As the plane begins its descent hundreds of mountains come into view; matched in magnificence only by dense clusters of skyscrapers. Nicole is filled with excitement. She has a hostel booked; a language guide in her pocket, and names of dance studios saved in her phone but not much else. It’s 2018, only a few weeks after graduating high-school in Italy and a 2-year stint begins with a touchdown in the capital of K-pop and Kimchi — Seoul, South Korea.
Seoul is one of the biggest hubs for music and dance and anybody who’s heard a K-pop song, seen a Korean drama, or interacted with a K-pop stan knows that Korean pop culture is extremely infectious.
The global phenomenon started in the late 90’s when entertainment companies were encouraged by the government to create content; the dramatic surge of new films and music likely gave recognition to the large Korean diaspora in places like L.A. The influx of content was aptly named the Korean Wave and the highly energetic melodies coupled with unique fashion and flashy dance routines captured millions. Western artists now not taking part in overseas collaborations are at risk of missing a huge market.
K-pop has, however, been mired in controversy and Nicole didn’t fly across two continents to study at a ubiquitous K-pop academy. Instead she came to join a diverse community of artists breaking down cultural differences and promoting equality through dance.
Urban Dance For Urban Life
Urban dance; a relative of hip-hop dancing has flourished in Asia and combines intense choreography with music from artists like Francis and the Lights, J.Cole, and Honne. The routines are usually performed in studios, or unique urban locations.
Nicole arrived hoping to study the dance and before long became established in the scene through participation in showcases and choreographed videos. The pandemic eventually forced her to put life on hold and return to Italy where she joined a studio and began teaching with a newfound passion for choreography.
“For me urban dance is the purest form of sharing and exploration. There are no set rules so everyone can create their own style; everyone is encouraged to bring what is unique to them. And that’s not just when it comes to the actual dancing, but also in regards to the medium. Also, because dance doesn’t have a language barrier, it is the most international and ethnically open community I have witnessed yet.”
Getting Established
Because of her vibrant personality and passion for improving it wasn’t hard to make friends and Nicole’s intricate and vast web of connections closely resembles the interconnectedness of Seoul’s subway system.
Of course getting settled in Seoul wasn’t always easy. The language barrier and establishing financial security were particularly formidable hurdles. Seoul also operates at a much more rapid speed than any other big city and the whirlwind metropolis can be seriously dizzying for newcomers. The fast-paced, never-sleep mentality is largely a result of the city’s density; into which numerous 24-hour convenience stores, karaoke rooms, computer rooms (PC bang) and restaurants are packed. This can result in great nights stumbling out of karaoke at 2am, ordering pork bone soup with numerous side dishes and then quickly napping in plush gaming chairs for $2 an hour. Embracing the quirks of the city’s streets was what Nicole did in order to capture the tempo of Seoul and make it her home.
Finding Her Footing
The journey began with studio 1997 and then Souldance, where she trained for 8 months. She then took part in the studio’s showcase (Soulcase), an opportunity to establish her presence. Being the opportunistic type Nicole enrolled in language school and shortly became comfortable with conversation. Towards the end of two years she had reached the dance level she was aiming for, had learned Korean, and had befriended fellow dancers from all over the world.
“This was my biggest adventure yet. It made me discover a new world, a new way of looking at my art and, more than anything, I got to know more about the person I am and the person I want to become”.
Back in Italy, she now teaches and choreographs while regularly uploading masterful solo performances in the streets of Vicenza. Below is one of her latest videos, make sure to subscribe to never miss her content.