TOKYO - Renowned South Korean dancer and choreographer Lia Kim, known for creating routines for global acts such as TWICE and BLACKPINK, will open a dance studio in Japan next year as part of her plan to expand K-dance culture beyond Korea.
Kim, often referred to as a “charismatic” figure in the Korean dance scene, explained that Japan was chosen for its strong cultural ties and its established pool of skilled choreographers. “Japan and Korea share many cultural similarities,” she said, adding that collaboration between top Japanese and Korean choreographers could produce content capable of captivating the global market.
Her dance school in Seoul, famous for fusing creativity with pop-culture trends, has helped define what’s now widely recognized as “K-dance”—a blend of contemporary choreography, street movement, and K-pop stage expression. “In Korea, dancers are quick to absorb overseas trends and transform them into their own unique style,” Kim noted.
Currently, around 80 percent of students at her studio are from overseas, underscoring the international appeal of K-dance as a new creative industry. Kim believes the next step is to treat dance not just as art, but as a structured business sector. “The entertainment dance field in Korea is systematized through specialized education, from training to debut,” she said. “I think importing that framework to Japan could open up major opportunities for the industry.”
Looking ahead, Kim plans to expand further into the United States and Europe after establishing a strong presence in Japan. She hopes these ventures will allow K-dance to continue evolving into a global movement connecting diverse cultures through rhythm and performance.
Source: TBS
