Blackpink's "DDU-DU DDU-DU" finger guns and Oh My Girl's "Dolphin" hands are some of the most popular K-pop dance moves. It's common in K-pop for songs to have official dance routines, performances which fans quickly become familiar with and sometimes even learn to dance themselves.
K-pop is a perfect match for Just Dance. In Just Dance, players mirror an onscreen guide as they dance to various songs, while the game tracks their moves and awards them points according to how accurate they are. If jogging isn't your thing, it's a fun way to get moving and enjoy some of your favourite songs.
Just Dance's K-pop routines are not always accurate. Deviation is often necessary due to issues such as safety, practicality, and intellectual property rights, and some do reference the official K-pop choreography.
Steve Miller, managing director of Ubisoft Asia, told UnGeek that they tried to use dance moves, but they weren't allowed to replicate the whole dance routine.
Even if it can't use all of the original dances, Just Dance can sometimes use some of the rechoreographed ones. Some Just Dance K-pop routines are better than others because they follow the spirit of the dance, look impressive, or are just plain fun.
Here is the list of every K-pop dance routine in Just Dance.
32. 'Bubble Pop!' is a song by Hyuna.
"Bubble Pop!" is a confident bop about a woman telling a man to stop trying to change her. I assume that the creators of Just Dance's Bubblegum Version did not know about this.
The mind-numbingly simple moves and planned stunts in this Just Dance routine would suit very young children. The dance requires players to collide with each other, so I don't recommend it. This may work when you're wearing a large plush gumball costume, but it could end in tears for unpadded kids playing at home.
The Bubblegum Version of "Bubble Pop!" is a routine that you pick when you're trying to hide your lack of enthusiasm and self-consciousness. By the way, it isn't working. Everyone knows.
31. 'Gentleman' by Psy.
The chorus' hip swing is a key move in Psy's official "Gentleman" choreography. One arm crossed over his body, the other resting atop to support his chin, as Psy ponders how to sway his side to side like a baby's bassinet. It's genius in its simplicity, and a move that is difficult to get wrong.
Just Dance finds a way. The crablike arms-up movement that immediately follows the game gets the arm positioning right. It is horrible to see Just Dance's guide thrusting his crotch forward like a sexy little nymphomaniac.
The rest of the routine is boring, uninspired, and features a lot of slaps. You can smell the deep personal insecurities in this Just Dance choreography.
30. Twice's song 'Fancy'
When it was first revealed, Just Dance's choreography of Twice's "Fancy" was derided by K-pop fans. The beginning is promising, with finger twirls reminiscent of the official dance, but it quickly turns into a dull routine that is closer to striking a series of embarrassing poses than actually dancing.
If you really want to see the influence of Twice's original choreography, you can see it in the knee movement during the chorus. Just Dance's repetitive effort feels like someone saw a K-pop music show at a Korean restaurant. The use of hand hearts in this context seems disingenuous.
It's a missed opportunity and a disservice to a great song.
29. Twice's song 'feel special'.
Just Dance's "Feel Special" routine is a far cry from Twice's original choreography, but it's more lively than the one from Ubisoft. We take the victories where we can find them.
Just Dance's "Feel Special" routine is very similar to "Fancy" and will make you feel like a big dork. Its higher energy gives it an edge over Twice's previous single. Just Dance's choreography only works the right side of your body, and that's a glaring issue weighing "Feel Special" down. If you follow this dance, you will feel like you're being taken advantage of.
It's still fun and better than "Fancy", but Just Dance's rendition of "Feel Special" isn't spectacular. This is not a high bar.
28. 'I am the best' is a song by 2NE1
The game's standard versions are more in line with the original dances of K-pop songs than the Extreme Versions. This isn't the case for 2NE1's "I Am The Best."
If I didn't know better, I might think 2NE1's performance wasn't seen by anyone. The group's original dance is very feminine and emphasizes the lyrics that boast about how hot they are. The more masculine Just Dance guide waves a spear before punching the air.
If I didn't reference 2NE1's performance in evaluating this Just Dance routine, it might have rated higher. The assignment was misinterpreted by the company.
27. 'Bubble Pop!'
Dancing to "Bubble Pop!" without doing the Time Warp is like dancing to "The Time Warp" without actually doing it. Just Dance does away with the teasing straight-armed move on each "ooh," but it fails to include the vital pop of her hips and chest as she sings the song's title. This should be a crime.
