It’s time once again for someone who knows next to nothing about dance to rank his favorite dances of the year. As usual, I tend to prefer quirky, iconic moves to technically difficult material. The thing is, the vast majority of idol choreo has become so polished that it’s hard to choose which routines are most difficult or demanding. So instead, here are ten dances that stuck out to me this year.
Honorable Mentions:
BOYNEXTDOOR – If I Say, I Love You
Jennie – Like Jennie
NEXZ – Beat-Boxer
izna – Mamma Mia
10. TXT – LOVE LANGUAGE
The only part most viewers probably remember is the iconic shirt lift, but the entire routine is light on its feet and well-suited to the song’s summery vibe.
9. IDID – PUSH BACK
Boy band bluster is a dime a dozen in K-pop, but it really only works for me with a quirky sense of humor. Push Back‘s movements are fast and colorful, adding playful character to the song’s swagger.
8. HEARTS2HEARTS – FOCUS
Focus‘s choreo utilizes the group’s large configuration well, splitting into smaller units multiple times before bringing everyone back together. The rapid-fire arm movements are hypnotic.
7. NOUERA – N.I.N (NEW IS NOW)
I mean, just look at that iconic intro pose! Like the song itself, N.I.N‘s choreo feels like classic K-pop, pulling out the tricks and triumphs we know and love.
6. TWS – LUCKY TO BE LOVED
The dance for this subdued track surprised me. It has more energy than it has any right to! I particularly love the pre-chorus, where the moves feel like they’re locking into place. It’s such a nice compliment to the music.
5. ILLIT – DO THE DANCE
ILLIT have become masters of catchy choreo, spawning trend after trend. Do The Dance is particularly whimsical, finding a nice balance of frenetic and fluid.
4. XLOV – 1&ONLY
XLOV have become known for their striking visuals, and the flip that opens this routine certainly catches attention. The rest of the choreo blends and upends gender norms in just the way you’d hope. They are arresting to watch.
3. AHOF – RENDEZVOUS
Rendezvous is all about configuration. The choreo provides multiple highlights that focus on one or two members, then brings everyone in sync for a super-rousing finale that matches the intensity of the song’s climax.
2. TWS – OVERDRIVE
The choreo’s point move has spawned the popular “angtal challenge,” automatically making this one of the group’s most iconic routines. But outside of that obvious highlight, the moves are big and bold. The guys are pointing, flipping… exclaiming. It’s so much fun to watch.
1. LE SSERAFIM – SPAGHETTI
My top choreo each year tends to be quirky rather than technically difficult. These are the dances that stick in memory and become synonymous with a song. Spaghetti is full of iconography. The crouched pose that opens the track is fierce, but I absolutely love the vomiting motion during the chorus. Who even thinks to do that in a K-pop dance? The sheer audacity totally wins me over.
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
yes to Spaghetti, LE SSERAFIM consistently has the best choreographers & performance directors
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I am also putting my list here as a total noob in dancing (in no particular order):-
1.Talk to you & Let me tell you by Yeonjun
2. Killin’ it girl by J-Hope
3.Overdrive by TWS
4. Do the dance & Jellyous by ILLIT
5. No Doubt & Outside by Enhypen
6. GO by Cortis
7. Gnarly by Katseye (if they count)
8. In your fantasy by Ateez
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i think my favorites from this year are ifeye r u ok? and nexz beat boxer! spaghetti is a great pick for number 1, if dances can be catchy then that dance is catchy
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damn, those are great examples, but even though they technically don’t count, XG’s Gala choreo was tops for me. Come Over by Le Sserafim was cute,too.
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I haven’t noticed much choreography this year but Hearts2Hearts definitely stood out, with both The Chase and Focus being particularly strong.
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My criteria is also not technical difficulty or synchronization (in which case &TEAM would still be at the top) but more so what’s memorable to me or whether people seem to be having fun doing covers.
5. DSTM, One or Eight (Okay, this seems to be technically difficult and not Kpop but everyone here is such a good dancer; am looking forward to their album next year and hoping the music isn’t so generic.)
