K-Pop is a big part of South Korea’s culture and continues to take the world by storm, including Singapore. As a big fan of K-Pop myself, I have always admired K-Pop idols for being able to dance and sing at the same time. Do they not get tired?
I have always really like K-Pop dance and always dreamt of taking a class at the popular Korean dance studio 1MILLION or learning dances from the original K-Pop choreographers. While that dream seems a little far away, I realised that there’s no better time to start than now!
I decided to embark on my K-pop dance journey in Singapore.
Trying K-pop Dance in Singapore
A confession: The last time I danced was when I was 12 years old. I also do not have any experience in dancing K-Pop and was unsure of where and who to learn from. My attempts in learning from dance tutorials online did not turn out as expected, since I couldn’t translate the moves to real life. It produced awkward angles and inaccurate dance moves for me.
My research led me to two main dance class options. I could opt for a group dance class or go for a private dance lesson. There are so many dance studios in Singapore, but the one name that stood out to me was Legacy Dance Co.
I then began to read about the different types of classes and instructors offered by the studio. I even managed to head down to their Marina Square dance studio to observe how a Girl’s Style open class for beginners is conducted!
After experiencing an open dance class, I knew that I would not be able to catch up with my peers and learn the dance well (read: uncoordinated arms and legs).
The open classes at Legacy Dance Co. only last for an hour. If you exclude the warm-ups and class showcases at the end, you only have 30 minutes left to actually learn the dance. How do they learn so fast?
With all these in mind, I decided to opt for a private 1-on-1 dance class.
For those who are fast learners and comfortable dancing in front of others, the open classes can be a great option! You could also attend the classes with a group of friends.
Private Dance Lesson Experience
A week before my class, my dance instructor Zoey asked if there was any particular K-Pop choreography I wished to learn. I created a list of songs that were of interest to me and told Zoey to choose one!
My class was at the Burlington Square outlet, which I noticed was smaller than their Marina Square outlet. The space felt more private and less intimidating!
Since it was my first time having a private dance class, I was nervous and did not know what to expect. Luckily, Zoey was welcoming and encouraging when I opened up about my issues and insecurities when dancing.
After a round of warmups, Zoey gave a skilful performance of the dance that she was going to teach me that day. The song of choice was ITZY’s Loco, with a fast-paced and upbeat dance. I was excited but also very scared – ITZY’s choreography is known to be clean and includes moves that required a lot of balance (which I don’t have)!
As I watched Zoey perform the dance, I was in awe and knew that I would be in trouble… She was performing this with so much ease. How was I supposed to achieve that in only 2 hours?!
Learning The K-Pop Choreography
We then got down to business. Zoey was patient and went through each step in great detail to make sure I could follow through. In the beginning, I was proud of myself as I was able to keep up with the simple steps.
As I progressed further, I could start to feel my muscles tensing up and I kept missing some steps due to the song’s fast pace. It started getting a bit frustrating and I was getting tired. And this was only the pre-chorus section!
I had never chugged a 1.5L of water so quickly in my life. When we reached the dance break portion, that’s when my body was telling me to give up. I had a hard time catching the movements because they were complex – I had to balance and pivot on my knee while turning my head. How did ITZY do this?
It took me many tries to work through the dance break, and Zoey was with me each step of the way. There was a floor work segment that really tested my stability and muscle control which pushed my limits. At the end of it, I suffered a little bruise on my knees and my legs were jelly the next day.
After 2 hours of trials and tribulations, it was time for me to showcase what I had learnt. My knees were weak and my arms were heavy, but I knew this was my chance to make the most of my lesson. The music began to play, and I tensed up. It was showtime!
It’s hard to describe it in words but I danced my heart out that day. The dance break was tough but I pushed through it. Zoey was super supportive and cheered me on from the sidelines!
I was beaten by the end of the dance and I felt proud of my progress. I wasn’t able to finish learning the entire dance but Zoey commended me that I learnt the hardest part. Pretty good for someone who hasn’t danced properly in over 7 years!
Overall Experience
I look back on my experience with fondness. Till today, I have yet to master the whole choreography but the class gave me enough confidence to know that I can do it!
For those who are considering attending K-Pop dance classes, I definitely advise you to do research! I personally feel that choosing the right instructor makes a big difference so check out their previous choreographies to see which one is the best for you.
Words can only convey so much, so check out my full experience on video here:
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