After the announcement of the contest, hundreds of people uploaded their videos to YouTube in hopes of winning the mysterious prize. Something coming from such a big broadcasting station must mean they won’t be leaving with just a pat on the back. Between all of those who applied, only three of them get a special post on the station’s official social media. Congratulations to the three winners below!
KIM CHUNGHA ( @rkchungha )
KIM YUGYEOM ( @rkkyg )
KIM JINHWAN ( @rkjinhwan94 )
The real prize of the competition, however, will only be shared with those invited for it—which is not restricted to only the three winners above. A total of 10 people from those who signed up for the competition received an e-mail from MBC specifying the next part of this process. Everyone should already be aware that MBC is the station that hosts one of the biggest end-of-the-year music festivals, the Gayo Daejejun, on December 31st. The top 10 contestants from the competition will get to appear on the festival for a special stage, and the three winners will receive their own special roles. Check out the other 7 contestants who’ll get to participate below!
SON HYEJOO ( @rkxsnh )
KIM SEUNGHUN ( @rkseunghun )
KIM HYOJIN ( @hyojinrk )
KIM JIBEOM ( @rkjibeom )
PARK SIYEON ( @siyeonrk )
IM YOONA ( @rkyoona )
JEON SOMIN ( @jsominrk )
The ten of them will all be gathered in a dance studio in the Gangnam district as described in the e-mail received starting on December 21st. The group of dancers will not take part in just any type of stage but, instead, will be the opening act for the second part of the festival.
The show will start with a solo stage from each of the three winners in the following order: Kim Chungha; Kim Jinhwan; Kim Yugyeom. They’ll each have 30 seconds to show off their dance skills to the public. They may choreograph it themselves or ask for help from one of the dance instructors at the dance studio. Keep in mind that this should be public friendly. Once they’re all done, the 10 contestants will gather around Yugyeom for a final group dance, which will follow the dance seen in this video, but cut as below:
( 0:00 - 0:23 ) Yugyeom center
( 0:24 - 0:42 ) Jinhwan center
( 2:53 - 3:13 ) Chungha center
The specific training dates will be during the weekends leading up to the shoe (21st, 22nd, 28th, 29th), but those involved may request to come in on other days for extra practices. The 10 contestants should arrive early on December 31st at the Gayo location by their own means.
Apart from this, the 10 contestants will also receive prize money for their efforts. The three winners (Chungha, Yugyeom, Jinhwan) will receive 500k won (around 429 dollars), while the others will receive 300k won (around 257 dollars).
For +2 DANCE you may write a 250+ words solo or a four-post thread with another contestant about your muse’s preparation for the special stage. For +2 DANCE OR CHARISMA, you may write a 250+ words solo about the day of the Gayo performance. Please tag all related posts with #rkmbcgayo. You have until midnight EST at the end of Tuesday, December 31st, to make your posts. Threads may be continued after the deadline, but points will no longer be received.
For completing all the requirements, you may receive +1WK HIP HOP ACHIEVEMENT to your muse as soon as everything is posted. You are free to tally up this achievement on your blog and, once your muse gets signed, you will have to add this to their base form as an achievement previously won through MBC Dance Contest.
It reminded her of the MGAs but on a grander scale. Perhaps it was because they were all performing live and a mixture of professionals worked both on and off the stage. Whatever the case was, it was utterly chaotically synchronized. Everyone moved and participated as though they were apart of a well-oiled machine. Brilliantly terrifying really. Olivia couldn't imagine her life ever being close to this organized.
She felt out of her own skin as she moved aside for staff to walk pass. The only thing she could ask herself as she walks with her group was is this how it would be like if she ever actually becomes someone in the entertainment industry. Olivia fancies herself as an upcoming rapper, the reality tv stunt burnt some of her reputations away while it did give her a name. Whether they hated her or not, the mere fact that her name was getting around is enough fame for her now. Until something else pops up.
