K-pop Dance Craze Takes Off in the UK

When Xingxi Wang began conducting K-pop dance classes in Birmingham, she started with a modest room in Chinatown. Over the years, the demand skyrocketed, prompting her to open her own studio where she now hosts up to 10 classes each week.

Wang, 25, like many K-pop enthusiasts, has been mastering dance routines at home since her high school years. K-pop is characterized by its slick, synchronized choreography, trendy outfits, and synthesized music.

“I didn’t realize how popular it would become when I started,” said Wang. “But I quickly discovered that many people wanted to attend K-pop dance classes. So, I created my own K-pop studio. We’ve had to limit the number of participants per class because of the high demand.”

During a visit by the Guardian, the class was bustling despite the rainy Thursday evening. About 12 women, with various dance experiences, all shared a common love for K-pop.

K-pop’s prominence in the UK has been on the rise in recent years. In June, Seventeen became the first K-pop band to perform at Glastonbury. BTS made history in 2019 by being the first K-pop band to headline Wembley Stadium, and Blackpink has also headlined BST Hyde Park.

The genre’s global influence is enormous, with four out of the top 10 bestselling acts in 2023 hailing from South Korea, according to the music industry body IFPI.

Dance classes have proliferated in response to K-pop’s growing popularity. There are numerous classes across the UK, with a notable concentration in London, but they are expanding elsewhere as well.

At Xi Dance Studio, where Wang operates, she has about 10 part-time instructors. Each class focuses on teaching the choreography of a song by a major K-pop star. Classes are divided into girl group and boy group sessions, with those for notable bands like BTS and Blackpink selling out quickly.

To prepare for each session, Wang spends hours dissecting music videos to learn the moves, then breaks them down into counts to teach everyone, from seasoned dancers to novices.

“I record the original video, mirror it, and use slow speeds to learn it,” Wang explained. “I’ll watch it hundreds of times for one dance. For today’s dance, I spent many hours preparing.”

This meticulous preparation means that participants learn the exact steps that the stars they admire perform. “The idea is to make people feel like they’re in a band,” Wang shared. “If we’re learning a Blackpink song, I tell them: ‘You are Blackpink, you’re on stage, and you’re going to perform. Trust yourself.’ You can see people growing in confidence.”

On that Thursday evening, dancers were practicing the choreography to “Go Hard” by Twice, a nine-member girl group that gained fame in 2016. The song, with its mix of Korean and English lyrics, is an energetic and confident dance track.

Facing the studio mirror, Wang led everyone through a warm-up before breaking down the routine into manageable chunks. The choreography included body rolls, hip pops, and ended with a triumphant fist pump.

“Now let’s try it full speed,” Wang announced. The music and choreography immediately picked up pace, challenging the dancers with quick transitions from squats to spins and body rolls.

For those new to dancing, keeping up was challenging, but the joy lay in giving it their all and hitting as many beats as possible.

The moves they were practicing were identical to those performed by Twice in their music video, set against a neon backdrop. Many of the dancers seemed thrilled to emulate the feeling of being in a girl band.

The participants ranged from complete beginners to regular attendees, like Yuxi Xiong, 23, who travels from Coventry twice a week for the classes.

“I love K-pop and learning the dances; it’s my hobby and a good way to stay healthy,” Xiong said. “I take videos with my friends of us doing the dances, so I practice outside of class too.”

She noted that classes had become busier recently as K-pop’s popularity increased. “I enjoy the lively atmosphere and performing in front of people. I usually look at the class schedule and choose my favorite songs to attend.”

Each class concludes with a final performance that’s recorded, encouraging dancers to give their best. “K-pop dance nowadays is complex, incorporating multiple styles like jazz, funk, and hip-hop. It’s challenging to learn on your own, which is why people enjoy coming to the classes,” Wang said.

“K-pop’s popularity is surging, with bands actively promoting themselves globally. The classes just continue to grow.”

Source: The Guardian