Young Filipinos have been riding the Hallyu wave for years. But for some, being a K-Pop fan now means more than listening to their favorite songs or learning their idols’ choreography. Some dream of stepping on the stage themselves! Recognizing this growing interest, SM Universe Singapore and Sky Dance Avenue MNL recently brought “K-Pop Rising Star Search Manila” to the Philippines, giving aspiring young performers a chance to audition, train, and experience what it takes to be the next generation of idols.
Setting the Stage
“K-Pop Rising Star Search Manila” is the brainchild of SM Universe Singapore, SM Entertainment’s training and education flagship in Southeast Asia, and Sky Dance Avenue MNL, a prominent dance studio for kids and teens in the Philippines. It brought together the former’s training expertise and the latter’s talent pool for a two-day event held on September 25 and 26.
Audition Day
Day 1, held at the Music Museum, gave young hopefuls a chance to show off their skills through dance and vocal auditions.
Among the judges were Rachel Lee, SMU’s marketing director, and Khloe Kim, SMU’s dance trainer. With aspiring performers taking the stage in front of industry professionals, the audition gave them a glimpse into the life of a K-Pop trainee, down to the constructive feedback.
Moreover, it gave those who joined a chance to turn something they regularly practice as fans into an actual performance.
Let’s Dance!
The K-Pop experience continued the next day with a dance workshop led by Khloe Kim at Made to Dance Studio. Here, attendees learned the choreographies to “Switchblade” by aespa and “Blingy” by NCT 127, putting their skills, muscle memory, and attention to detail to practice.
And as Khloe herself was a former K-Pop idol, the workshop emphasized the discipline behind performances like these.
From Fans to Future Stars
Filipinos have shown their love for K-Pop through concerts, dance covers, fan communities, and social media. Events like “K-Pop Rising Star Search Manila” open another door for young fans to explore what it could be like to become performers themselves.
While not every participant may end up becoming a K-Pop idol, getting on stage, learning from industry professionals, and practicing idol choreography can already be a meaningful part of their journey.
