When it comes to K-pop choreography, I tend to focus on routines that feel iconic or eye-catching. The industry is stuffed with strong dancers, and I’m certainly not qualified to offer a technical breakdown. So with that in mind, here are the ten K-pop choreos that lingered in my mind throughout 2022.
2022 END-OF-YEAR MASTERPOST
I tend to prefer boy group choreography that’s a bit fun and cheeky. Bad News is such a charm appeal on its own, and I love how the dance adds to that single-minded intent.
Another bright boy group routine, Treasure’s Hello makes great use of the stage as the guys careen through the song’s series of energetic hooks.
I love the way the girls move back and forth in one unit, yet incorporate diverse movements within that larger formation. This choreo has a satisfying fluidity that highlights the song’s smooth vibe.
LE SSERAFIM delivered some of the most exciting choreography of the year. Antifragile‘s dance swerves and punches, suggesting strength as it emphasizes the stabs of percussion that drive its hooks.
A comeback with two distinct dance breakdowns has to feature in this countdown, right? But even without those moments, The One is a lot of fun to watch. There are so many catchy point moves incorporated into the dance.
Both LE SSERAFIM dances are very strong, but Fearless is my preferred choreo. It has so much movement — big and bold in a way we don’t always see from girl group routines. It’s such a great visual introduction to the group’s charisma.
PSY is the king of viral K-pop choreo, and although That That never finds a centerpiece as iconic as Gangnam Style, its point moves offer the kind of replicable dance that spreads far and wide. Add a crowd of back-up dancers and you’ve got an instant party.
These kind of freewheeling, raucous routines are so addictive. Drummin‘s choreo is exaggerated and silly, like a cartoon in K-pop form. It looks like the guys are having a blast and that energy is infectious.
Great K-pop choreo should enhance the mood of the music and offer an instantly-memorable visual that helps you remember the group and song. Love Dive does just that during its chorus, showcasing both the lyrical content and the small quirks of the instrumental. It also (brilliantly) slows down to offer full view of the group themselves.
I can’t think of another choreo in 2022 that was as fun to watch as Limbo. It’s utterly ridiculous and I lose it every time the girls form a tunnel and start doing the actual limbo. The fact they perform this with deadly-serious intent makes it all the more campy and fun. Add the tussling hair and isolation during the double-speed breakdown and you’ve got a dance that’s stuffed with iconic moments. I’m not sure I’ll ever get sick of watching it.
