Top Kpop Choreography of 2023
Welcome back to my personal favorite choreography list. As a general reminder, I have a background in cheerleading and ballroom, so the things I (tend) to value in choreography are clean lines, synchronization, and footwork. As kpop had strayed away from the ‘knife dances’ of Infinite’s days and more into hip hop, my favorite choreographies sometimes seem completely unrelated. But don’t worry, I’ll explain myself.
Oh…and fair warning, I’m cheating again this year…horribly and unashamedly. Haha. Particularly on the guys' side, I liked more than one choreography from the same groups and I’m not going to pick just one. Because, to misquote the lovely Bob Ross, “It’s my little world here and maybe in my little world there is more than one choreography per ranking”.
Girl Groups
10. HYO - Picture
This is certainly outside my experience and generally preferences. But that hasn’t stopped me from vibing along with it all the same. For me, the best parts of the choreography are the moves where all the dancers interact and link up. They are done so smoothly and I know exactly how much work it takes to make that happen. Some of them are inventive too. I also appreciate how much everyone digs into this choreography. There’s real commitment to it from each and every dancer.
9. Dreamcatcher - Bon Voyage
This choreography is cool for a few different reasons. Coming back again and again to the triangle formation that feels like the bow of a ship, the waves through all the girls, and little wave goodbye move in the chorus to give the audience the feeling of a sea journey are clever. I also love the rhythmic walking of all the members in the background to give the feeling of perpetual motion like being on a ship. Clever, clever work is done here. Bravo!
8. Secret Number - DOXA
As I said in my top 50 article, I gave this song a shot specifically because of the little swirly hands move in the chorus. And that attitude carries through the whole choreography. It’s pretty sassy all around. While it's a bit more hip hop than I’d usually go for, there are a couple fun formations and transitions.
7. Odd Eye Circle - Air Force One
I found this choreography flirty and fun. I’m a huge fan of Kim Lip in motion, so that helped, of course. As a group, these three girls are fantastic about completing every move. There are no short-cuts or moves that don’t fully extend, which makes the choreography and stage look very full even if there aren’t a ton of people up there.
6. Sunmi - Stranger
It’s no surprise given the musical awkwardness of this song that somehow still works, that the dance is awkward and takes great skill to pull off. There’s a reason that her dance challenge didn’t take off like some others this year…it’s because this dance looks SUPER weird if it’s not practiced and executed with skill. Sunmi makes the awkwardness look good and I have so much respect for that!
5. Purple Kiss - Sweet Juice
When you first watch this choreography, you’ll probably feel like there is a ton going on. The choreography is crafted well, so that it holds interest and keeps the audience engaged. But when you break it down, it’s (usually) pretty slow and subtle. I mean, the main point move of the chorus is bending one finger while slowly lifting the arm a bit. There is more than one move that is little more than a pose with a little hip lift in the direction of the audience. But these subtle, seductive movements are connected and interspersed masterfully to match the mood of the song, which is in no way slow or subtle.
4. Lee Chaeyeon - Knock
Did this song make my playlist entirely because of the choreography? Yes, yes it did. And yes, the song itself is easy to overplay and become annoying. But the choreography doesn’t do that to me. I adore the progression of it, as if she’s getting more and more desperate for the attention of the person whose heart she’s knocking on. Starting the choreography with a simple 3 raps from the wrist, each successive ‘knocking’ move gains either in complexity or in number of people, until she’s going through a row of people that are mirroring her moves. And then, the resignation of the final lines, where she stands alone and doesn’t make the knocking motion at all. I love the story of it.
3. MISAMO - Do Not Touch
I love how aware this choreography is of the people that would be dancing it. Each member is allowed to shine without any of them drawing the eye in a moment of lower skill. I also love the elegance of it. It’s visually very pleasing.
