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’s Jungkook, BLACKPINK’s Lisa, aespa, and Stray Kids, among others.
During a recent interview with iMBC held at the MBC headquarters in Sangam, Seoul, Kany lit up the virtual room with her trademark high energy, despite having just returned to Korea. Known for her choreography on Beyoncé’s world tour and collaborations with acts like VIVIZ, BADVILLAIN, and BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, Kany is praised for her genre-crossing creative flair.
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 blew up 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 words in a fun way. I’m so grateful Korean fans responded so warmly.”
Kany’s variety show potential first gained attention on MBC’s “I Live Alone“, where she appeared thanks to her friendship with SHINee’s Key, after choreographing his track “Gasoline.” Their close bond and fun chemistry on-screen left audiences smiling and wanting more. That experience made Kany consider expanding into Korean entertainment.
“I learn so much from every show. It’s a new experience each time,” she said. “There are so many seasoned entertainers here, and I love being able to show different sides of myself on TV.” At home, though, she’s surprisingly introverted: “I barely talk. I just watch TV with my cat. All my energy goes into work, and I recharge in silence,” she laughed.
Since diving into Korean variety and performance, Kany has gained new insights about herself. “I never used to post or film myself. I’m such a private person. But watching the shows made me realize I’m actually pretty funny!”
As an internationally acclaimed choreographer, she deeply respects K-pop’s work ethic and process. “K-pop is different from any other market. In the U.S., 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 creators have more room to be part of the process. That’s why I really love the Korean style.”
Among her dream collaborators, Hwasa tops the list “Even though we’ve worked together before, I’d love to again,” she said. She also sent a playful shoutout: “aespa, Jungkook, Lisa, Stray Kids if you’re 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’ve traveled, met amazing people, and changed my life. Without dance, there is no Kany.”
Looking ahead, her biggest goal is mastering Korean. “I want to speak it really well. I still have so much to learn, but I want to keep growing and inspire others with positive energy.”
You can catch Kany’s high-energy variety web series “Find Kany”, which airs every Wednesday at 6:30 PM KST on YouTube.
Sources: Daum