Today we’d like to introduce you to Yimin Chung, Joseph Lee, And Christy Park
Hi Yimin Chung, Joseph Lee, and Christy Park, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Yimin: I grew up surrounded by music and dance, often leading musical and dance teams as a child. Initially, I pursued a degree in music composition and prepared for auditions, but I was accepted into a dance program instead. Balancing the physically demanding dance training with my love for music proved challenging, and I eventually chose to focus on music. However, stepping away from the pressure of academics allowed me to rediscover my passion for dance. Over time, I built a career combining both music and dance, leading to the founding of KDNT and becoming a choreographer and instructor. Now, I feel fortunate to pursue both passions, creating a vibrant community where others can share in the transformative power of dance.
Joseph: My dance journey began as a way to connect with my Korean heritage. In college, I became more active as a K-pop dancer, teaching peers and performing choreography. I found immense satisfaction in creating spaces where others could express themselves through dance. This led me to join Team YMIN and KDNT, where I continue to combine my love for K-pop and teaching to inspire others.
Christy: My story started with classical dance training in ballet, jazz, and tap during childhood. In high school, I discovered my passion for K-pop, teaching myself choreography and sharing covers online. Over time, I expanded into hip-hop, contemporary, and other styles, which helped me grow as a versatile dancer. Joining KDNT has allowed me to combine my love for dance and teaching, inspiring others to embrace their creativity and passion for K-pop.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Yimin: My journey has been far from smooth. Initially, I pursued a degree in dance, but the physically demanding 10-hour training sessions left me exhausted, leading me to shift to a music major. However, I later rediscovered my love for dance when I approached it without the pressures of academics. This rekindling of passion came with its own set of challenges—from overexerting myself to the point of injury. At one point, I sustained severe injuries to my knee and back, which made even basic movements like walking a painful challenge. The recovery process was long and grueling, involving physical therapy, consistent rehabilitation exercises, and the mental strain of not knowing if I could return to dancing at the same level. Through determination and patience, I gradually rebuilt my strength, confidence, and skills.
COVID-19 was another significant challenge. Living in New York/New Jersey during the pandemic, the lockdowns severely restricted activities. Despite this, I stayed connected with my dance team via Zoom, which helped us persevere through difficult times. Moving to Dallas brought a new wave of challenges as I had to start fresh without my former students and community. Recurring injuries to my knee and back made me consider giving up on dance entirely. However, thanks to a new studio and opportunities, I was able to reignite my passion and start anew.
When I first came to Dallas, I didn’t know anyone here, but through a dance studio, I was able to regain my passion, rediscover my energy, and restart my journey in dance. I also made many dancer friends who shared my love for dance. My vision for KDNT is for everyone who visits our classes to experience the same joy, connection, and rejuvenation that I found.
Building KDNT (KPOP Dance North Texas) also came with its difficulties. Financial constraints, low student turnout, and studio rental costs often made it feel like an expensive hobby. Nevertheless, our love for dance and determination to succeed helped us overcome these obstacles.
Joseph: Building a dance community is not easy, especially for something as niche as K-pop dance in the suburbs of Dallas. The low turnout was initially discouraging, but at the same time, I’m happy to see that we have a small yet passionate group of students who are willing to go the distance to share in this love for K-pop with us. Seeing our K-pop dance cover performances come to life as envisioned has been incredibly rewarding and worth every effort.
Christy: Establishing KDNT brought challenges, like balancing my personal growth as a dancer with guiding students in their journey. Overcoming these obstacles and seeing our community thrive has been one of the most fulfilling parts of this adventure.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Yimin: As a dance instructor and choreographer, my work centers on creating a space where people can connect through movement. I specialize in K-pop dance, choreography, and team-building, and I’m particularly known for fostering a welcoming and encouraging community.
One of my proudest achievements is founding KDNT (KPOP DANCE NORTH TEXAS), which has grown into a vibrant community for K-pop enthusiasts in North Texas. What sets me apart is my ability to understand the needs of my students, creating not just a dance class but a space for personal growth and collaboration. My teaching philosophy focuses on building confidence, encouraging creativity, and emphasizing teamwork. Seeing my students grow and perform on stage fills me with immense pride.
Our instructors are not only skilled in teaching K-pop cover dances but also excel at creating original choreography. In the future, we plan to introduce classes featuring our original choreography set to K-pop songs, diversifying how we run our classes. There is so much more to accomplish, but I feel confident that with Joseph and Christy by my side, we will succeed. They are a source of strength and inspiration. Thank you for listening to our story so far.
Joseph: My dance journey is rather unorthodox – I never took dance classes as a child other than the worship dance opportunities I partook in at church, and I only started taking choreography classes right after graduating high school. Most of the skills I’ve learned in dance came from years of building my dance vocabulary on my own through learning choreography by myself throughout college.
I think that’s what makes K-pop dance so attractive to people who may not have a traditional dance background: the range of difficulty that K-pop dance requires is so vast that it appeals to any audience from the most seasoned dancers to someone who firmly believes they have two left feet. As a result, while I do try my best to incorporate any introduction to fundamentals in my classes (e.g. I had to teach house steps for one class to fully execute one particular K-pop choreography), I also try to ensure that it’s as accessible as possible to someone who may be dancing for the first time.
Christy: As an instructor at Kpop Dance North Texas, I specialize in teaching K-pop choreography and creating a welcoming space for dancers of all levels. My work involves curating classes that not only teach dance routines but also celebrate the joy of K-pop and the vibrant community it brings together. I’m known for my energetic teaching style and ability to break down intricate choreography in an approachable way, helping students build confidence while having fun.
What sets me apart is my blend of classical dance training and self-taught K-pop experience, which allows me to bring versatility and creativity to my choreography. I’m most proud of the community we’ve built at KDNT—seeing students light up with excitement as they master a routine or connect with others who share their passion is incredibly fulfilling.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Yimin: Risk-taking has been an integral part of my journey. While I didn’t leave a stable career path, balancing the dance classes with our individual responsibilities was challenging. Joseph and I were both working full-time jobs, and Christy was a college student. Managing our professional and academic commitments alongside running KDNT was not easy, but our shared passion for dance kept us going.
One of the biggest risks I took was founding KDNT. Starting a dance class in a new city with limited resources was daunting. There were times when the rent exceeded the class fees, and student attendance was unpredictable. Yet, I believed in the potential of this community and continued to invest time, energy, and resources into it. My perspective on risk is that it’s a necessary part of growth. While it can be uncomfortable, it’s also the key to uncovering new opportunities and realizing dreams.
Joseph: It’s not easy trying to build a dance group from the ground up, nor must it have been easy for the students to get adjusted to the regimen that we try to uphold for them to help KDNT thrive. There have been cases where it’s easy to throw in the towel, but there is also so much satisfaction in seeing a body of work (in our case, K-pop dance cover performances) come to life as you had envisioned it after much hard work. Experiencing that satisfaction made me realize that taking risks opens up opportunities for growth and personal fulfillment.
Christy: Starting KDNT itself was also a risk—we didn’t know if the local community would respond positively, but we believed in our vision of creating a space where K-pop fans and dance enthusiasts could come together. That risk paid off, as KDNT has grown into a thriving community, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see how much joy and connection it brings to others. Taking those risks taught me that growth often comes from embracing the unknown and believing in your passion.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kdnt.net
- Instagram: @kdancenorthtexas @teamyminkpop
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kpopdancenorthtexas/
Image Credits
KDNT_1,2 Practice_6,13 Photographer Nathan Lim, Instagram @lim_kisuk
