The cultural exchange brings one of Korea’s most popular and beloved TV and cultural personalities to the USC campus.

The USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, in partnership with the Korean Cultural Center of Los Angeles K-Pop Dance Academy, is pleased to present 2023 K-Pop Academy at USC this October featuring South Korean dancer and choreographer Aiki with Odd, a member of the HOOK crew. The weeklong residency for USC Kaufman BFA students and the wider USC student population includes dance workshops and a conversation with Aiki, moderated by Hye Jin Lee, Clinical Assistant Professor of USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Aiki will be joined by her assistant, Odd, a member of the dance group HOOK. 

On Friday, October 27, a workshop will take place in the courtyard of the USC Kaufman International Dance Center and is open to the wider USC population, including students, faculty, and staff. The workshop is free and registration is required. Capacity is limited and admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. A university ID/number will be required for entry. Interested participants can register here.

Aiki (Kang Hyein) is one of Korea’s most sought-after artists and influencers. She burst onto the scene in 2019 with an appearance on NBC’s World of Dance with the duo All Ready, finishing in fourth place. In 2020, she appeared in the debut of Mnet’s Street Woman Fighter (SWF). The popular South Korean dance reality television show “shook the nation,” according to The Korea Herald. As the leader of the popular HOOK crew, Aiki led her group to a second-place finish.

Nearly four years since her star turn on SWF, Aiki has established herself as one of Korea’s most beloved TV and cultural personalities. She has a combined Instagram and TikTok following of more than 4.4 million. Her videos on each platform collect millions of views at a time and have inspired choreography for some of K-pop’s biggest names. Aiki’s choreographic credits include BTS’s #Move4Gen1 dance challenge for the song “I’m On It” and the Refund Sister’s single “Don’t Touch Me.”

Aiki has appeared on numerous television programs in her home country, including My Teenage Girl, Street Dance Girls Fighter, Fly to the Dance, Any Body Can Dance, and R U Next. Currently, she serves as a special judge in the second season of Street Woman Fighter.

The presentation of 2023 K-Pop Academy at USC is made possible by KCCLA’s K-pop Dance Academy, in partnership with the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, with support from USC Kaufman’s Beyond the Monolith series and Katherine and James Lau.

Schedule of workshops and events open to the wider USC community. A university ID number/card will be required to gain entry. 

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Wednesday, October 25

A Conversation with Dance Artist Aiki | 7:30 PM

Open to the wider USC community. Registration is required and seating is limited. Admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis. A university ID number/card will be required to gain entry.

Large Performance Space, Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center

Register Here

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Friday, October 27

Workshop | 3:00 PM (subject to change)

Open to the wider USC community. Registration is required and space is limited. Admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis. A university ID number/card will be required to gain entry.

USC Kaufman Courtyard, Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center

Register Here