The bouncy entertainer vibe the game uses still works in its own way despite Just Dance losing the assertiveness of the performance of Hyuna. It's fun and keeps the energy up despite not having the original "Bubble Pop!" dance routine.
You have to respect the decision of Just Dance, which doesn't try to emulate Hyuna, which makes it weaker.
26. Psy's song 'Daddy' The father and son version of the CL.
The Just Dance's Father and Son Version of "Daddy" is not as accurate as the original performance. There are a few moments here and there that look like they could have drawn something from Psy's dance routine, but overall, it looks like they just took the title of the song and went off on their own.
Just Dance's Father and Son "Daddy" is more about having fun with a friend or child than Psy's performance. A child can follow along with simple moves that are lively and keep them interested. It's not as though Psy's chorus moves in particular don't fit those criteria, and his choreography is quite famous.
The Just Dance routine is fine for its intended purpose. It doesn't accomplish all that it could.
25. Blackpink sings 'Ice Cream'. Selena Gomez.
Many of the moves would fit nicely into the format of the Just Dance routine, so it's disappointing that they barely refer to Blackpink's official "Ice Cream" choreography. It would be nice if there were at least a few references to the original in Just Dance's K-pop routines.
The "Ice Cream" choreography feels average, but it livens up during the dance break. This video game interpretation doesn't suffer from missing famous signature moves because "Ice Cream" isn't Blackpink's most recognisable performance. The group's official video uses animated Zepeto avatars, but Blackpink hasn't performed "Ice Cream" on stage.
"Ice Cream" isn't a Just Dance routine you'd really be excited for unless you're a Blackpink fan.
24. 'Gentleman' by Psy is aSweat Version.
It's not fair to judge the Sweat Version of "Gentleman" against other Just Dance songs. This routine is meant to get people exercising, so it will deviate from the original K-pop dance routine. It would be like comparing an aerobics class to a dance class.
I'm going to do it.
"Gentleman" by Just Dance is a lot of big, energetic dance moves that will tire you out quickly, but is fun to do. The only thing that makes the original routine different is Psy's hip swing. The only move that really matters is the one that the game kept. The key points of Psy's "Gentleman" performance are a rowdy atmosphere and a hip swing, and Just Dance's Sweat Version delivers both.
23. Psy's song 'Daddy' 2NE1
Just Dance's version of "Daddy" is by Psy. The Father and Son version of 2NE1 is only available in the Just Dance game. It doesn't make sense to look for a copy.
Like many of Just Dance's early routines, "Daddy" feels like it was made before the popularity of K-pop became serious. The majority of the chorus is correct, but the verse bears no resemblance to Psy's original dance routine. They are replaced by sexy gendered jazzercise moves.
I wanted to lower Just Dance's "Daddy" because it was difficult to rank because of the discrepancy between the verse and chorus. I have to reluctantly give it props for its moments of accuracy.
22. 'New Face' is a song by Psy.
As a Just Dance routine, the rendition of "New Face" is fine. The moves are easy to follow, and can be performed by less advanced dancers. It feels disappointing compared to Psy's original dance routine.
The use of feminine and masculine dance routines for the side dancers and Psy's stand in seems unnecessary since the original used similar energetic moves for all dancers regardless of gender. I don't like Just Dance routines that make you pick a leader from your friend group, which creates unnecessary social divides. All my friend groups are equal.
Just Dance gets Psy's arm chug and subsequent dab during "dugeun dugeun dugeun" right, as well as the pivotal "new face" move in the chorus. These moments of accuracy are not enough to get it a higher ranking.
21. 'I am the best' by 2NE1.
Just Dance's standard "I Am The Best" routine barely follows 2NE1's original choreography, despite the obvious wrist movement on "bam Ra-ta-ta-ta". It matches the spirit of the original more than the Extreme Version.
The "I Am The Best" routine is similar to 2NE1's original, but is more like a cousin than a twin. It mostly avoids paying homage to 2NE1's moves, even though they'd be reasonable for Just Dance players to attempt.
Just Dance's "I Am The Best" routine is fun and energetic, and doesn't clash with the song's vibe. This effort would be better if 2NE1 didn't have official choreography.
20. 'Kick It' is a song by NCT 127.
This feels like a tough one to me. I'm not sure where I'd start if I had to translate NCT 127's "Kick It" into Just Dance form. The dance doesn't have many distinct, easily identifiable and repeated moves that the game can lift, and it focuses on supporting the member who's singing rather than showing itself off. This performance has an overall vibe.