2. VIVIZ - Cheating here, but both Maniac and Untie
These choreographies are different to each other and to most of the choreography going on in kpop at the moment. I really enjoy the use of the dancers to create big silhouettes using small movements overall. I also like that the dances overall don’t do the small tutting type moves that are currently popular but harder to see from a distance. Both of these dances will work in a concert venue even without a big screen. If I was asked to speak specifically about each dance…
For Untie…SinB’s shoulders. Just kidding (kinda). This choreography plays with angles in a way I really like. From the hand placement to the formations, there’s a lot going on in there.
And for Maniac…SinB’s hips. Just kidding (kinda). I meant Eunha’s back. Just kidding (kinda). Actually, my favorite thing about this choreography is how well it hits the beat of the music without losing any fluidity.
1. Yena - Wicked Love
I’m a bit worried that I’m not going to do a good job of explaining why I like this one, but here we go anyway. I like the balance of this choreography, and not only in the sense that most things are done once in each direction. I like the physical balance of it. This dance requires a well-engaged core throughout to keep balance and allow for the correct angles. It actually reminds me in some ways of a cheerleading half-time dance without the lifts. Makes me happy.
***Honorable Mention***
Jini - Cmon
Jini’s charisma is multiplied by several million when she’s dancing compared to acting or talking. She comes alive when she’s in motion. My younger son saw the end of a performance by her and said, “Wow, it’s like someone hit the power off button”. So, if I’m being completely honest, I’m guessing I like this choreo partly because of that energy. I’m not a fan of the wide-knee, gimme-hands move in the lalala section at all. And personally, I’d prefer some of the hip and body rolls be smoother. There’s a popping edge to them that’s not so much my style, but it’s a fun choreography to do.
The Wild K.A.R.D. Category -aka Co-ed Groups.
KARD- Icky
To be honest, the style of this particular choreography doesn’t fit the personal dance style of any of the members, but there are elements that each member excels in. Somin has the hips, J.Seph makes the footwork beautiful, B.M. has the groove covered, and Jiwoo has the body rolls and chest isolations. Because of that, my eye bounces around a bit in a way that my cheerleader brain isn’t pleased by. That said, the choreography itself is fun with a strong hip hop foundation and plenty of variation. Also, I now know the ultimate seduction move…2:19. Thanks!
***Honorable Mention*** AKMU - Love Lee
AKMU’s focus isn’t dance, but they always have a simple and cute choreography to accompany their songs.
Boy Groups
10. xikers - Tricky House
This made my list specifically for the weird frilled lizard move (0:57) and the cheeky looking back move (1:00) that are repeated each chorus. They’re weird and unlike anything else out there…probably because of how hard it would be to fit into any other choreography. But the playfulness inherent in this song works well with these nutty moves.
9. MCND - Pop Star
For those who haven’t seen my previous years’ articles, I’m a sucker for little tiny foot kick moves. I have no idea why, but it’s so true. This choreography has that and is super easy, but fun to follow. I mean, there’s practically an air guitar moment in there. This one is just so fun for me.
8. XODIAC - Special Love
Cheerleader Chelsea was never going to be able to pass this one up. There’s something very cheerleader about the choruses with the precise angles, claps, and beat-by-beat moves. But more than that, there are a couple wonderful formation changes (Just check out the first 30 seconds and you’ll see a few). Canons (like a round in singing where different members layer the same move one after another wave-style) are well utilized in several places, which is good for a large group. On top of that, there was clearly plenty of thought put into giving individual members a time to shine when there are 9 talented gentlemen trying to make a mark. Also, footwork…yeeeees!
7. Aimers - Both Fireworks and Bubble
These rookies really impressed me this year. I’m genuinely looking forward to more from them.
Fireworks leans toward modern dance in its fluidity and some of the moves. The silhouettes created are beautiful. Add in an awareness of changing tempos from smooth elegance to explosive and I love it.
Bubble as a song wasn’t totally my style. It goes in the NCT direction of music, so I’m guessing it’ll work better for a lot of people. There’s even a short homage in the dance to NCT. But I love the overall playfulness of the choreography, especially in the bubble popping moves. They’re never anything other than clearly bubbles, but it’s not always the gesture you would think of. Also, skipping Gene Kelly style is always accepted.
