn, and Hui make up the K-pop idol sensation Triple H. They’re best known for the fusion of dance-pop and hip-hop that influences their unique choreography. People recognize the trio for their sexually charged and daring music video concepts. 

Increasing Difficulty with Dance Training for K-pop Artists 

Singing well is just one requirement of being a K-pop idol. In fact, K-pop idols must also continuously train for each new song and album release. And learning the dance choreography for each new track requires hours of dedicated training time and an immense amount of athleticism. Pop stars must quickly learn these complex, physically demanding routines. Of course, management allows little room for mistakes in rehearsals.

K-pop music agencies and record companies are notorious for their intensive training programs. Both established and aspiring K-pop stars participate in live-in programs, undergoing intense vocal and media training. In addition, they dedicate a large part of their day to mastering K-pop dance choreography. 

Companies Hiring Professional Choreographers Globally 

To keep these rising artists at the forefront of the music industry, Korean entertainment companies are investing more money in choreographers to keep dances unique and fresh. K-pop entertainment companies fly in notable and established choreographers from all over the world. Parris Goebel, Kyle Hanagami, and Rina Nakasone are among the most famous choreographers to leave their mark on K-pop. 

Ready to Dance Like a K-pop Idol? 

Are you a fan of K-pop music who wants to learn to dance like your favorite K-pop idols? Or perhaps you’re an experienced dancer looking to master K-pop dance moves? Either way, On One Studios offers exciting, high-energy dance courses with some of the most experienced dancers in the industry.

Learn K-pop Dance with On One Studios 

Our professional dance instructors will help you master the complex choreography of K-pop and get a body-sculpting workout in the process.

So it makes no difference whether you’re a newcomer or have years of dance experience under your belt. K-pop dance classes offer a fun, immersive new way to experience K-pop. 

Sign up for dance classes today and start mastering the moves of your favorite artists.