Bada reveals Baek Gu-young connected her to EXO Kai 8 years ago — she taught him hip-hop and co-choreographed 'Reason'
Bada credits Baek Gu-young with introducing her to Kai for hip-hop lessons—a connection that led to choreographing 'Reason' and launching her career as a K-pop director.
The connection that started it all
Roughly eight years ago, Baek Gu-young called Bada with a specific ask. She was in her early twenties at the time. "Gu-young oppa contacted me first," she said. "He said he was looking for a female dancer and choreographer who was tall and danced well. That's when we started knowing each other." Bada is 176 cm.
That introduction led somewhere bigger. Baek Gu-young later asked her to run Kai's personal hip-hop lessons. She co-created the choreography for Kai's Reason with someone credited as Bata—a track from Kai's first solo mini-album in November 2020. Baek Gu-young also pushed her toward dancing on Sehun's solo song.
From Kai's lesson room to K-pop director
Working with Kai shifted something in her. "While working with Kai oppa, I developed ambition as a director," she said. Projects with NCT Dream, Ten, and aespa's Next Level followed. The expectations grew. She committed fully to the craft.
In 2023, she led crew Bebe to first place on Mnet's Street Woman Fighter 2. Three years later she returned to Mnet as a performance director on Street World Fighter: Directors' War, a season where ten recognized directors competed. She reached TOP4, advanced to the live final, and finished 4th overall.
What's next
Bada wants to explore more concepts and choreographies with Kai. She's worked with BLACKPINK's Lisa as a dancer before. Next time, she wants to come in as the choreographer.
Cheer the story