At this point, half of the idols and performers have already been out and done their bit. She paused briefly for a moment, sending a message to her brother and friends about the evening. Olivia made sure that the squad got their goods and her brother was recording the damn to send it off to their younger siblings. God, they'll be joining the rest of them in Seoul soon. Probably the only thing she was looking forward to in the upcoming year.
Before she could even set her phone away, a staff member swiftly took it from her hand. "You'll get this back later." Olivia glared at the man with a principle's voice and handes of a pickpocket.
"I'll get that back."
"After the show."
Then just like that, she was gazing out of an open stage with hundreds of people looking back at them.
Today was the day. Today was d-day. Today was the day she had worked hard to prepare for. Today was the day she would perform onstage during Gayo Daejejun.
She still couldn’t believe it, even as she walked into the backstage area. She was certain someone would approach her and tell her it was all a big mistake or an elaborate prank. Even as she sat in the makeup and hair room, she was telling herself that something would happen.
Yoona had enjoyed getting to know the other nine winners who she would soon dance with. The top three winners who would have their own stage well deserved it in her mind. They were all so talented and fierce which still had her in awe. She was nowhere near as good as they were, and she would happily admit it. Deep down she wanted to befriend them and learn from them, but she was too shy to do so.
Yoona waited patiently for her turn in hair and makeup. She was only performing briefly after Yugyeom did his solo and she would only be doing one song. Still, hair and makeup were needed as it was being recorded and would air. Not as much effort was put into their hair and makeup as was for the groups and other guests as their performance was not as long. Despite this, it was still a fun experience for her. Usually, she had to do her own makeup, but this time she had had some help.
The singer would be ending her year on a high and starting 2020 positively. She hoped that this meant that good things would be coming the upcoming year. Waiting backstage was hard as she was so nervous and anxious. What if something went wrong? What if she messed up or missed a step? All these thoughts were running through her head, but it was nothing new for her. She often went through this whenever she was about to step onto a stage or into a public performance. It was jitters and nerves.
The group had worked hard in preparing for this day. They had rehearsed and rehearsed. Yoona had drilled the moves into her mind and her body so she wouldn’t mess up or forget. She wanted to blend in and show why she had been added to this group. She was nowhere near one of the best, but she was good enough and that was enough for her. Yugyeom’s solo was coming to an end and it was now time for her to step into the light.
The dance went well. The group looked like one. They were in sync and blended well together, with the three winners shinning during their respective centre spots. Yoona made sure her facial expressions matched the moves. She made sure she danced fiercely and followed the choreography. It was a hard but fun dance and she enjoyed performing it.
Their stage ended on a high and Yoona felt so blessed to have been able to be a part of such an amazing project. It was a once in a lifetime experience that she would never forget.
mbc dance contest
gayo daejejun special dance stage
jibeom’s not the type to care about money but finding out that he’ll be paid 300k won just for participating in the special dance stage for the gayo festival performance despite mbc being the one who emailed him and selected him for this boggled his mind. it was really blowing his mind that this was a real actual gig that jibeom managed to score an amazing opportunity for.
the day of the festival made everything he’s been doing more of a reality and it was starting to hit him. kim jibeom, dancing on an actual stage. he hadn’t been on one in what felt like forever and he’s been dying for a taste of what it’d be like to perform in front of a larger audience. other people had more experience with this so for this to be jibeom’s first time, it meant the world to him.
of course, getting to the gayo festival had to be done on his own. regardless, jibeom made sure to leave at a earlier time to factor in travel time and whatnot. december 31st, the night that jibeom’s life would change for the better. saying goodbye to 2019 and hello to 2020. he could feel his luck was finally changing for the better. he knew that 2020 would hold more opportunities for him and be filled with happier times. he just knew it would.
the special stage was supposed to be the opening act for the second part of the festival. while the actual three winners would get their time to shine individual, the rest of them would go on stage after that and then do a whole group dance performance which they’ve been practicing so hard for. at least, it felt like that for jibeom since he had to put in more effort just to keep up with the rest of them.
