Plus Magazine

Through a long journey from competing in ＜Be Mbitious＞ to becoming stars in ＜Street Man Fighter＞, the members of Mbitious, united by their passion for dance, are now moving in one direction. We, Plus Magazine, had a chance to meet with them. The second person we met from Mbitious is WOOTAE, the co-leader of the group. ‘Teacher WOOTAE’, who perfectly performs various styles with his own every time and skillfully decorates the stage. Check out his small behind-the-scenes stories and his sincere love for dance.

What led you to dream of becoming a dancer?

Actually, I didn't dream of being a dancer from the start. Originally, I wanted to become a soccer player, so I was involved in sports during my school days. But due to various circumstances, I had to quit sports in my third year of high school, and until I turned twenty, I was idle and wandering about what to do next. One day, a friend who was an aspiring singer challenged me with a dance, which sparked my interest in dancing. Since I was someone who had done sports, I liked moving around a lot, and when I was young, I used to follow along and dance with my friends. So I thought, why not learn this professionally this time. I sought advice from friends around me who danced, found places where I could learn, and gradually started to perform naturally, and also started doing showcases at studios, and started to grow my dream of being a dancer. I'm a unique case where I accidentally started dancing, felt its charm, found it well-suited to my aptitude, and began to seriously nurture the dream.

What would you say are the two decisive moments that have changed your life?

First of all, one of them would be when I participated in . It was a moment that led to me becoming well-known to many people. If I go back before that and choose one more moment, it reminds me of about 10 years ago, around the age of 23, when I first performed in a street show. Back then, I had never performed in shows before and I suddenly appeared on stage after practicing alone. The senior who performed with me was a dancer known by everyone, who was actively performing at the time. With the guidance of that senior dancer, I started performing. As a result, I remember people looking at me with a feeling of ‘Who is that, performing with this person?’ half in question and half in anticipation. These two seem to have been the most decisive moments.

What led you to decide to participate on ?

I was on the advisory committee for . I recommended various choreographers and street dancer teams to the production team, and I really enjoyed watching the show afterwards. At that time, I thought if there was a male version of the show, I wouldn't participate. Actually, I'm not the kind of person who feels comfortable standing out. I tend to worry about being in the spotlight, and I'm generally shy with unfamiliar faces. Then, all of a sudden, I thought that it would be meaningful to take the challenge, before any more time passed. To be honest, I applied more out of a feeling that I would regret it if I didn't challenge myself and work hard while I'm still young, rather than to become famous or to have my skills recognized by people.

In the ‘Law’ choreography creation mission, which was held among the co-leader rank members, your choreography was selected. When creating choreography and preparing the stage, is there anything you particularly focus on?

Actually, it's case by case. I have a lot of experience with choreography performances. I've worked with a variety of artists and street dancers, and I've studied a lot about music as well. Therefore, depending on who I'm working with or where the performance is, what I focus on varies greatly. In the case of rank missions, there was no specific direction for production, and it was okay to approach it freely as I wanted, so I started by laying a free base. Since the choreography revolves around my own movements, there's no specific area I needed to focus on. I just did it the way I wanted to.

What is your approach to your work? Do you first establish a general framework and then fill in the details of the choreography, or do you capture the movements that come to mind as you go along?

Well, I think I tend to first set an overall structure. When creating choreography, I start by repeatedly listening to the song and visualizing the moves, then I gradually fill in the details. I consider the feelings evoked by the song, the meaning of the lyrics, and the tone and intensity of the artist, thinking a lot about how to elicit empathy from those watching the dance. For example, in the case of ‘Law,’ the lyrics and the texture of the beat give off a ‘war-like’ feeling. So, I tried to approach the movements in that way.

Do you have a preferred style of music when dancing?

That varies from time to time. It changes depending on who's around me, the situation, and my mood. I'm not the type to like being confined to a single dance style. So, I enjoy being flexible in switching styles or movements. If I had to definitively choose a music style, I think I often attempt music that allows for a variety of movements.

Looking at your self-introduction and interviews in various media, haven't you strongly expressed pride in your ‘dance lines’?

While I do like my own dance lines and flexibility, if I used to like my dance lines a little more in the past, these days I'm paying a little more attention to flexibility. That's because I used to be quite obsessive about my dance lines. For example, I was so dissatisfied with any asymmetry that I became obsessed with maintaining perfect lines, as if I was measuring them with a ruler, even when nobody else seemed to notice. These days, I'm making a lot of attempts at freestyle rather than keeping the dance lines, and since I focus on movements that naturally flow, I pay more attention to flexibility.

You were a professor of Practical Dance at Kookmin University, how did you come to take on that role?