The raised arm grooves to " new thangs" are definitely a nod to NCT 127's choreography. When most of NCT 127 clear the stage in favor of two members, Just Dance's four guides split off into pairs.
It's difficult to duplicate NCT 127's moves after removing their confident flow, but it would have been nice if Just Dance's chorus choreography was more accurate.
19. 'Kick It' is a song by NCT 127.
The Extreme Version of NCT 127's "Kick It" runs into some of the same problems as the standard routine, however it does a better job of matching the K-pop group's original energy. I was pleasantly surprised to see moves that were similar to the original dance routine once "Kick It" hit its second verse. Usually Just Dance K-pop routines are the most accurate in the chorus.
As with Just Dance's standard "Kick It" routine, the solo guide raises his arms on "new thang" and ignores NCT 127's floorwork. Even if you don't have to throw yourself on the ground, your standard Just Dance player will still find the NCT 127 challenging enough to keep up with.
18. G-Dragon wrote 'Crayon'.
Many of G-Dragon's movements are less dance and more pure. Just Dance takes a lot of its inspiration from the dancers.
The game replicates the original "Crayon" dance routine from the part of the chorus that is most influential. I couldn't get over the opening moves of Just Dance. The first few lines of "Crayon" translate to "head, shoulders, knees, and toes," with G-Dragon touching each body part in time. Just Dance's guide stops at his head and shoulders before touching his heels. I can't forgive it because it's incomplete and wrong.
The general vibe of "Crayon" is that of how cool G-Dragon is, which is why Just Dance's "Crayon" still matches it. It still loses points for failing to reach G-Dragon's level.
17. 'Bang bang bang' is a song by Big Bang.
The rest of the routine drags the score down, despite Just Dance getting the chorus choreography right. A lot of Bigbang's official choreography relies more on their dancers than the group members themselves, like in member G-Dragon's "Crayon" performance. This may have made them feel more free to experiment.
There are a number of simple moves that would have been easy to approximate during the verse of Big bang's routine. It's notable that they're absent due to a rights issue.
It's not to say that the replacement choreography isn't fun, it's just that a perfect one-to-one recreation wouldn't have been as fun. I can still see the influence of the original routine, but I was surprised by how much of Just Dance's "Bang bang bang" choreography stayed within the spirit of the dance.
16. 'Come Back Home' is a song by 2NE1.
"Come Back Home" is difficult to translate to a Just Dance routine, as much of 2NE1's focus is on their vocals, as compared to other K-pop songs. The members still dance, however the majority of the dance is left to the dancers performing around them.
Just Dance ran with what it was given. The skipping move and the straight-armed point to the sky are examples of the original routine. The influence of the original moves on the substituted choreography is apparent even when they aren't perfect.
Just Dance does not follow the dancers during the verse, but it does fit in with the original choreography and recreates the atmosphere of the performance.
15. 'BOOMBAYAH' is a song by Blackpink.
I hadn't anticipated that the standard Just Dance choreography for Blackpink's "BOOMBAYAH" would confront me with a difficult dilemma: Do I mark down a routine solely due to terrible camerawork?
Even if it doesn't follow Blackpink's official dance as closely as it could, the "BOOMBAYAH" choreography is still energetic enough. The guide dancer continues to repeat the same moves from the original "BOOMBAYAH" routine even after the Blackpink has left. The shift to sideways arm wheels is a common Just Dance tactic and players could have handled it.
It's the zooming and shifting of the camera that feels more frustrating because it distracts from the choreography. Blackpink's "BOOMBAYAH" is one of the more obvious victims of the series' more dynamic approach to framing.
14. 'Bang bang bang' is a song by Big Bang.
The Just Dance guide claps overhead at the same speed as the original choreography, rather than the half speed of the game's standard routine. I felt as though a great wrong had been set right, and found this immensely satisfying.
The dance follows up with a nod to the original's steering wheel choreography, which seems to bode well. The most famous part of the dance is missing because Just Dance used up its chorus accuracy quota on the standard version. The overall influence of the original moves is clear, but Just Dance's end result just looks like a Big bang routine from a mirror universe.
The Extreme version is higher than the standard version due to the tributes, but it is a close call.
13. 'DRUM GO DUM' is a song by K/DA. Aluna, Wolftyla, and Bekuh Boom.
"DRUM GO DUM" is called K-pop by Just Dance, which is a bit like calling "The Last Airbender" an animation. The Just Dance routine pays homage to the roots of the group with the inclusion of a finger heart, a gesture that has become synonymous with the genre.
