Cel from Geneva, Danis from Bern, and Efii from Zürich — three exceptional Swiss K-POP dancers — were selected to compete in Paris at the Global K-POP Competition last October, and they truly shined. Their performances were captivating, their energy unforgettable. Naturally, we became curious about the personal journeys that brought them there: their motivations, their inspirations, their aspirations, and their experience on this international stage. So dive in… and let their stories inspire you.
How did K-POP first find its way into your life?
Cel: I was around 10 when I listened to Girls’ Generation, but I thought they were a J-pop group (laughs). I loved their whole universe, and that’s how I realized it was actually K-pop. That intrigued me, and later I was completely stunned by EXO and BIGBANG, both their performances and their visuals.
Danis: It all started during the COVID-19 pandemic. I had a lot of free time and came across the song Wannabe by ITZY. I instantly got hooked. I began dancing more and more to K-POP songs, and that’s really how it all began.
Efii: I stumbled upon PSY’s Music Video Gangnam Style and Lee Hyori’s Music Video Bad Girl and used to watch them as a child, but then I got into K-POP at the age of 12 with BTS and TWICE.
What made you start dancing K-POP ?
Danis: What really inspired me was that every song had its own official choreography. Everything was already there, clean, detailed, and powerful. I loved how structured and expressive it all was, and that motivated me to dive deeper into it.
Cel: The artistic side and the unique concepts have always attracted me. At the time, K-pop was very different from the Western and American music we were used to seeing and that unique style, especially the choreography really captivated me. Wanting to recreate the choreographies is how I discovered that I truly enjoyed dancing and that I had a natural affinity for it.
Efii: It was during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) that I started dancing to K-POP. Since I already enjoyed Just Dance games so much that I developed a love for dance.
Have you ever taken or are you taking dance classes?
Efii: Yes, I have! Since I’m mostly a self-trained dancer, I wanted to go to dance classes to develop my dance and get some tips. I went to Tanzwerk and The Black Box in Zürich and learned Choreography/Commercial. I went to JustJerkStudios in Korea as well and I went to Hui’s Class there; it was an incredible Experience and would go there again.
Danis: Yes, I’ve been taking classes for many years in various styles like hip-hop, commercial, afro, jazz, and heels. There weren’t any K-POP classes available before, but now I teach a K-POP class myself, every Tuesday from 8:30–9:30 PM in Bern at the Withdaflow Academy, which is also where I live. I still have some free spots in my class, so feel free to join (laughs)!
Cel: No, I’ve always danced on my own. I never took official dance classes, I always learned everything by myself just by watching and recreating choreography movements. But I would absolutely love to take classes someday to have proper guidance and push my limits, with places like Just Jerk Dance Academy or Chinese studios like Hello Dance Studio, and of course 1million where the level is incredible, really appeal to me.
Are you part of a K-POP dance crew?
Cel: Yes, I am part of OFFLIMITS (@offlimits.official), and we are based in Geneva Switzerland, although our members come from all over the country.
Efii: Yes, I am! Our group name is Lynx (@official.lynx.crew) And we were established in the year 2023 and are from Zürich. I’m the Leader of my group but I’m giving everyone in my group a chance to lead the projects that we’re doing since I’m not the type of person to abuse my powers (laughs).
Danis: I used to be in Over the Moon (@otm_official_), a crew based in Bern, for around four years. I’m no longer part of a crew because I’ve decided to focus on exploring new dance styles and expanding my skills. I want to grow as a more versatile and multi-dimensional dancer, and for that, I’m currently focusing on individual development and trying out different directions.
Which K-POP artists inspire you the most?
Cel: This is a really difficult question because there are so many incredibly talented artists. I love a lot of artists, but I really like Kai from EXO, T.O.P and G-Dragon from BIGBANG, Intak from P1Harmony and Taeyoung from NCT. I stan many groups, so it’s really hard to choose (laughs).
Danis: I’m mostly inspired by girl groups like (G)I-DLE, ITZY, BLACKPINK, TWICE, Purple Kiss, and many more. What fascinates me is how clean and sharp their arm movements are. That’s something I really focus on in my own dancing too.
Efii: For me it would be NCT Mark, NCT TEN and TAEMIN. They are all incredible Performers and Dancers, that I aspire to become like them once.
And on the dance side — which choreographers or dancers inspire you?
Cel: Choreographers like Bada Lee and Vata from WTBZ! I also admire Yumeki, Jojo Gomez, JAM Republic in general, and Koizumi from Hello Dance in China. Their style really matches mine, but of course there are many others who inspire me as well (smiling).
Efii: There are quite a few but if I had to choose then it would be ROOT, Jam Republic and AG Squad. Because of the way they move, express and deliver their choreography/dance. I really look up to them and want to meet them.
