A Soundbox Studio Dance Showcase:
Oh Sehun - An Interview
November 19, 2016 | tagged: @rksoojung
It was unexpected for him when he was informed about the on stage interview. But as surprising as it was, instead of feeling nervous, he had been excited, although the pounding of his heart is slightly irregular, he supposes it’s due to anticipation. The fact that it’s right after his performance doesn’t help either. He’s still high from the adrenaline, so he’s all smiles and rainbows when he approaches Dahae, giving her a polite bow as a greeting. It was an honour though, considering the interview will be done by one their teachers. He just wishes he could remember look over at the audience or something.
“Hello Sehun-ssi, we see you’re still a little pumped from that performance. That was indeed a nice piece from you and Soojung-ssi,” she pauses, “Tell us, what’s it like working with Soojung for a piece like this?”
Sehun clears his throat before answering the question comfortably. “In one word, it would definitely be ‘fun’. Soojung-noona have been good friends for as long as I can remember, and she’s probably one of the few people I know who takes practicing to a whole new level,” he chuckles, remembering the number of times they had to start from the top because he had messed up.
“Though the piece comes with a theme I’m a little inexperienced with, it is still in a genre we’re both more than comfortable with, so it helped make practising easier. She has always been great with her singing, and she dances quite well, too. Not to mention she’s one of my seniors here, so it’s only natural that we discuss how we want our overall performance would look like. We combine our ideas, see if it’ll look good, then do some changes if needed,” he pauses. “Noona’s as supportive as she’s determined. Definitely the type to push someone to their limits because she knows they can without going overboard.”
“Ah yes, we also believe it’s important to be comfortable with the theme as well as with your partner when doing any kind of performance,” there was a chuckle before she continues, “If you weren’t here, at Soundbox or on this stage, what do you think you would be doing?”
Briefly, he wonders if being honest in interviews like this will be okay, or if he needed to spew out interesting answers regardless if they’re true or not. But before he could really think about it, he opts for the truth.
“Honestly? I’ll probably be at home, sleeping.” He lets out a chuckle before he clears his throat again. “I’m kidding. But if I weren’t in Soundbox attending classes, I’ll probably be at home or at a studio or any spacious place, really, practising a dance cover or something. It’s one of the few things I love doing. If not, I stand by my first answer - at home getting some shut eye.”
“Well, that’s understandable. Working so hard like that, it’s only natural to want to get enough rest.” There’s another paus and a flip of her cue cards before they continued on. “Sounbox studio has done a lot of showcases and events in the past. What does it mean to you to do an event like this?”
It’s Sehun who takes a few beats to collect his thoughts before answering. “I think it’s a great way to bond with everyone. We’re a closed-knit group, yes, but I personally think there’s something special about being able to do something we all love doing together,” he replies with a slight nod of his head. “Preparations are tiring, yes, but at the end of the day, after accomplishing something like this together with everyone; all the hardships and late night practices becomes a treasured memory, and I think that’s awesome! Plus, it’s also a great way to show people interested in joining how much fun Soundbox Studio is.” Sehun gives a thumbs up at this.
That had seemed to wrap up the interview. Still unable to get rid of the grin on his lips, he exits the stage to prepare for their next performance.
A Soundbox Studio Dance Showcase
Hotline Bling ft. Jung Soojung (@rksoojung)
November 19, 2016
The sweating of his hands could be linked to the excitement buzzing in his veins, his heart pumping to the beat of anticipation that makes him shuffle in his place as they wait for their turn to take the stage. It’s a huge contrast to how he had been feeling during practice, his body almost collapsing on itself from exhaustion. The crowd’s response had been very warm and welcoming though, and it adds to the excitement he seems to be brimming with.
It’s been a while since Soundbox had done an event like this, something of a good cause apart from advertising Soundbox’s name, and he’s psyched to be a part of something like it. It took them a while to settle on a music, let alone choreograph a routine. Soojung had been very patient with him though, and for that he’s glad. They had done a few covers before, and had performed as trainees at one point. This is their first time to hit the stage as Soundbox kids, as surprising as that sounds considering they’ve been there for a long while now.
It doesn’t take long before the stage lights dim, their cue given just as the place is enveloped in darkness. Sehun almost trips on the stairs in his haste, his hands instinctively reaching out for Soojung’s. The seconds tick by and the light gradually illuminates them, the beams almost touching their skin but not really. He takes a calming breath just as the intro starts, the first beats of the music echoing in his ears, making the tips of his fingers tingle.
It was regrettably a short piece, a simple one without too much flashy steps. They had decided to go with the feel of the music, letting the lyrics speak through their every move, keeping each breath in sync with each beat and rhythm. It was entirely different from their usual performances where they pay more attention to detail, showcasing the complexity of each move - something he had been accustomed and enjoyed doing. This time, they show the simplicity of the routine, letting the overall emotion of the music take over. It flows like water, like how they originally wanted it to look, letting the melody of the piano merge with every glide of their feet.
Sehun gives it his all, supporting Soojung every step of the way. He lets her shine, as she should on that stage. They moved as one, their rhythm in synched. There was an element of resitance, a conflict with one’s self that the song implies. They stick to the story they wanted to portray, from the gentle but firm touches, of craving closeness but not wanting to touch.
It wasn’t long before they near the end of the routine. Sehun was to lift Soojung and spin once before he lets her unceremoniously fall to the ground, uncaring, putting an end to an emotionally draining relationship. He mentally sends her a hundred apologies when he hears the inevitable thud from when she hits the floor, but he was not to look back, a resolve a man in that kind of relationship should possess. Slowly, the music fades out just in time for him to walk away from the scene, Soojung still on the ground in a crouch.
The light dims back to black just as applause reaches their ears. There’s a grin on his face as he welcomes Soojung back in his arms, patting her back for a job well done.
Shut your mouth
Baby, stand and deliver
Holy hands oh they make me a sinner
Choreography: X
Partner: @rkhyunakim
Soobin never really considered dance seriously before she got this farfetched idea to become and idol. She always fancied herself a cerebral sort. Writing songs was in her comfort zone. Moving her body, not so much. Of course, this also demonstrated Soobin’s total lack of understanding of dance generally.
Now that she’s spent weeks working with Hyuna late at night after her shifts on Sundays, she realized that there was no value in separating the mental nature of music with the physicality of dance. In fact, one could only aid in understanding the other. Every beat hit was sharper. Rising chord progressions and rising physical energy went hand in hand.
Soobin didn’t exactly plan on performing at the Showcase. She initially thought that it was only for students who were in a class, but Hyuna sunsaegnim disabused her of that notion fairly quickly. She wasn’t eager to participate. Her dancing skills were still quite amateur and it wasn’t like she would be seeing any familiar faces perform. In the end though, that might have been what emboldened her to not protest. It was for a good cause, and it wasn’t like everyone she had ever known would be there.
Something that Soobin always thought would be challenging was moving in sync. She thought that it would be impossible to be that aware of someone else’s body in addition to her own. What she figured out was that it was never about matching up with the other dancer, at least in regards to timing. It’s about matching the music.
There was a certain energy that accompanied performing. Practicing in a studio was one thing, but dancing in front of a group of people with the bass from the speakers reverberating through her body was another. She heard people talk about riding the music before. It always sounded comedic to her, and in some ways is still was. But as she moved in sync with the music and amazingly her teacher as well, Soobin began to think that she understood it.