"DRUM GO DUM" doesn't have a routine performed by the artist, unlike many other songs on this list. Bailey Sok's skills are beyond those of the average Just Dance player. I didn't expect Just Dance's "DRUM GO DUM" to follow the official dance video.
It was a pleasant surprise to see a lot of Sok's influence in Just Dance's rendition of the song. Considering the difficulty of the dance, it's a very good effort.
12. 'Jopping' by SuperM.
"jopping" is when you are jumping and popping at the same time. This makes for a good K-pop routine.
Just Dance's rendition of SuperM's "Jopping" largely follows the spirit more than the detail of the K-pop supergroup's performance, though it does faithfully recreate important segments such as the chorus. SuperM's dedication to the combination of jumping and popping has clearly inspired the choreography throughout, with Just Dance's solo guide dancer doing his utmost to embody the energy of all seven K-pop idols at once.
SuperM's performance is geared towards putting on a good performance for their fans, but Just Dance's "Jopping" is more focused on making a powerful and fun dance. You can't really begrudge it because it isn't as accurate as the original.
11. 'Black Mamba' is a song by Aespa.
This is a dance routine. The alternate version of the game is happy to stray from the official routine and come up with their own interpretations of Aespa's "Black Mamba"
The "Black Mamba" alternate version of Just Dance's "Black Mamba" has its own choreography, but still has some of Aespa's. It doesn't change the song from a song about a zookeeper to a song about a child.
The alternate version of "Black Mamba" is basically what the dance would look like in an alternate universe, where Aes pa were put into one single soloist.
10. 'Gangnam Style' is a song by Psy.
It seems like Psy's official choreography for "Gangnam Style" would fit Just Dance's style without too much change. The routine is packed with big, silly, fun moves which are relatively easy for amateur dancers to follow, and Psy's famous galloping horse dance gives the choreography a hook.
Though Just Dance's choreography isn't exactly in line with the official routine, it catches the comedy spirit of the moves, and the chorus is almost spot on. The official "Gangnam Style" performance is what inspired the choreography of the movie.
It's a shame that the official choreography wasn't followed more closely. Most people wouldn't know if they did. We're here for the horse dance.
9. Blackpink wrote 'DDU-DU DDU-DU'.
Just Dance's "DDU-DU DDU-DU" routine could have stopped replicating Blackpink's famous finger gun dance and probably would have gotten away with it. I hadn't expected them to recreate group choreography, but they did.
Blackpink's members were entwined with each other in the first verse, and a move at the bridge that had the dancers line up and lean over each other were included. The fact that Just Dance includes it at all is commendable, even though the choreography isn't perfect or always in time with Blackpink's original routine.
Most of the original "DDU-DU DDU-DU" choreography Just Dance tries to copy has been noticeably modified and simplified, and the game guides' performance isn't quite as energetic as Blackpink's. It isn't really a fair comparison.
8. 'Kill This Love' is a song by Blackpink.
Four guides slap their thighs and torsos with open palms as Just Dance starts "Kill This Love" at a slower pace than the original. I thought the routine would rank higher after seeing this opening.
The performances of Just Dance's routine are more like cousins than siblings. Just Dance has a militaristic spirit, but it's mostly carried by marching and saluting absent from Blackpink's routine.
It would have been hard for Just Dance players to follow the original choreography faithfully. It isn't as though difficult routines have stopped the game before.
7. Blackpink's song 'Kill This Love' is an extreme version.
The Extreme version of "Kill This Love" uses just one guide dancer instead of four, which would seem to put it at a disadvantage compared to the regular version. Blackpink is a group of four people.
Just Dance makes up for the lack of guides by offering a spot on a recreation of the song's entire chorus. The regular version of "Kill This Love" only vaguely followed Blackpink at the chorus before deviating, but the Extreme version sticks much more closely to the official routine. The "Kill This Love" chorus is so popular that it's a significant point in its favor.
The rest of the routine is waiting for the chorus. The Extreme Version of "Kill This Love" is inching ahead of the non-Extreme Version, which is more in the spirit of the dance.
6. 'Monster' is a song by EXO.
I was surprised by Just Dance's version of the song. From the beginning, you can see that Ubisoft closely refers to and follows the original choreography, and continues to do so throughout the entire song. You would think that the first things to be cut when adapting K-pop choreography for Just Dance would be the floorwork from EXO.
That isn't to say that Ubisoft doesn't modify EXO's routine to be more friendly to amateur dancers. A move where one member jumps over the other is changed so that the player jumps in the air. The standard modifications for moves wouldn't be as striking when performed by Just Dance's reduced number of dancers.
