K-pop performances look amazing, but they’re actually super tough workouts that would make athletes tired. BTS’s “ON” is the hardest dance in K-pop! Fans argue about this all the time, and honestly, everyone has different opinions.
I’m going to show you the dances that make idols sweat the most and struggle to catch their breath. These moves need crazy skills, energy that never runs out, and perfect timing with other members.
Important note: There are no “official” rankings or statements that this is the hardest dance for everyone. To come up with this list, we also looked at the public opinion, choreography styles, and overall dance aspects. Your opinion may vary, and we respect that.
Which Is The Hardest Dance In K-Pop?
“Hardest” can mean different things, but BTS’s “ON” is often brought up for good reason. This routine hits like a storm, explosive footwork, sharp angles, and intense transitions, all packed into three nonstop minutes.
You’ll see the members breathless by the end, and honestly? Same, just watching. It’s not just hard; it’s athletic storytelling. The choreography doesn’t let up — and that’s exactly what makes it unforgettable.
Top 10 Hardest K-Pop Dances Ranked
These dances are the worst nightmares for anyone trying to learn them. Every single one needs months of practice, crazy stamina, and group members who can read each other’s minds.
| Rank | Song | Artist | Overall Difficulty (1-5 scale) | Key Challenge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ON | BTS | 5 | Military moves, never stops |
| 2 | Impossible | RIIZE | 5 | Super fast feet |
| 3 | Don’t Wanna Cry | SEVENTEEN | 4.5 | 13 people moving together |
| 4 | Whiplash | aespa | 4.5 | Sharp head moves |
| 5 | Cherry Bomb | NCT 127 | 4.5 | Floor moves, power |
| 6 | Siren | RIIZE | 4 | Speed changes |
| 7 | Kick It | NCT 127 | 4 | Karate kicks |
| 8 | Hala Hala | ATEEZ | 4 | Acting while dancing |
| 9 | Get a Guitar | RIIZE | 3.5 | Fake guitar playing |
| 10 | Naughty | Red Velvet (I&S) | 3.5 | Two-person moves |
You can see RIIZE shows up three times here – they really love making dances that seem impossible to do right.
1. BTS – “ON”
This dance is the boss of all hard K-pop dances and makes every other group scared to try copying it.
| Release Year | 2020 |
| Group Size | 7 members |
| Best For | Only expert dancers |
| Signature Move | Army marching with big jumps |
| Learning Time | 6-8 weeks for pros |
This dance doesn’t just need good moves – you need the energy of someone running a marathon plus the exact timing of a perfect clock. The army-style moves make it feel like a real battle where every step has to be perfect.
What makes “ON” so brutal is how it stays crazy intense for almost four minutes straight. Even BTS looks super tired when they finish performing it live. This dance never lets you rest and turns every show into a test of how strong you really are.
2. RIIZE – “Impossible”
The name says everything – this 2024 dance does things with feet that shouldn’t be possible for humans.
| Release Year | 2024 |
| Group Size | 7 members |
| Best For | Advanced to expert dancers |
| Signature Move | Feet moving like lightning |
| Learning Time | 5-7 weeks for pros |
RIIZE made footwork so fast that your eyes can’t keep up with what their feet are doing. Even when you slow down their practice videos, it’s hard to see every single step they take. What makes this super hard is how their feet and arms have to do different complex things at the same time.
Dancers love trying this one because it’s the ultimate test of how good your feet really are.
3. SEVENTEEN – “Don’t Wanna Cry”
This sad song proves that hard doesn’t always mean fast – sometimes it’s about getting 13 people to look like one person.
| Release Year | 2017 |
| Group Size | 13 members |
| Best For | Advanced dancers with group experience |
| Signature Move | Wave moves across all 13 guys |
| Learning Time | 4-6 weeks for pros |
Making 13 people look like they share one brain is honestly insane. You literally have to trust your members with your life because one wrong step ruins everything for everyone.
Plus you have to look heartbroken and emotional while your legs are screaming from exhaustion. They make something super hard look so easy that you forget how much work it really takes.
4. aespa – “Whiplash”
Quick, sharp moves that test how much your neck and back can actually bend. The name perfectly shows what it feels like to try this dance – quick, sharp moves that need perfect body control.
| Release Year | 2024 |
| Group Size | 4 members |
| Best For | Intermediate to advanced dancers |
| Signature Move | Fast head snaps |
| Learning Time | 3-5 weeks for pros |
In Whiplash each head move has to be timed exactly right while smoothly moving into the next part. The scary thing is, you can get hurt if you don’t do these moves with perfect technique.
This dance proves that having fewer people doesn’t make things easier – four girls can create chaos that’ll break your brain just as much as larger groups.
5. NCT 127 – “Cherry Bomb”
NCT 127’s “Cherry Bomb” is like watching controlled explosions – small, tight moves that somehow pack the energy of actual bombs going off.
| Release Year | 2017 |
| Group Size | 9 members |
| Best For | Advanced dancers are good with floor work |
| Signature Move | Floor splits with power moves |
| Learning Time | 4-6 weeks for pros |
This dance lives up to its explosive name through moves that blow up with controlled power. The floor moves need super-strong legs while keeping the song’s aggressive energy.
What’s cool is how small movements create huge visual impact – every move packs the punch of an actual cherry bomb. This dance changed how powerful choreography could be without using big movements.
6. RIIZE – “Siren”
Another RIIZE dance that shows they love making their bodies do impossible things.
| Release Year | 2024 |
| Group Size | 7 members |
| Best For | Advanced dancers |
| Signature Move | Flowing moves like siren calls |
| Learning Time | 4-5 weeks for pros |
This dance tricks you because it looks smooth and easy, but it’s actually super complex like a real siren’s trap. The group changes positions smoothly while making it look effortless. The hard part is how they speed up and slow down constantly while keeping the hypnotic flow.