Danis: Definitely, Kirsten Dodgen who was in The Royal Family. I even took a Royal Family workshop in Zurich where I got selected and received special recognition from Moana (Royal Family member), which was amazing. Paris Goebel of course too, Latrice and Jam Republic in general. Also, choreographers from 1MILLION like Lia Kim. Since I also do waacking, I’m really inspired by dancers from Manequeen, like Waackxxxy Cera, and many others. Todd Williams, Kiel Tutin, and Jojo Gomez too! Actually, Jojo taught Mantra by Jennie at the NDMF dance camp in Athens this year, where she also selected me, which was another unforgettable moment (smiling).
How did you first hear about Global K-POP Competition?
Cel: I first heard about the Global K-POP Competition by chance on social media. I saw that the event was taking place in Paris, but that the selections were European and Switzerland was included, which made me even more motivated. As soon as I saw who the judges were — Kamel and Vata from WTBZ — I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to challenge myself and gain experience with such amazing choreographers who inspire me.
Efii: It came up on my Instagram timeline because I am following Dear My Korea! And at first, I wanted to participate with my dance crew but most of the people didn’t have time, so I decided to enter as a solo performer instead since I also want to experience how it feels to perform solo since I always performed with my group.
Danis: I heard about it through friends and online. The opportunity to perform on an international stage and meet other dancers was very exciting for me.
Tell us about your preparation?
Efii: I chose Wait on Me by KAI and Stunner by TEN. I already knew both dances because I really liked the choreography and music. I even did a Wait on Me project but for the moment it’s postponed because of personal reasons. For the training, I mostly did it on my own and just tried to make it seem interesting and balance my energy since they were intense choreographies.
Cel: After I was selected, I knew I needed a song that no one else would choose in order to stand out — and it worked. I did a lot of research to find a choreography that suited me and showed enough technique in just one minute. That’s when I came across Yumeki’s audition dancing Rainism by Rain, and I knew it was the one. It was also a small nod to the judges, who had worked a lot with Rain.
Training wasn’t easy because my studies took up most of my time. I had chosen complicated choreographies, so I kept doubting my choices, and my physical condition wasn’t great, which stressed me out even more. In the end, I only had time to train twice for the two choreographies. (DMK’s note: and even so, she still made it to the finals together with Efii)
Danis: Since I didn’t have a lot of time to prepare, I chose a song I already knew really well, memeM by Purple Kiss. It allowed me to showcase my strengths, especially my hand movements and facial expressions, which are key parts of my style. For my final, I had prepared Born to Be by ITZY, a song I know really well. I also prepared it even with my own choreography!
How did the event go for you in Paris?
Cel: I was very stressed at the beginning, especially since it was so early in the morning, and I only found out five minutes before performing that the judges would be watching us very closely. But the stress quickly faded, and I felt fairly relaxed afterward. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for everyone. One of the girls in a group fainted during their performance because she was extremely stressed and hadn’t eaten and slept, given how early the competition was. It was so serious at first that we even thought she might have had a cardiac arrest, as she barely moved. I later saw that she was okay, but the paramedics had to come and take care of her for a while (DMK’s Note: see Paramedics’s sidebar). I really hope that if the organizers hold this type of event again, they schedule it later in the day to avoid incidents like this which could have been very serious.
Danis: It was just incredible. I didn’t make it to the finals, but it was still such an amazing event for me. I was so happy just to be part of the experience. I met so many amazing people and the atmosphere was just crazy, in the best way (smiling).
Efii: For me everything went well, and I met cool people and crew there, but I was late for the competition because I went by train and my train to Lyon was delayed and I was already concerned there because they couldn’t just stop the competition because of one person. Thank God I still arrived on time and could still perform!
Being a physiotherapist at an event that brings together so many dancers means diving right into the heart of movement — where every gesture matters. Backstage, the magic takes shape, and health is what makes it shine on stage. Through the rollercoaster of performances, I once again felt the strength and importance of the medical staff — that invisible pillar supporting the artists.
Acting in the moment, supporting from the shadows, and helping dancers give their very best — that’s my mission. Backstage isn’t just a place; it’s a dream I get to live every day. And every strap, every reassuring word, every post-performance debrief reminds me that this is exactly where I belong.
I wish for this path to keep unfolding — to carry my expertise to even greater performers… maybe one day, to the grand K-Pop stages that move so many hearts.
“The show must go on… and I’m here to make sure it can.”
If you had to describe that day in a few words…any particular moment?
Cel: Incredible, Stressful, Motivating, Exhausting! And the moment that always comes to mind when I talk about it is my audition, when both the judges and the audience were surprised by my choice of choreography and, in the end, genuinely appreciated what I did.