The Just Dance "Monster" routine is fairly faithful to the original, making it suitable for even the most ardent EXO fans.
5. K/DA is the artist behind 'POP/STARS'. Jaira Burns and Madison Beer.
The costumes for the "POP/STARS" routine were done by Just Dance, and they dressed the four guide dancers as the League of Legends characters Ahri, Akali, Evelynn and Kai'Sa. The similarities to the original don't stop there.
It's easy to recognize the moves in Just Dance because of the clear and memorable ones in K/DA's choreography. The most famous moves are largely unchanged, while others are simplified and paid homage to K/DA's performance. Even with the variations, it's a fun routine that feels close to the original.
I don't understand the decision to switch up the crown at the end, even if K/DA don't. It's a small point, but it also jumped out at me because of the lack of necessity. I think it's due to a rights issue, as I can't think of any other reason to throw off players and stray from the original.
"POP/STARS" is a Just Dance routine that suffers from questionable camerawork, zooming in until one of the guide dancers' legs is largely framed out during the rap verse. If I'm meant to follow the dancer, I want to see the whole thing.
4. 'Jopping' is a song by SuperM.
There is a point in "Jopping" where SuperM sings "right" and " left" while moving stage left or right. The guide dancers in Just Dance's Extreme "Jopping" routine have reversed the choreography so players are in line with SuperM's moves. The moment I realized why they'd made the change, it felt like a child was being made to take swimming lessons.
One of the tracks that sticks relatively closely to the original K-pop choreography is Just Dance's "Jopping" Extreme Version. The three guide dancers in the game emulate some of SuperM's group formations, which is always a delight to see. Changes to the choreography are mostly to make the routine more doable, such as skipping the floorwork and tweaking moves that put the group's backs to their audience.
It feels as though Ubisoft thought about the best way to translate SuperM's moves.
3. 'BOOMBAYAH' is a song by Blackpink.
Blackpink's songs have the most Just Dance routines. The Extreme version of "BOOMBAYAH" is one of the best.
Four guide dancers perform for members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa in the beginning of the routine. The opening close up shots may be strange, but they could be worse. It draws obvious inspiration from Blackpink's moves, varying between delightful accuracy and clear homage. The chorus is very close to the original "BOOMBAYAH" dance, and Just Dance includes some of Blackpink's floorwork, having one dancer slide along the floor between a tunnel of the others' legs.
The Just Dance routine's ranking was pulled down due to the omission of several group formations. Blackpink's choreography can get quite complicated, and trying to copy positioning can be hard for players. The high likelihood of injury to enthusiastic amateur acrobats makes it wise to get rid of the lift. Many of Just Dance's alterations are sensible, practical, and probably the right choice to keep an already difficult routine doable.
I was excited to see the recreation. It feels like all the ingredients were there.
2. Twice's song 'feel special' is an extreme version.
Fans of Just Dance wish their solo K-pop routines could be as extreme as Twice's "Feel Special" Extreme Version. The routine follows Twice's official "Feel Special" choreographed almost to a T, and then switches to match whichever member is the focus of the group's formation.
The game only has one guide dancer to Twice's nine members, so it isn't an exact recreation. Just Dance doesn't make you learn new dance moves every time, so you have to stick to the same moves at each bridge. It's excellent for a one-person rendition.
The main challenge with Just Dance's "Feel Special" routine is whether players are able to follow along. It will take some time to learn this Just Dance routine, because it's not simple. Once you nail it, it will be incredibly satisfying. If you're interested in joining a K-pop cover dance crew, Just Dance's Extreme Version of Twice's "Feel Special" is a good place to start.
1. 'Black Mamba' is a song by Aespa.
The "Black Mamba" Extreme Version uses three guide dancers, which is odd considering Aespa is a four-member group. This is the only thing I can fault about it.
This routine is very similar to the original. The Extreme Version of "Black Mamba'' has more than one guide dancer in it, so Just Dance can copy all of Aespa's moves, even if members are not the focus of the formation. It's one of Just Dance's most comprehensive K-pop covers, and doesn't leave players who aren't currently being spotlighted feeling as though they're just marking time.
If I wanted to make a bigger deal of it, I might say that the one wave move was turned into a line, and that the dancers were not shuffling around as much, but these are just minor notes. I think more than a few Aes pa fans will pick up a copy of Just Dance 2022.
Just Dance 2022 and Just Dance unlimited are available on a number of platforms.
