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A major reason for the success of Kpop globally is that it is very addictive and fun. You just can’t take your eyes off it. While the visuals and songs are huge components, the one key differentiator that truly separates Kpop from other music out there is their use of dance choreography. The best female dancers in Kpop have really taken Kpop dancing to a whole new level. They have also inspired the next generation of women to push the limits of Kpop dance by incorporating their own styles and creativity.
Dancing in Kpop is one of the most important attributes for any Kpop group. If one member is a bad singer, it can easily be made up for. However, if one member is a bad dancer and is out of sync, the whole choreography will be hurt. Therefore, in Kpop, dancing skills are ranked higher than vocal skills. In addition, Fans will be more critical of a member if they can’t dance than if they can’t sing. Therefore, here is the list of the top female dancers in Kpop. We have also done an article on the best male dancers in Kpop so make sure you check that out as well.
Lisa – BLACKPINK
Lisa is the best female Kpop dancer of all time. She started dancing at the age of 13 and after joining BLACKPINK she started to get recognized for her dancing abilities very quickly. What makes Lisa so great is that she just needs to watch a dance choreography once before performing it herself. It is like a musician hearing a piece of music once and then being able to play it live.
She can do any style of dance because she has perfect control of her body. What gives her a huge edge is her flexibility as well as her swag which she puts into every performance. In addition, she has control, fluidity, a sense of rhythm/style, and a great stage presence. There is a reason why she is the most followed female Kpop star on Instagram.
Hyuna
Hyuna is the queen of performance. However, many might not know this but when Hyuna was 7 years old she wanted to become an actress in Korea. However, she failed many auditions before deciding to get into dance in High School. The rest is history, she was able to pass her JYP audition on her first try. She has since had a successful Kpop career for the longest time and has so much experience that is it impossible to not have her on this list. What Hyuna is able to express through her dance is her charisma and stage presence.
While many might feel she is too high on the list, she has inspired so many up-and-coming female dancers that it will be a while before she drops in our rankings. She really dominates the stage and owns the stage. Her movements are not complicated, yet she is able to bring a lot of swag through simple movements. Those starting out in Kpop dance should start out by watching as many Hyuna performances online as possible.
Momo – Twice
An argument can be made that Momo is the best overall female Kpop dancer right now. She is known as Twice’s “Dancing Machine”. She is known for practicing for hours on end to perfect her craft. In addition, during her free time, she learns other choreographies from other Kpop groups. Top Kpop choreographer Lia Kim said Momo was like a dancer that was sent down from the gods because of her ability to learn choreography very quickly. While she has a long body, she is able to hip-hop which is not easy.
Momo can do pretty much any dance but what makes her really special is that she puts her personality into it. While many on this list are good at performing and Momo is good at taking songs and making them hers. This has really made her one of the best dance choreographers in Kpop right now. She is constantly moving which makes her transitions look flawless. Because her dance looks so smooth and flawless that some might see her as not having enough energy. However, this just goes to show just how easy it is for her.
Hyolyn
Many might make the argument that Hyolyn is the best female dancer in Kpop. However, one thing is clear, Hyolyn is the sexiest dancer in Kpop. She has a very sexy fashion style and can rock any dance choreography in any outfit. Watch her perform in high heels or with baggy clothes. It doesn’t matter since her body control can’t be matched. Why is she so good? She has worked with a lot of YouTube dance choreographers to keep improving on herself and has taken a lot of influence from western music, not just Kpop.
It is amazing to see how far she has come as when she was a child she was very sickly but still loved singing and dancing. She learned how to dance on her own and tried out for auditions and ended up placing first for a JYP audition. She soon left for Starship Entertainment and the rest is history. Don’t be shocked to see Hyolyn someday be recognized as the greatest Kpop Dancer of all time.
Chungha
Chungha is the dancer to study when you want to improve your fluidity. Female dancers in Kpop all give respect to Chungha’s ability. She started dancing in the 8th grade and by high school, she ended up auditioning for JYP Entertainment. She quickly earned a spot as a trainee at JYP. However, her breakout came from the Korean reality show Produce 101 where people got to see just how great of a dancer she was. She is great at constantly transitioning between movements. It is one thing to have great style, but incorporating a cool style into a smooth dance choreography is hard to do. Chungha makes it look easy. Her freestyle abilities are impressive which also makes her one of the best live performers.
Seungyeon – CLC
Seungyeon is the main dancer for CLC and is the most underrated dancer on this list. Many see her as one of the best dancers in the 3rd generation, but she belongs on the all-time list as well. She is a natural dancer that can adapt to almost any concept. She has also that perfect blend of cute and sexy styles which is not easy to do. Follow her on Cube Entertainment’s YouTube channel as she uploads monthly dance videos which will go a long way in helping you become the next Kpop Idol.
Minzy – 2NE1
A list of the best female dancers in Kpop has to have Minzy. Minzy was scouted by YG himself after he watched a video of her at a dancing contest. He contacted Minzy right away and asked her to join his entertainment company. She was only in the 5th grade! She eventually joined YG Entertainment when she was in 6th grade and by that time she had already won several dance awards while attending a famous dance school. When watching Minzy dance, make sure you look at her facial expressions. You can tell she really enjoys what she is doing. This places a huge part in bringing in the audience. While her dancing skills are not elite, she is just a great performer and brings that cute/fun vibe that makes it really fun to watch her.
Chaeyeon – IZ*ONE
Chaeyeon started to get a lot of attention for her dancing when she was on K-pop Star Season 3. She was praised for her dancing by JYP, YG, and Yoo Hee Yeol which was the main reason she was able to move on to the next round. JYP eventually ended up signing Chaeyeon as a trainee. Then came Produce 48 and the creation of IZ*ONE. Her journey shows what hard work and dedication can take you. Chaeyeon has been able to bring her Hip Hop style of dancing into Kpop. As far as energy goes, it doesn’t get much stronger than Chaeyeon. Her popping ability is what separates her from the rest. This makes her performances some of the more creative and interesting choreographies in Kpop.
Hyoyeon – SNSD
For those that want to focus on technique, Hyoyeon is one of the best. Hyoyeon learned how to dance by attending a small neighborhood dance class that taught all forms of dance including jazz, Latin, and hip hop. She later attended the Winners Dance School, a famous dance school in South Korea which taught popping, locking, and other Hip-Hop dance styles. Hyoyeon auditioned for SM Entertainment at the age of 11 and passed her audition based on her strong dancing and became a trainee. She trained for an additional 6 years before her debut. As far as accuracy, Hyoyeon hits all her marks. Stopping and popping take a lot of practice and you can tell Hyoyeon has put in the endless hours to work on her control.
Seulgi – Red Velvet
Seulgi brings a lot of passion to her dancing. What makes Seulgi one of the best female dancers in Kpop is that she can balance both the cute style of dance and the more serious/sexy style. Since she is specialized in a variety of styles, she is the most versatile dancer on this list. In fact, many say she can be a professional dancer if she wanted to. She is not as flexible as the others on this list but her fluidity makes up for it.