It's not just the charming faces, catchy tunes, and fancy music videos that make K-Pop stand out; it's the dance moves, too. You've probably noticed that Korean pop stars seem to effortlessly take on difficult choreography while singing live. This is no easy feat and it's one that requires not just hours of rehearsals and preparation, but skilled choregraphers and dance instructors who know how to bring a song to life with movement. Korean boy bands and girl groups work with dancers from all over the world to perfect their moves, but did you know that there are actually quite a few notable Filipino choreographers who have created those show-stopping K-Pop dance moves that we know and love today? Get to know some of them below.
These well-known K-Pop choreographers are all of Filipino descent:
Shaun Evaristo
Die-hard K-Pop stans, you've probably all heard the song "Wedding Dress" by Taeyang from the early 2010s. If you've watched the music video and were awed by Taeyang's dance moves, you have Filipino-American choreographer Shaun Evaristo to thank for that. He's worked with acts like Se7en, Big Bang, and 2NE1—all artists under YG Entertainment, which is also home to groups like WINNER, iKON, and BLACKPINK.
Check out some of the dance numbers he's worked on:
Aimee Lee Lucas
L.A.-based choreographer Aimee Lee Lucas, who was born to Filipino parents, worked as Shaun Evaristo's assistant at one point in her career, so you can also find her credited for the choreography of dance numbers in Taeyang’s "Wedding Dress and "2NE1’s "Fire" as well as Park Bom’s "You and I." Plus, did you know that she was involved in a controversial performance a while back when she was working with Big Bang's leader, G-Dragon? Apparently, when she appeared as an extra for G-Dragon's "Breathe," some fans thought it was a little too sexy for a live concert. Lucas previously visited the Philippines in 2013 to hold K-Pop dance classes for fans.
Check out her choreography for Big Bang's track "Number One" below:
Brian Puspos
Dancer Brian Puspos was born in Texas, but raised by Filipino parents—he has even shared that he enjoys eating tocino for breakfast. You might have seen him on Season 2 of reality competition America's Best Dance Crew as a member of the SoReal Cru. Puspos has had the honor of choreographing dances for several K-Pop stars from different agencies throughout the years. He's worked with Henry Lau from Super Junior-M, NCT 127, and BTS, just to name a few. He's known for a contemporary hip-hop dance style that incorporates crowd-pleasing fluid movements, which you'll notice in some of his dance numbers below.
Check them out:
Keone and Mari Madrid
You might have already heard of the Filipino-American dance duo and real-life couple Keone and Mari Madrid, who are best known for choreographing the music video of Justin Bieber's 2015 hit "Love Yourself." The pair have also worked with 2NE1, Monsta X, Taeyang, Se7en, and more. BTS members J-Hope, Jimin, and Jungkook even shared a photo with the couple back in April 2013—just two months before they debuted.
Here are some of their notable dance numbers: