How do I learn a K-pop dance from YouTube?

By the RepeatWatch team · Updated

Quick answer

Learn a K-pop dance one eight-count at a time. Loop eight counts of a dance practice or tutorial video at 0.75×, add a 2-second pause between loops, and let the speed trainer add 5% every three clean loops. Save each eight-count as a section, then chain them until the chorus runs at full speed.

Try this now: watch the chorus once at full speed and try it. Then loop just the first eight counts at 0.75× five times. Which version could you actually do?

How to learn a K-pop dance with RepeatWatch

  1. Pick a dance practice or tutorial video. Use the official dance practice video (one fixed camera, no cuts) or a step-by-step tutorial, and paste its link into RepeatWatch.
  2. Loop one eight-count. Count "5, 6, 7, 8" with the music, then press A on the next 1 and B on the following 8. Nudge both by 0.1 s so the loop starts on the beat.
  3. Start at 0.75× with a 2-second pause. In the Practice tab set speed to 0.75× and Pause between loops to 2 s, so you can walk back to your starting spot every time.
  4. Turn on the speed trainer. Set Step +0.05×, Every 3 loops, Goal 1×. Mark the moves (small, half-energy) for the first few loops, then dance full out.
  5. Save the point choreography first. Find the hook move in the chorus, save it as a section, and drill it before the verses. It is the part people recognise.
  6. Chain sections into the full routine. Save every eight-count, add them to the Playlist tab with 3 repeats each, and run them in order at full speed.

Try it on an example: open the start of the at-tempo run-through in Tiana Shern’s K-pop cover class with a 28-second loop already set at 0.75×.

Try it on an example

5 common mistakes

  • Learning from a music video, where camera cuts hide half the moves, instead of a dance practice video.
  • Looping a whole verse at once, so you keep restarting before the part you actually can’t do.
  • Starting the loop off the beat, which teaches you to come in late every single time.
  • Staying at 0.75× for days. The timing at full speed feels different, so climb with the trainer.
  • Copying arms before feet. Get the footwork and weight changes first; arms sit on top of them.

Frequently asked questions

Should I learn from the dance practice video or the music video?

Use the dance practice video. It films the whole group from one fixed angle without cuts, so you see every step and formation change. Use the music video later for style and expression.

What speed should I start a K-pop dance at?

Start around 0.75×. Go down to 0.5× for fast footwork, but only for that eight-count. YouTube’s player keeps the pitch the same, so the song still sounds right while slower.

How long does it take to learn a K-pop chorus?

It depends on the routine and your experience, so there is no honest fixed number. Short daily sessions of 20 to 30 minutes on one or two eight-counts usually beat one long session.

Can I loop a K-pop dance from YouTube Shorts?

Yes. Paste the Shorts link into RepeatWatch and set A and B like any other video. Shorts are short already, so loop one eight-count of it rather than the whole clip.

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