Mastering the art of dance is no small feat but when it comes to the high-octane world of K-Pop, each movement counts.

Choreographer Mihawk Back of SM Entertainment – South Korea’s biggest entertainment group behind K-pop stars EXO, Girls’ Generation and Super Junior – would certainly agree.

Having worked with boyband EXO for its “Love Shot” single from the album of the same name, the Korean version of its music video, released in December last year, has surpassed 213 million views on YouTube, making it the group’s fastest music video to achieve the 100 and 200 million mark.

In Jakarta for a K-Pop masterclass at Central Park shopping mall, West Jakarta, on Nov. 24, organized by CGV, Mihawk (Baek Gu Young) shared his dance moves with 116 people attending the class, split into two 90-minute sessions that were open to both beginners and seasoned dancers.

 “The response was totally different from other classes I taught in other countries. This is my first time teaching a class in Indonesia and the people were really sincere in their excitement,” Mihawk told The Jakarta Post through an interpreter after the first session was over, with participants, and even passerby, lining up to get the rare chance to take selfies with him.

Do your thing: Mihawk Back also teaches at Tapaha the Dance Space, a dance studio cofounded by Shim Jae-Won of Beatburger fame. (Courtesy of Instagram/@tapaha_official)

He said he created the class as a way to connect with fans of K-Pop and those keen on learning the K-Pop style of dancing.

“If we’re talking about Southeast Asia in general, there’s plenty of K-Pop fans across the region, but I think Indonesia can be considered the number one.”

His judgement came after EXO’s successful concert at ICE BSD the day before, on Nov. 23, as part of its Southeast Asian leg of the EXO Planet #5 – Exploration tour. 

“Even before the concert, fans were already screaming in excitement, and that’s not always the case with concerts in other countries,” he recalled.

He counts Thailand and the Philippines as among countries in the region with a huge K-Pop fanbase. Thailand itself had three consecutive dates on the tour but he still considers Indonesian fans to be the most energetic.

With his idol-like looks, Mihawk boasts nearly 360,000 followers on Instagram. However, it is his moves that gave him such prominence, having been dubbed one of the best dancers in Korea by many in the K-Pop community.

That came with good reason too.

Along with “Love Shot”, Mihawk was also responsible for the choreography for EXO’s 2017 hit “Ko Ko Bop”, done in collaboration with fellow choreographer Kasper aka Kim Tae Woo.  The song’s music video passed the 1 million mark in the first hour of its release on YouTube, currently sitting at around 244 million views as of November 2019.

On his choreography, Mihawk said he drew inspiration just like everyone else – as a child, he would watch TV and try to follow the dancers he saw on the screen, which soon fueled his dream to become a choreographer.

When working on new choreography, he first listens to the song and works from there.

For him, it is a case-by-case basis.

“Some [choreography] can be done relatively quick but sometimes the song isn’t in its final version by the time the music video shoot begins. Putting that aside, I usually just listen to the song and find something suitable.”

For those seeking to master dance covers or K-pop style dance, he said it was important to maintain a good spirit and practice every day. "It's just the simple things, really."

Energetic: Mihawk Back has been referred to as the best dancer in Korea. (Courtesy of Instagram/@mihawkback)

He was also generous in sharing tips to stay in shape.

Along with regular visits to the gym, he incorporates weight and treadmill training into his routine, though he also plays soccer. 

As for sustenance, special diets are common in the days leading up to a concert. Salads are usually the go-to meal of choice for many in the industry, while the beloved national dish of kimchi is avoided for its high salt content.

“All these training regimes and diets are their way to make sure everything is as perfect as possible. It’s just their way of staying in peak condition,” he said.

Mihawk’s project as soon as he returns to Korea will be to work on EXO’s comeback show.

Even after such a major project, he will focus on Tapaha The Dance Space, a dance studio in Seoul cofounded by Shim Jae-won of BeatBurger and Black Beat fame.

Mihawk said Tapaha would also open its doors to K-pop lovers in Jakarta, though he did not give an exact date. "I'd say to Indonesian fans, come to Tapaha." (ste)