It looks simple until you try it and realize there are hidden layers of difficulty everywhere.
7. NCT 127 – “Kick It”
Martial arts meets K-pop in this dance that needs fighter-level precision. Every move feels like real martial arts training mixed with performance art
| Release Year | 2020 |
| Group Size | 9 members |
| Best For | Advanced dancers, a martial arts background helps |
| Signature Move | Taekwondo kicks with dance |
| Learning Time | 4-6 weeks for pros |
The kicks have to look perfect while blending smoothly with dance moves. This is extra hard because most dancers don’t have the strength and flexibility that martial artists train for years to get.
This dance bridges the gap between art and athletic competition.
8. ATEEZ – “Hala Hala”
ATEEZ’s “HALA HALA” doesn’t just need good dancing – it needs acting skills and storytelling through movement.
| Release Year | 2018 |
| Group Size | 8 members |
| Best For | Advanced dancers with strong acting |
| Signature Move | Character changes through movement |
| Learning Time | 5-6 weeks for pros |
This dance needs actors just as much as dancers, with each member becoming different characters through their moves. The storytelling adds emotional complexity to already hard technical parts. What makes this special is how personality switches have to happen smoothly while keeping perfect choreography.
The mental challenge makes this as hard on your brain as it is on your body.
9. RIIZE – “Get a Guitar”
The third RIIZE entry proves they never stop making innovative, challenging dances.
| Release Year | 2023 |
| Group Size | 7 members |
| Best For | Intermediate to advanced dancers |
| Signature Move | Air guitar with complex dance |
| Learning Time | 3-4 weeks for pros |
Pretending to play guitar while doing complex dance moves creates weird coordination challenges. You need to understand music and dance technique at the same time. What’s interesting is how members have to convince audiences they’re really playing instruments while performing demanding dance sequences.
This dance shows how K-pop keeps pushing creative boundaries in new directions.
10. Red Velvet (I&S) – “Naughty”
Smooth control and partner work finish our top ten with sophisticated difficulty.
| Release Year | 2021 |
| Group Size | 2 members (Irene & Seulgi) |
| Best For | Advanced dancers comfortable with mature concepts |
| Signature Move | Complex partner moves and controlled sensuality |
| Learning Time | 3-4 weeks for pros |
Partner choreography creates dependency where both dancers must keep perfect timing together. The mature concept needs control that younger dancers might struggle with. What makes this uniquely hard is how close partner work requires trust and coordination that takes time to develop.
This dance proves that two members can create complexity that rivals bigger groups.
How We Ranked The Hardest K-Pop Choreographies
Making this ranking needed careful analysis of different things that make K-pop dances truly challenging. Instead of just picking my favorites, I made a fair system that looks at various parts that make K-pop dances genuinely hard to master.
Our 5-Point Assessment Criteria:
1. Technical Complexity: Special moves, tutting, floor work, isolations, and advanced techniques that need specific training.
2. Group Synchronization: How well members coordinate and time things together, especially hard with bigger groups.
3. Stamina Requirement: Physical endurance and breath control needed throughout the whole performance.
4. Formation Changes: Moving around the stage and changing positions in complex ways that test spatial awareness.
5. Performance Intensity: Overall energy output and stage presence requirements that go way beyond basic movement.
How hard is K-pop choreography? Most professional K-pop dances need 6-12 months of training for complete mastery, with the hardest ones requiring 1-2 years for perfection.
These rules helped make sure our rankings show real difficulty rather than just personal taste or how popular the songs are.
Tips For Aspiring Dancers To Learn The Hardest K-pop Dance
Trying these dances needs smart planning and realistic expectations. I’ve learned that jumping straight into the hardest ones usually leads to frustration and getting hurt.
Learning Approach for These Dances:
- Start Simple: Master basic K-pop fundamentals first – isolation, rhythm, and basic formations.
- Section Practice: Break into 8-count segments, perfect each before connecting them.
- Speed Building: Begin at 0.5x speed, gradually increase as muscle memory develops.
- Stamina Training: Build cardiovascular endurance through regular cardio and dance practice.
- Record & Compare: Film yourself vs. originals to identify areas needing improvement.
Realistic Timeline: 3-6 months for experienced dancers to master these choreographies, with beginners needing 1-2 years of foundational training first.
These timelines assume you practice every day – rushing usually results in sloppy technique that’s harder to fix later.
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Conclusion: BTS’ “ON” Is Considered One Of the Hardest Dance
BTS’s “ON” rightfully gets the title of hardest K-pop dance, mixing military precision with stamina demands that push human limits. SEVENTEEN’s and aespa’s dances showcase flawless timing and sharp moves.
But every dance on this list represents peak performance art, needing years of training and dedication from idols who execute them perfectly.
Rankings like these always spark passionate debates among fans, and that’s exactly what makes the K-pop dance community so vibrant. These routines show why K-pop idols deserve recognition as world-class athletes, not just entertainers.
FAQs
BTS’s “ON” leads in cover attempts, though most fans try simplified versions rather than the full choreography because it’s extremely difficult.
Professional choreographers combine dance expertise with understanding each group’s strengths, often spending months developing routines that push boundaries while remaining performance-ready.
aespa’s “Whiplash” currently holds this title among girl groups, with demanding isolation work and precise control requirements that challenge experienced dancers.
While subjective, contemporary ballet and certain cultural dances often rank highest globally, though K-pop’s unique blend creates distinct challenges.
TWICE’s “TT” or Red Velvet’s “Red Flavor” are commonly cited as beginner-friendly options with simpler movements and a slower tempo.
Professional K-pop choreography typically requires 6-12 months for mastery, with the most challenging routines needing 1-2 years of dedicated training.
