Article: Top 10 Idols Who Have A Background In Ballet

Ballet is one of the most physically demanding dance forms. Ballet dancers are trained to be fluid and graceful in their movements. They have to undergo rigorous training that demands significant strength, technical skill, balance, and flexibility. While seemingly contradictory in their presentation, ballet and K-pop choreographies, which mainly take inspiration from the hip-hop dance style, have a lot in common in their approach. Many idols have taken up ballet, which has given them an edge in their dance skills. Many have incorporated their ballet background into their choreographies, lending them distinction. Below, we list the idols who have a background in ballet:

10. Jimin, BTS

BTS’s Jimin holds the positions of vocalist and dancer in his group. As a student at Busan High School of Arts, he took numerous dance classes, including a contemporary ballet class. One of the best in his department, Jimin has incorporated ballet moves into his choreographies.

9. Haechan, NCT Dream

Haechan is a part of NCT Dream, the third subunit of the boy group NCT. Aside from his honey-like vocals, the idol is lauded for his dance skills. He mentioned his background in ballet in a YouTube video from Studio K. Besides ballet, he also learned jazz, sports dance, and contemporary dance.

8. Rocky, Astro

During an episode of HeyNews’ series of parents meeting their child’s favourite K-Pop idols, Astro’s Rocky revealed that he had been taking dance classes since he was four. He entered a dance academy, where he took hip-hop, jazz, dance-sport, and yoga courses. At 12, he started dancing professionally. While working on the musical “Billy Elliot,” he started taking ballet lessons, which he incorporated into his dances.

7. Dita Karang, Secret Number

Dita Karang, Indonesia’s first K-Pop star, is a member of the girl-group Secret Number. The group debuted in 2020 under the label Vine Entertainment and has been active since. Dita had been dancing since she was five years old and had taken up ballet, along with the traditional dance of Bali. She has also studied dance at 1 Million Dance Studio.

6. Soyeon, (G)I-DLE

A soloist and a member of the girl group (G)I-DLE, Soyeon had enjoyed dancing since she was a child. At a very young age, she entered Kuryong Elementary School, where she started studying ballet. In her third year of elementary school, Soyeon entered multiple ballet competitions and won. However, she decided to quit ballet to pursue a career in music after witnessing Big Bang perform.

5. NI-KI, ENHYPEN

At 16, NI-KI is the “maknae” of the boy group ENHYPEN and their only Japanese member. Often called the “4th Gen dance prodigy,” NI-KI had started learning ballet at a dance academy as young as five years old. He was SHINee’s backup dancer for one stage. His dance skills have earned praise from BTS’ J-Hope, Doobu, Seventeen’s THE8, and Big Hit’s choreographer Son Sungdeok.

4. Namjoo, Apink

Known by her stage name Namjoo, Kim Nam Joo is the lead vocalist, rapper, and dancer of the girl group Apink which debuted in 2011. She stunned everyone at Apink’s “Pink Party” in December 2016, by showcasing her ballet skills. Namjoo performed a ballet routine to a cover of Britney Spears’ “Toxic.”

3. Kai, EXO

EXO’s Kai dreamt of being a ballerino. In third grade, he was taken to watch “The Nutcracker,” and little Kai fell in love with ballet. He had initially planned to study ballet in an art school. At the tender age of eight, he took up jazz dancing. He has been praised by his seniors and ballet teachers for his skills and charisma.

2. Mina, Twice

Mina from TWICE is known for her incredible ballet skills. She had trained for 11 years as a ballerina before becoming a trainee at JYP Entertainment. She quit ballet to pursue her career as an idol and to learn other dances. In 2016, Mina showed off her ballet skills in the survival show SIXTEEN.

1. Kazuha, Le Sserafim

A member of the newly debuted girl group Le Sserafim, Japanese-born Kazuha was a professional ballet dancer who trained in the best ballet academies in the world. Kazuha began learning ballet at three years old and trained at the prestigious Ballet Academy in Russia and the Royal Ballet School in the UK. In 2020, Kazuha was scouted by the Dutch National Ballet Academy in the Netherlands and received multiple awards.