How is a Cardiff’s dance group helping beginner’s learn K-pop dances while encouraging friendly and fun community building, as the genre grows in popularity worldwide?
James hesitates at the studio door, nervously adjusting his hoodie. The energy in the room is high, everyone is ready for the class to begin. As a friendly dancer sees him hesitating, he ushers James in with a wave. Soon the rhythm of K-pop music fills the room, and he finds himself laughing and confidently moving alongside the others.
“I do not know much about K-pop, but I bop along to it quite often. I am a bit rubbish at it all, but that does not really matter, as long as I am enjoying it,” says James Steinhidt, a practicing member in the session who enjoys the atmosphere and energy of the dance sessions.
Cardiff’s K-pop dance studio, KChoreo, hosts weekly classes for people to try intricate choreography, build confidence, and connect with fans of their favourite artists, offering a vibrant space for all skill levels.
The president of KChoreo, Mika, wants everyone to feel free to participate in these dance classes. She says, “We have made it very low stakes. Anyone can come in and it is just about moving your body. It is a fun way to get your steps in as well. You exercise a little while you are doing it to a fun song. Then they can go home and show all your friends and family what they learned.”
K-pop, short for Korean pop music, is a global phenomenon. Known for its high-energy beats, polished performances, and visually stunning music videos, it has taken the world by storm, and its dance routines often go viral on several social media platforms.
Today, an estimated 220 million people worldwide are fans of Korean entertainment, four times more than South Korea’s population. Last year, nine of the ten best-selling albums globally came from South Korean artists, highlighting the genre’s massive international popularity.
The energy in the dance is what motivates people to join the classes, according to Mika. She says, “It is the energy that is captivating. Some people are beginners while some people advance. They learn from each other, and people love that. Just communication with others and the community that is built here through dance.”
The instructor claps their hands, signaling the start of the session. As upbeat music plays through the speakers, everyone starts with a warmup session. The first few minutes of learning the routine is spent drilling essential moves: sharp arm pops, clean isolations, and the smooth yet powerful transitions that make K-pop dance so mesmerizing.
An international student at Cardiff University, Meng Yu, says K-pop helped her feel more at home in the new country.
Meng Yu says, “At first, I did not what was kpop and I just knew a few dances. It was when I came here that I started to learn K-pop dance and meet a lot of like-minded people from around the world. I am friends with a lot of them now.”
One by-product of K-pop’s (relative) niche status is the strong bond it fosters among fans. There’s a unique sense of belonging in discovering and supporting your favourite artist, away from the spotlight of mainstream culture.
Mika has been a K-pop fan for over five years and has made several connections because of the fandom culture.
She says “The fandoms and communities really help people come out of their shell. There is so much content that comes out of K-pop, that people can just talk about it naturally. They can talk about the things that they are interested in, and it helps them open up to more people in a relaxed environment.”
What was once a niche hobby among dedicated fans has now blossomed into a vibrant and growing community, bringing together people of all backgrounds through their shared love of Korean pop music and its dynamic choreography. But there’s no pressure, only encouragement, shared laughter, and the collective determination to nail every beat.
Yijing Ding, a K-pop cover performer having made gained confidence through these sessions says, “Everyone works as a group, and we work together for one performance. It is about teamwork and working with each other. When I performed on the stage, it is a special experience for me.”
As the K-pop wave continues to sweep across Cardiff, local dancers are hopeful for more opportunities to perform and collaborate, cementing the city’s reputation as a rising hub for the genre in the UK.
Mika, believes whether someone is a die-hard K-pop fan or just looking for a fun new way to stay active, the doors to Cardiff’s K-pop dance scene are wide open.
By the time everyone reaches the full routine, sweat is dripping, but so is the adrenaline. The final run-through is a rush, suddenly, they are not just copying choreography; they are performing.
As the music fades, the room erupts in cheers. Whether they came for fitness, fun, or to feel like a K-pop star for a day, they leave with more than just dance moves. They leave with confidence, new friends, and the thrill of having been part of something electric.
“It’s really vibrant and sort of liberating when dancing to this music. It is a good way to release stress and keep oneself full of energy,” says Meng Yu.