after getting ready and fixing himself up to look presentable, jibeom started doing some deep breathing exercises to calm himself down like how he usually does before he attempts something that requires the utmost confidence. he’s not like other people where performing just comes so naturally and they can easily command the stage and wow the crowd. jibeom was and is a lot shyer and timid than most but when he gets comfortable and clears his head, he can be a great performer.
a few inhale and exhales later and finally, it’s time for their stage. they all wait patiently as the winners go out first and do their thing. jibeom gets into position to go on stage when it’s their time. honestly, the whole thing feels much like a blur. it happens too fast for his liking. he knows he moves his body and dances like they all practiced. it feels so short though when it ends and they’re moving offstage for the rest of the gayo festival to continue. jibeom has to blink a few times and catch his breath, hand on his chest feeling his heartbeat fast and he grins because he really got to dance on a big stage for a special performance. it felt so satisfying to be here and he hopes that one day he’ll get to actually be a real idol and be invited to these year end shows and become wicked famous. until then, he’ll take what he can get and appreciate the time he spent just now.
Yoona had entered the MBC dance competition to appease her father. She never expected anything to come from it nor had she expected to win it. She didn’t even put her everything into it like she usually did. It was something she tried to do to distract her from her failed audition.
So how the hell had she made it into the top ten?
She still couldn’t believe it. She had somehow made it into the top ten which meant she would not only be given prize money, but she would also get to perform at Gayo Daejejun. She still couldn’t believe it. She was sure there was some kind of mistake somewhere. She hadn’t even danced her best. She didn’t put as much effort into this competition as she did with everything else. Was that the secret to success? Maybe putting all her effort into everything was what had caused her to fail? She didn’t know. Whatever it was, she was both stunned and grateful.
When the initial shock of the email she had received wore off, she finally understood just how serious and how amazing this opportunity was. Sadly, the actress knew none of the other winners personally. Some she knew by name or had met once or twice but she had never had a proper conversation or gotten to know any of them so this would be a new experience for her. She watched the entries of all the other winners and was in awe. So many amazing dancers and yet here she was. She had somehow managed to slip through the cracks and make it into the winners. It still baffled her.
Her father was the first person she informed, followed by her family and any other person she felt needed to know. Once she had done that, Yoona set about preparing for the rehearsals and for meeting the people she would be dancing with.
The following day began early and Yoona was both nervous and excited. She had made sure to arrive at the rehearsals early, though she was quick to hide when each new person came in. She was too nervous and somewhat shy. All of these people were amazing dancers and she knew she would feel out of place. Still, she mustered up the courage to make her way to the group and introduce herself.
Preparations were naturally hard but worth it. The choreography was hard, but nothing she couldn’t do with a lot of practice. She was thankful she was not a centre. She knew she would have failed terribly if that was the case. She was happy being part of the group. The rehearsals were long and tiring, but nothing she couldn’t handle. Everyone was amazing dancers, and each brought their own personality to the choreography which she loved. Together, the group looked amazing, and Yoona felt proud.
MBC GAYO DAEJEJUN ✖ KIM HYOJIN
song choice: TURTLE SHIP ✖ SCARY
december 31st, 2019 — SHOWTIME
lots of breathing, hyojin.
in and out.
in and out.
in and --
the lights slowly fade in as the cheers rise for chungha, and she finishes her stage. taking the cue as the instrumental comes on, hyojin gets into his spot near yugyeom, head down. remembering the counts engraved into his memory, hyojin tries his best to steel his nerves as he hears the sound of the crowd screaming in recognition of the song.
now isn’t the time to lose focus.
the past few months certainly had a different feel from the more laidback, low-stakes environment hyojin had experienced just two summers ago; with the breakthrough in mgas leading to his exposure to a far more intense, stressful but rewarding level of dance instruction, hyojin finds his body slowly growing more accepting of the constant strain he put it through whenever he entered the studio even afterwards.
at the very least, it’s certainly a new experience for him. he’s not alone anymore, what with yeji’s encouragement and taeyang’s past instruction helping him improve in great leaps, and it makes the transition a little less nerve-wracking. even if he knows he’s far less experienced than everyone else around him, it won’t stop him from putting his all into it. he’s sure that the other hundreds of people who tried out would kill for an opportunity like this, so he mustn’t let it go to waste. not if he can help it.
