Throwback Thursday: Iconic Dance Breaks Part 1: Girl Group Edition
“And now the breakdown.” When it comes to K-Pop songs, a part that we listeners and viewers look out for and anticipate is the dance breaks. There are so many and we can all name one just from the top of our heads. The fact that this is only part one shows that there are so many that we can talk about. Today though, let’s take it back to some girl group dance breaks that we all know the choreography to.
“Like OOH-AHH” - TWICE
Of course, this song is added to the list. We couldn’t talk about dance breaks and not bring up a TWICE song. TWICE is a girl group under JYP Entertainment. This nine-member group stepped onto the scene with their debut song “Like OOH-AHH” on October 20, 2015. On that day we saw one of the most well-known dance breaks to hit the internet. TWICE has many dance breaks in their songs that they are known for; for example, in their song “MORE & MORE” we got to see the fiery dance skills of the members. In “Like OOH-AHH,” all of the members dance together, and they also showcase their member Momo in the center where she did her iconic hair twirl. It’s a dance we all took the time to learn and perfect so that when it plays at a random dance event we can jump in the circle.
“Scream” - Dreamcatcher
“Please I don’t want to scream.” As an InSomnia, this song had to be added. It was hard to choose between their many songs with amazing dance breaks in them. For example, songs like “Scream” and “BEcause” both have amazing dances that are so iconic, but the reason I went with “Scream” is because of the aggressiveness of the song. It’s so captivating, and watching them dance with such hard-hitting movements is addicting. Dreamcatcher is a seven-member group under Dreamcatcher Company formally known as Happyface Entertainment. During the release of this song, member Handong was not present due to a schedule at the time, but instead of making the choreography fit only six of the members JiU, SuA, Siyeon, Yoohyeon, Dami, and Gahyeon decided to keep it at seven with a masked dancer filling in for Handong. It was something new and definitely left viewers wondering who the masked dancer was. This dance is hard, and trying to learn it makes you sweat. It is an intricate dance and is awesome to watch.
“LA DI DA” - EVERGLOW
On September 21, 2020, Yuehua Entertainment girl group EVERGLOW released their song “LA DI DA.” When I tell you this song is serving in every category, it is. Their well-known dance breaks incorporate a dance style called voguing. Voguing is a dance style from the 1980s that blossomed from the 1960’s Harlem ballroom scene. This electro-pop song wowed us the moment it started. EVERGLOW is another group that has amazing dance breaks. The members Sihyeon, E:U, Mia, Onda, Aisha, and Yiren put their all into this song. This song is known amongst all and is a dance that will forever be stuck in our heads. When they return, we are all super excited to hear from EVERGLOW again and to see what amazing dance breaks they have in store.
“WANNABE” - ITZY
ITZY is another group that has so many great dance breaks that it’s hard to pick just one. There are songs like “Not Shy,” “ICY,” and “LOCO” that have such hard-hitting dances. While it was hard to pick, there’s no way I can talk about dance breaks and not bring up “WANNABE.” There are so many parts in this song that we can deem iconic—one for sure is Ryujin's memorable shoulder move at the beginning of the song and of course the dance break. ITZY is another girl group under JYP Entertainment with well-known dance breaks that many of us have learned. The group consists of five members who are all amazing dancers. “WANNABE” was released on March 9, 2020, and the moment the song started, we were at the edge of our seats. The members are so in sync with each other, and they all put so much energy into each dance move. The dance moves were sharp and smooth at the same time. It is an incredible song and will always remain a top-tier track.
“환상동화 (Secret Story of the Swan)” - IZ*ONE
Words to describe this song: remarkable, beautiful, graceful, jaw-dropping. I can continue. This song captured IZ*ONE's graceful nature while still being so powerful. IZ*ONE was a group formed from the Mnet show Produce 48 that consisted of 12 members. The then-girl group has since disbanded, but their music is still streamed worldwide. Now, just hearing this song you all know exactly what part is going to be talked about: that iconic dance break. This energetic dance had us all rewinding to watch it over and over again. With member Chaeyeon leading the dance and all the members joining in, it created a dynamic dance break we will never forget. It is hard to learn IZ*ONE dances. They were never easy and always high-powered, and it just proved how talented these girls are.
Edited by Vivian N.