4. Talk to You, Yeonjun (This feels to be in a similar vein as his Studio Choom cover of Blow from a few years back; I also like the dance challenges with James from Cortis and Nicholas from &TEAM.)
3. Body, Dayoung (A breezy, not-terribly-unique song but the choreo makes it so much better; plus everyone seems to have lot of a fun covering it.)
2. Focus, Hearts2Hearts (Also to a lesser extent, The Chase; both use the group number well, especially when the styling is black-and-white.)
1. Killin’ It Girl, j-hope (This is not really typical Kpop choreo to me but more urban/street-influenced? I love the diversity of the dancers, it just feels very global to me.)
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great number 1 pick, but if katseye gnarly would count on this list that would be my number 1. bad song but outstanding charisma from the girls
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for some reason WordPress decided to make a new account for this comment..?
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I’m a dancer which is one reason I was first attracted to kpop, so choreographies are a huge part of my enjoyment! This year was pretty mid when it came to kpop dances though
if I watched a dance multiple times, that’s a sign I enjoyed it so here are some 2025 choreographies I watched again for the purpose of seeing the dance:
RIIZE – Bag Bad Back, Fame
NCT Dream – Beat it Up
j-hope – Killin’ it Girl (also his most recent performance of Mona Lisa had a FIRE dance intro)
Hearts2Hearts – Pretty Please, Focus (both of these are mostly for the execution lol, the members deliver the choreo they’re given so well and have some of the best synchronization i’ve seen in kpop)
Enhypen – Outside
&Team – Deer Hunter (might have been 2024?)
Meovv – Burning Up
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Oh and Fashion by Cortis! Especially the official performance video where they’re all wearing blue
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Totally agree about Hearts2Hearts’s execution – their synchronization is insane and is the main reason I’m addicted to watching their choreographies. The way the members’ dynamics for every individual move match so well is honestly a little scary
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Exactly! I get spoiled watching them dance, and then groups I used to think were synchronized start looking messy 😂
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AHOF! Lucky number 3 is working again. Uri Nine really a monster rookie from vocal to dance move! Ranked 3rd for the BEAT, GROOVE and RHYTHM! AHOF you are fire!
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Echoing the other comment about choreography being a big part of my enjoyment for K-pop as a dancer! Dumping a list of some of my favourites + some thoughts here:
TWS – Countdown, Overdrive
I continue to adore TWS’s choreo, and I think the members’ dance skills are still so underrated and are left out of the general K-pop dancer conversation far too much, though I’m pleased with the increased Jihoon appreciation this year. I’ll also take the time here to plug Jihoon’s video w/ Waackxxxy on her channel – such a delight to watch and their mutual passion for dance is so infectious and inspiring! As someone who’s been interested in waacking and tutting for years this was basically a dream video for me! Special shoutout to Overdrive’s choreo, which grabbed me from the moment it was revealed and it has a great mix of viral, point-move moments (I’m so happy the angtal challenge blew up, deserved!) and more complex, difficult choreo (that final chorus is insane!). I’ve been absolutely itching to do a cover of it since it released but I just haven’t found the time to coordinate it with my friends 😭 happy to have gotten covers of Last Festival and Countdown done earlier this year though
Hearts2Hearts – Focus
Really captures the best of their choreo’s general appeal to me with clean, sharp moves, interesting formations, with a fun addition of some waacking! Juun is addicting to watch here, though the group’s synchronization is insane as per usual
XG – Gala
The voguing! So many fun moments in this one
j-hope – Killin’ It Girl
XLOV – 1&Only
ILLIT – Do The Dance, Jellyous
Chungha – Stress
ITZY – Kiss & Tell
Ten – Bambola
LE SSERAFIM – Spaghetti
and probably some more than I’m forgetting about.
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That Waackxxxy video was one of my favorite things this year. It’s just so nice to see someone who genuinely loves something and isn’t afraid of expressing that. The enthusiasm is infectious!
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For sure! Just seeing the video appear on my feed bowled me over (seeing both my favourite dancer and favourite idol dancer in one video?? they did this for me!!) but the video itself just put the biggest smile on my face and honestly I’m constantly rewatching it 😅
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