Kany, the choreographer behind the viral “Smooth Smooth” meme, has once again shown boundless love for K-pop, this time publicly naming the idols she dreams of working with: BTS’ Jungkook, BLACKPINK’s Lisa, aespa and Stray Kids, among others.
During a recent interview with iMBC held at MBC headquarters in Sangam, Seoul, Kany lit up the virtual room with her signature energy, despite having just returned to Korea. Known for her choreography on Beyoncé’s world tour and collaborations with artists such as VIVIZ, BADVILLAIN and BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, Kany is praised for her genre-crossing creative talent.
She recently went viral in Korea thanks to a spontaneous dance she created while studying Korean on her YouTube show “Find Kany.” The “Smooth Smooth” challenge unexpectedly exploded on SNS, becoming a widely shared meme. “I was honestly shocked” Kany said, “It wasn’t planned at all, I was just trying to memorize the words in a fun way. I’m so grateful that Korean fans responded so warmly.”
Kany’s variety show potential first attracted attention on MBC”I live alone“, where she appeared through her friendship with SHINee’s Key, after choreographing her song “Gasoline.” Their close bond and fun on-screen chemistry left audiences smiling and wanting more. That experience led Kany to consider branching out into Korean entertainment.
“I learn so much from every show. It’s a new experience every time,” he said. “There are so many seasoned entertainers here and I love being able to show different sides of myself on TV.” At home, however, she is surprisingly introverted: “I barely speak. I just watch TV with my cat. All my energy goes to work and I recharge in silence,” she laughed.
Since immersing herself in Korean variety and performance, Kany has gained new insights into herself. “I’ve never posted or filmed myself. I’m a very private person. But watching the shows made me realize that I’m actually pretty funny!”
As an internationally renowned choreographer, she deeply respects the ethics and working process of K-pop. “K-pop is different from any other market. In the United States, choreographers often don’t rehearse directly with the artists and sometimes don’t even meet them until the music video shoot. In Korea, the training is structured and the creators have more space to be part of the process. That’s why I really love the Korean style.”
Among his dream collaborators, Hwasa tops the list “Even though we’ve worked together before, I’d love to do it again,” he said. He also sent a joking message: “aespa, Jungkook, Lisa, Stray Kids if you are reading this, contact my manager!”
For Kany, dance is everything. “My whole family dances, even my grandmother. I saw Michael Jackson and thought, ‘I want to be like him.’ Thanks to dance I have travelled, met amazing people and changed my life. Without dance, there is no Kany.”
Looking ahead, her biggest goal is to master Korean. “I want to speak it very well. I still have a lot to learn, but I want to continue to grow and inspire others with positive energy.”
You can watch Kany’s high-energy variety web series “Find Kany”which airs every Wednesday at 6:30 PM KST on YouTube.
Sources: Daum
