Meet Rino Nakasone: The Dance Expert Behind Your Favorite K-pop Moves

K-pop's biggest and most influential choreographer opens up about her journey, process and devising routines for SM Entertainment artists, and dishes out advice to those dreaming of a career in K-pop

- DIVYANSHA DONGRE

To say that rino nakasone is busy would be an understatement. Despite juggling her responsibilities as a mother to two adorable fur babies, Gatchan and Milo, hosting several dance workshops and conceptualizing NCT 127's Tokyo Dorm performances, Nakasone was gracious enough to take some time out for this feature. Her reason? Fans. "I’m getting ready for NCT 127's concert," she informs me. At the time of our conversation, she is at her Los Angeles residency, preparing to fly across the world to direct NCT 127's highly anticipated Dome tour. "But since the fans have been super nice to me all these years, I'll try my best."

Choreography is undoubtedly one of the key elements that makes K-pop a global success story. Long gone are the days when a few simple moves would be considered a dance routine. As K-pop become more fierce and experimental with its sound, so did the choreography. In fact, having martial arts included in an already dexterous routine is just another Tuesday for K-pop acts. From building human pyramids on stage to performing consecutive back-flips or suspending yourself from a pole- in the world of K-pop choreography everything is possible, provided you possess an ambitious and audacious attitude, of course.