Young people are creating their own safe spaces around the world using K-pop street dance.
At this year’s MCM Comic Con at the Excel centre, the London-based, non-profit event planners BKT hosted a Random Play Dance — a form of K-pop street dance where songs are played on shuffle, and if you know the choreography, you jump in.
They are hosted around the world, with global organisers such as The Hallyuverse attracting 1.35m YouTube subscribers, and have become a safe haven for young people who feel underrepresented in mainstream media.
Co-founder of BKT, 21-year-old Katie said: “It’s just a community, everyone hypes everyone up, everyone feels like they belong — it’s really cute.
Katie and her friend Bee created BKT when they were students in 2021, back when there was only one Random Play Dance every four months, but they wanted more.
Now, they host 1-2 events in London per month — and it’s not just dances; they have organised games days and parties, sometimes with the inclusion of small business stalls and competitions.
BKT has had a personal impact on Katie, too, as the safe space these K-pop dances generate means her confidence has sky-rocketed.
She said: “In 2020, I was a very anxious person.
“Then slowly, through running these events, I have managed to come out of my shell.
“If I told myself four years ago that I’d be on a stage with a microphone talking to a crowd of people, I’d be like: shut up.”
Participants of BKT’s Random Play Dance explained that it was the community that kept them coming back for more.
Lapiz, 19, said: “I’ve never been to a Random Play Dance where I’ve felt out of place.
“You can dress how you want to dress and no one cares about your skill level, it’s just always so full of love.”
Marlo, 21, agreed: “It’s the energy that it gives me, and also the community — I’ve made a lot of friends.”
Similar to BKT, COVE is a London and Birmingham based dance crew that also hosts Random Play Dances, but they also organise the learning and performing of group choreography, both on stage and in the street).
21-year-old Eden founded the group in 2022, and what started as a few friends bonding over their favourite choreography has become a professional troupe of over 40 dancers.
They travel across the country, both street dancing and participating in competitions.
Eden said: “I personally really love K-pop dance competitions. Everyone is just talking to each other.
“People will come to your dressing room and introduce themselves — sometimes they will even bring chocolate!
“I think it’s because aside from dancing, everyone has the shared love of the genre, that’s really helped me make friends.”
Eden explained that there are over 20 dance crews in Birmingham alone, and Random Play Dances are how they meet up.
These local K-pop crews like BKT and COVE have had a profoundly positive impact on the young people involved by allowing them to grow their confidence, express themselves, and build beautiful friendships.
Feature image credit: Amy Gaffney