Danis: Connecting. Inspiring. Amazing!
Efii: Exciting, In Awe, Unbelievable, Unforgettable!
Did you meet anyone who particularly inspired you?
Danis: Yes, many! But especially Risin’ Crew, the team that won. I was really inspired by how long they’ve been dancing together and their dedication. It really showed in their performance.
Efii: I met Risin Crew from France, they are such talented individuals and harmonize together very well! I wish I could collab with them or see them again. Also, MC Clyde Williams was so sweet. He made sure to hype up every performer and encouraged everyone to do their best.
Cel: When I saw all the groups perform, I realized they were all really strong teams, and the quality of their work was impressive. It would be hard to pick just a few because everyone gave their all, and it showed. If I had to name one group, I would say AI Dance, a group of girls between 11 and 15 years old. I was really surprised by their presence and their dancing at such a young age. Their performance was very well executed, and being in the finals alongside other crews whose members are 25–28 years old is no small feat and it really shows their level. So, bravo to them!
What will you take away from this experience? Was there a specific moment that moved you or left a deep impression?
Efii: How to entertain the crowd and how to manage my energy while dancing, since I also noticed during the performance that I got tired quite quickly and couldn’t finish strong.
Cel: Yes, I would say at the end, even though it had been a long day, everything went by so quickly, and I felt a bit nostalgic that a day like that was coming to an end.
Danis: So much. I gained new friends, made strong connections, and felt super inspired to keep pushing myself and train even harder.
What are your next goals or upcoming projects?
Cel: I really hope to perform on a big stage in Korea at least once, whether in a group or solo and maybe something like the K-POP dance cover Festival in Changwon or even at a major event. I would also love to continue improving my dancing to make an even stronger impression.
Danis: I’m planning some new covers, continuing to grow my dance class, and traveling more for workshops and international dance events. I was just in Munich this past weekend, and next year I’m planning to return to Athens, maybe even the U.S. if it works out. I always have many projects and covers in progress. I always try to be consistent and push myself as a dancer.
Efii: I want to teach a class once since all my friends say how I teach the moves are very clear and can pick up from it quite good, so maybe in the future I might teach a K-Pop Class or teach one of my own choreographies. I’m also planning to do dance covers with my group.
And finally, what’s your biggest dream as a K-POP dancer (or perhaps more)?
Efii: I want to be a backup dancer for a lot of artists or K-Pop artists. I love dancing so much and doing it in front of thousands of people would give me more energy and let me perform above my limits.
Danis: My biggest dream is to dance internationally and to be able to live from dancing, financially and artistically. Becoming a choreographer for idols or maybe even becoming an idol myself, one day would be incredible. I want to inspire others the way I’ve been inspired.
Cel: I would say, doing a collab stage with great and big artists or dancers. I want to develop my skills and abilities to make that possible, and to captivate them with my dance as well to be noticed.
A last word for the K-POP community in Switzerland?
Cel: Don’t be afraid to do what you love. There’s no shame in doing covers or enjoying K-POP, it’s just one style among many. Even if you feel like you’re not good at first, I encourage you to keep going because if you really put yourself into it, you have all the ability to stand out and achieve great things. And even though Switzerland is a small country and doesn’t have as big a fanbase compared to the surrounding countries, it doesn’t matter—you can still make yourself known.
Danis: The dance community can be tough, there’s always comparison. But the most important thing is to never give up, stay true to yourself, and always push out of your comfort zone. That’s what I can say helped me a lot as a dancer.
Efii: If you ever want to start dancing to K-pop, do it! It’s never too late to start dancing and the outcome might not always be the best or like the K-Pop Idols but that doesn’t mean you should just immediately give up. Just train, train, train learn the basics of dancing (Foundation classes) and then from there you can evolve your dancing into another level. Try to go onstage (Solo or group) even if you might get scared to be judged, let them judge, take the negativity and turn it into a positive to change and become better. We all start somewhere and just take it easy and at your own pace. You don’t have to train like the K-Pop Idols do. We are human!
It is such a pleasure to read so much motivation and energy in these words, to meet young people with big dreams and working so hard to reach them!
Guys! We absolutely want to see your choreographies on stage in Switzerland too!
Cel, because your choice surprised everyone;
Danis, because you unfortunately have no video of your performance in Paris (and if anyone has one, please contact us!) and also because your prepared you own choreography;
and Efii, because we’re still waiting for “Wait on Me” project (laughs)!
Fighting!
DMK
With love
Pictures by Aude Mampwini @kai_kaiphotographie and Global K-POP Competition @globalculturekorea