A lot of good things happened to me quite by chance, and the professorship was one of them. Before I took the professorship, there really was no work. It was a very tough time financially, to the point where I was worried about the living expenses for the next month. So, I was struggling a lot to promote the few classes I was teaching at the time. I constantly questioned how I could get people to notice me, how to attract students, and what students would want to learn from me. I jotted down these concerns in my journal every day, all the while participating in practice with little to no sleep. My seniors saw this effort and appreciated it. One day, when I went to shoot a promotional video for a Michael Jackson tribute, one senior offered me a professorship during a break. I asked if I could really do it, and I remember him responding, ‘Of course, you're always working hard’. That's how I got the professorship by chance.

What's the difference between WOOTAE as a teacher standing at the podium and WOOTAE as a dancer on stage?

When I'm a dancer on stage, there are many people I'm glad to be with and since it's a very comfortable place for me, I often joke around. It's like going back to my early twenties. However, when I'm a teacher, there is a sense of gravity. Because, just as it was for me, a student's mindset can be significantly influenced by a single word from their teacher. Just like when I was young, I was discouraged and motivated by teachers, so I always try to be careful and thoughtful. In this aspect, I think my two personas are completely different.

You've worked extensively as a K-POP choreographer, is there an episode that stands out in your memory?

I've experienced many memorable moments, but one that stands out was working on MONSTA X's debut album. At that time, both I and the MONSTA X members were young. I was responsible for the choreography and dance classes for one song, and we faced many twists and turns during the process. There was a time when the members got injured during practice, and we had to consider whether they would be able to perform on stage the following week. There was even a situation where I almost had to step in and perform at a showcase because one of the members was unable to. We haven't seen each other in a long time recently because our schedules are busy, but they always greet me warmly when we meet at the broadcasting station. It reminds me of those times, and the MONSTA X members sincerely told me that they're really happy for my success. I'm also really happy that MONSTA X is doing well. Those memories are vivid to me.

How do you usually practice dancing?

It varies depending on the situation, but these days I tend to practice and work up a sweat before taking a shower. Once I get into it, I sometimes practice non-stop for about 2-3 hours. However, on days when things aren't going well, I might stop after just 20 minutes. I no longer adhere to a set practice schedule like I used to. These days, I simply practice whenever I'm in the mood and in a comfortable space.

You've described in an MBTI question that you're usually I (Introverted), but you become E (Extraverted) in selective situations. When does the E energy typically emerge?

I'm what you might call a ‘selective E’ or selective extravert. My extraverted side tends to come out when I'm in comfortable company or when alcohol is involved. So, some people are quite surprised when they see that side of me. As I get older, I tend to restrain it a lot, but for instance, when I'm at a team dinner and a comfortable situation is created with people I like, my E really pops out. Then people get surprised, thinking, ‘I didn't know he was like that’. I've had such an experience recently.

What is your favorite video on the YouTube channel you are currently operating, and why?

To be honest, I wouldn't say that I'm actively running a YouTube channel. I use the account more as a form of a diary. I tend to enjoy shooting videos with a conceptual approach. There is a video I filmed featuring the choreography for Usher's ‘California,’ and I would choose that as my favorite. t's a video in which I focused on dancers I admire, put a lot of effort into the concept, and aimed for a somewhat extravagant aesthetic. All the YouTube videos I create are self-funded, but this particular video involved a significant financial investment, and it also faced many difficulties along the way. So, I would be grateful if many people could take the time to watch it.

If you had to describe your dance style in one word, what would it be?

If I could express it in one word, I would say ‘improvisation dance’. I don't know how my dance style will change in the future, and even now, it has changed a lot compared to before. I feel like it's constantly evolving and adapting, so I think ‘improvisation dance’ suits it best. I'll go with that description.

When was the happiest moment for you since becoming a dancer?

Instead of pinpointing a single moment of happiness, I would say that I feel most happy these days when I come home and see that my mother has been playing my videos. She plays them simultaneously on the TV, tablet, and phone. I tell her not to do it, but seeing my family enjoy what I do brings me moments of happiness. It's not about a specific moment or achievement; it's about experiencing happiness from sharing these experiences with my family.

Who is your favorite dancer, either domestic or international?

My favorite dancer is definitely Michael Jackson. He is not only a dancer but also a true artist, the one and only musician.

What advice would you like to give to young friends aspiring to become dancers?

My advice to them would be to always prioritize their safety and be careful to avoid injuries. It would be great if they could find good teachers around them and enjoy dancing in a fun and joyful way.

Could you share some upcoming performances and your goals with Mbitious fans?

These days, I feel it even more, but Mbitious is truly a unique team. It's not common to see a team that can appear in mainstream media as well as in the street scene. With that in mind, our aim is to showcase a wider range of our capabilities and talents. We will strive to create more opportunities to get closer to our fans, so please continue to show your ongoing interest and support. We are already grateful, and we kindly ask for your continued support in the future.

| Written by Jang Junhwan (Editor for the music webzine IZM)