it’s with this thought that he dances with renewed zest, controlling his breath as he goes through the tiring moves with as much power as he can muster. there are no notable mistakes by the time he makes it to the ground, following the others in sync and hearing their claps resound satisfyingly in the air. his arms burn, but it’s a good burn, and it keeps the sly smile on his face as he maintains the proper stage expressions throughout.
by the time the next song comes on, he’s already deep into the music, and his body goes through the motions smoothly, muscle memory leading the way.
at the final pose, hyojin stands tall, hands in the pocket of his stage costume and sweat gleaming on his forehead. he’s breathing heavily as his eyes search for the camera, making eye contact with it briefly before the lights go back off and they’re directed to leave the stage after a few seconds. as surreal as the experience was, especially as they walked backstage, a wave of inexplicable gladness washed through hyojin, grounding him.
he’s certainly not a dancer -- not as much as chungha, yugyeom, and jinhwan were -- but he could afford himself the indulgence of thinking, maybe for a second, that he had done well on the stage, and fully carried his own weight.
it’s normal to be nervous before a big performance like this and for yugyeom, this is the biggest performance he has ever been apart of. nothing he has done in the past would be able to compete against what he is about to do today. thinks that it could also be the biggest thing he’ll ever do--but he likes to think this isn’t the end to his story. that his dream isn’t fullfilled here and he still has stones to step up.
regardless, this was pretty fucking cool and he’s so siked to be here. everything about it is only things he has seen on those behind the scenes videos that idol groups post to their youtube pages.
and now he’s taking part in it.
he was already all dolled up, waiting for the rest of the group to get finished with their makeup and hair and whatever else needed to be done before they got called up. the dancer taking the time to stretch out and warm up a bit.
he can hear the noise of the people already here to watch the show. he’s already seen some passing idols though hadn’t been given the chance to talk to any of them. he half wonders if convex was here--if his hyung was here. he couldn’t see why he wouldn’t be, why they wouldn’t be. though he doubts he would be able to actually speak with the older.
he could wish though.
everything about it is still a little sureal, but yugeyom thinks his time busking and maintaining his leader role with his group helps him to keep his cool here. to keep collected and ready to go. that, even though this feels so very sureal, and amazing, he wouldn’t mess up just because he;s star struck.
he’s here to make his mark.
as they’re given their cue, yugyeom moves onto stage to get into position and he feels his heart racing. feels his blood pumping under his skin and he knows he’s ready to go. ready to perform.
it’s so fucking sureal to yugyeom when the dance contest results came out. when his name was listed at the top three. it’s so sureal because when he entered he didn’t really have any expectations, he did it because he was already uploading something for the week and what better than to kill two birds with one stone? it’s not like he had gone out of his way or anything, but he hadn’t really expected anything for doing this other than comments from his fans.
to find out he not only won, but he was one of the top three dancers in the competition was so fucking mind blowing and even now, as he stands in front of the mirror at the studio provided for them to practice for the fucking Gayo Daejejun festival at the end of the year, he doesn’t think it’s real.
yet, it has to be.
it’s exciting, and nerve wracking, and such a good opportunity for him that of course he had jumped into it head first. he’d spammed hyunggu’s phone after the announcement, and kept sending the younger updates during practices because he couldn’t keep this excitement to himself. he wonders if this is a step closer to his dream.
as he practices his own choreo for his center part, yugyeom can’t help but picture how it will be the night of the festival when he’s actually up on that stage performing where so many amazing idols have performed and before so many people.
a lesser man would be shaking in his knees with fear.
yugyeom is basking in it.
he’s so fucking siked for this that he finds himself kicking his own ass during practice. wanting to fully utilize the days they have before the festival performance so he would be on that stage showing everyone his skill--his passion. he wants to leave his mark for everyone to see and notice so even when he leaves that stage his presence stays there in a way.
