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The Top 10 K-Pop Choreography of 2020

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I am not a dancer, but I do enjoy some great K-pop choreography. Point dances and exciting formations can really vault a strong song into legendary status, so I think it’s important to take a look at idol dances each year. As usual, this is not a countdown of the most technically impressive or complex routines. This is a chance for me to spotlight a few dances that really stuck with me in 2020.

Honorable Mentions

Golden Child – Pump It Up
ENHYPEN – Given-Taken
Seventeen – Home;Run
Golden Child – One (Lucid Dream)
BoA – Better
Weeekly – Tag Me
Everglow – La Di Da
Stray Kids – God’s Menu
VERIVERY – Lay Back
Oh My Girl – Nonstop

2020 END-OF-YEAR MASTERPOST

10. LOONA – VOICE

Sometimes the choreography that catches my eyes isn’t the most difficult. But, it adds something vital to the song. For lack of a better description, the twirling and ‘walking into formation’ moments during the chorus of Voice are just so satisfying. They add a quirky chicness that perfectly compliments the track.

9. TWICE – I CAN’T STOP ME

For me, Twice’s I Can’t Stop Me boasts some of the most memorable girl group choreo of the year. I love how the moves have a sort of domino effect that echoes the repetitive phrasing of the chorus. And the post-chorus breakdown, coupled with swaying camera work, makes for a memorable centerpiece.

8. MCND – ICE AGE

After initially disliking the song, the choreo to Ice Age became one of its biggest selling points. It’s so fun to watch the members interact with each other during the verses and pre-chorus, flitting in and out of the spotlight with perfect synchronization. The second verse has some particularly rhythmic moments.

7. TXT – BLUE HOUR

Blue Hour‘s performance feels like an old-school movie musical, and so much of that is due to its ebullient choreo. It’s smooth and fun and doesn’t take itself too seriously. And then, of course, there’s that show-stopping breakdown where Yeonjun in particular gets to show off his MJ-esque moves.

6. DRIPPIN – NOSTALGIA

I love how DRIPPIN’s Nostalgia includes moves that would more traditionally be classified as “feminine,” interspersed with the kind of hard-hitting choreo we’re used to seeing from boy groups. The “black hole” stunt that finishes the breakdown is also one of 2020’s most memorable dance moments.

5. ITZY – WANNABE

ITZY’s choreo always does a great job highlighting their unique energy, and Wannabe is no different. It’s fast-moving and in-your-face, harnessing the group’s explosive confidence. And, it climaxes in their best dance breakdown yet.

4. NCT 127 – KICK IT

I’d argue that NCT 127’s Kick It has the year’s most iconic point move. It’s certainly one that’s been replicated on many variety shows! The rest of the routine isn’t quite as memorable, but once we hit that chorus, your eyes will definitely be glued to the stage.

3. J.Y.PARK x SUNMI – WHEN WE DISCO

Inspired by the song’s cheesy charm, When We Disco‘s retro choreography is insanely fun to watch. Sometimes simple is best, and the moves here are broad and memorable rather than complex and inscrutable. The expressiveness of Sunmi and Park Jinyoung’s performance just adds to the appeal.

2. TAEMIN – CRIMINAL

Criminal is a feast for the eyes and the ears, with every element coming together to create a knockout performance. While the choreo starts off restrained (literally!), it soon grows into a swirling centerpiece, embracing the track’s groove while adding even more rhythm. The final choruses are incredibly funky and perfectly dramatic.

1. THE BOYZ – THE STEALER

The Boyz were THE choreo kings in 2020, and The Stealer draws upon that strength for a standout performance. Like the song itself, the moves and formations switch between various styles and energy levels. The verses have a freewheeling appeal, as the members dart around the stage like acrobats, focusing on brief interactions before coming together for highly synchronized group choreography. By the time they’re on their knees, sliding across the floor, it’s impossible not to be utterly entranced.

20 thoughts on “The Top 10 K-Pop Choreography of 2020”

  1. Pingback: K-POP Best of 2020 Masterpost | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion

  3. being completely biased here, LA DI DA is my favorite choreography of 2020. Yuehua really made everything perfect, from the song & album, down to the music video, styling, and choreography.

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    • other favorites this year are Secret Story of the Swan and Panorama by IZ*ONE. IZ*ONE’s choreographers and choreographies are always stunning

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  7. Also needs to be mentioned
    Naughty , monster by seulgi and irene
    Nct u make a wish
    Aespa black mamba
    Cix gungle (the song by itself is one of the best this year)
    Txt puma
    Blackpink how you like that
    Treasure i love you, mmm
    Itzy not shy
    Super m one
    Ateez inception
    Jessi nunu nana
    Bts on – one of the iconic choreos out there!

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  8. I really loved DKB – Work Hard choregraphy this year. Many choreographies are good but from a dance perspective don’t seem to show the idols pure technical skills. We can usually see it with groups without proper choreographies where every single move is done in a particular way. But there is also some others who have either a choregraphy imagined for a dance or who have the charisma to bring their own style to their dancing. BoA is the perfect exemple of this.

    Maybe I’m going too far but DKB put on a very strong performance here giving me the feeling that I was watching a dance crew dancing to an hip-hop song rather than a k-pop group having a theatral performance that will give to the fans nice gif to use on social medias to show how chatismatic their favorites idols are (not saying that it is a bad thing, but it’s great to see a group outside the box for once)
    I hope I was clear !

    Now I also enjoy some pure k-pop choreographies too. Kick It and Wannabe have the most memorable moves and are pretty strong overall. I also prefered the Black Swan dance rather than the ON one which doesn’t impressed me besidd the number of back dancers and the nice break.

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  9. This list was really good. But for choreographies that I liked-

    CIX Jungle- intense and fit the song really well

    Stray Kids- Backdoor. I was a sucker for the musical theater style dance moves. However God’s menu has some extremely iconic dance moves.

    And glad to see lay back by verivery in the honorable mentions. It’s one of my favorite songs by them and the choreography really makes the song stand out.

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  10. Kick it’s choreo is so recognizable with that one move for sure – definitely iconic. SKZ’s God’s menu tops it for me because of how it incorporates cooking gestures to its choreo – so cool and loyal to its lyrics and theme, especially that du du du part. BTS’ On is very hyped too especially when you watch the kinetic manifesto mv so I think it deserves a spot here too.

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  11. The theatre kids went all out this year polishing their performances not only with their Korean releases (Home;run is so elegant and fun!) but also the Japanese ones. Fallin flower is their best choreography to-date and I can’t wait for what they’ll bring out next year!

    My favourite choreographies were from Everglow, Twice, Iz*one, Dreamcatcher and Seventeen.

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  13. There was some great choreo this year. I know this track as not a fav by any means but I think Blackpink’s How You Like That was pretty iconic and had many memorable moments. Idk if it’s top ten but it definitely pops in my brain when I think about 2020 choreo.

    also…wasn’t properly promoted but the Oh My Girl Dolphin “hand flip” is the most iconic point move of 2020 for myself…just because it’s easy and fun to do =)

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