6. E’LAST - Both Thrill and Kiss Me Baby
These guys know how to bring the drama. I said it last year with “Creature” and it’s just as true this year in Thrill, the commitment to the concept is vital. It’s difficult to write up the choreographies, in fact, because there is so much going on seamlessly. So, broadly speaking, both these choreographies stick to a catchy chorus choreography that doesn’t change. The verses on the other hand are full of things, changing moves, doing tricks, and progressing the drama. I always love watching E’LAST choreographies.
5. KEY - Killer
Speaking of drama…KEY. Haha. In all seriousness, KEY has once again made me all kinds of happy with a retro song and dance. This style fits him in like the one glove he wears in the performance video. And I love that he made little spider fingers crawling up his own arm (with no other movement going on) followed by an annoyed shoulder shrug to dislodge the finger-pest, the key dance point in his chorus. Bold choice!
4. Oneus - Basically everything
These guys are seriously making me mention three choreographies this year. STOP BEING SO GOOD, ONEUS! *Sigh* Well, nothing to be done about it at this point.
Starting with Erase Me, dramatic back bend anyone? *Raises hand* Me, me! I’m in! I actually have a picture of myself doing this exact move just to be weird back in college. Can’t even express how much I enjoyed seeing it in a choreography.
Next, I want to highlight the ballroom moves in Baila Conmigo. I love seeing ballroom anywhere and these guys do a pretty good job with it.
Finally, Unforgettable. OMG. I love this choreography so much. Canons, little stomping spins, making a slide for the hand on the opposing arm, angles to perfection. I know I’ve said this before somewhere, but each Oneus member has wonderful symmetry (meaning things done on the left and right of the body have the same height and power), so the choreography always feels wonderfully balanced and easy on the eyes. This choreography is a perfect chance to see that.
3. NINE.i - Turn It Off
At first glance, this will look like an unnecessarily perky choreography with bouncing and a fan kick. And…yeah, it is super perky and it does have bouncing. But you should admit that you secretly loved the fan kick, because doesn’t everyone? It actually has a ton of sweet details though if you watch. The button pressing for ‘turn it off’ in various ways for a start. There’s some pretty tricky footwork in there, because of the speed if nothing else. Oh, fine! I like it because it’s perky. You’ve caught me!
2. &Team…Anything and everything
So, you know how I said in my Top 50 Songs article that I fell down the &Team fandom pit and haven’t climbed out…yeah…it’s worse when it comes to the choreography. I’ve actually made a whole playlist of just &Team dance practices because I enjoy them that much. If you liked the knife-dance (Infinite) era of kpop, this group will definitely make you happy. They have said themselves that their charm is in their synchronization and precision. But they don’t stop there. As I said, I checked them out in the first place because they make a wolf silhouette in the Road Not Taken choreography (and wolves are basically my favorite thing). There are clever things in EVERY choreography. Which would be enough to make me happy, but then the physicality of the members blows my mind. K does things that look simple, but good grief are they tough. There’s a reason he’s occasionally called Monster K. Fuma is pure joy to watch. He’s so subtle and powerful in his skill. Man has power, no doubt about that, but he never overpowers his moves. Just…watch all of them. I can’t even begin to try to pick a song.
1. TRENDZ - NEW DAYZ
When this song came out in March, I told people, this has real potential to be my number 1 choreography of the year. And here we are. It held the spot without a wobble for almost the entire year. Why? Well, everything I’ve listed as liking up to this point in this article…it's all in this song (except ballroom…that was uniquely Oneus this year). Canons, tempo awareness, clever formation changes, athleticism, fun, flow, silhouettes, footwork, angles, drama, little low kicks. This one has everything. There’s also some great shoulder and body rolls, spins (body with head which always looks fun) and a couple soft groove moves. And it manages all that without looking rushed, crazy, pretentious, or disjointed. I adore this choreography! (Yechan of the blonde hair is my favorite to watch on this one in case anyone needs a specific person to focus on.)
