Today we’d like to introduce you to Yeonjae Park.
Hi Yeonjae, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my journey as a dancer in Korea, where I trained and worked in the dance scene. After some time, I felt physically and mentally exhausted, so I decided to come to New York for a fresh start and to recharge.
But when I experienced the dance scene here, it completely reignited my passion for dance. Seeing the energy and creativity here made me realize that I wanted to stay, grow, and see what I could do as a dancer in New York.
So I came back with a new dream of building something for myself here. Since then, I’ve been training, performing, choreographing, and teaching, and I’m still learning and growing through every experience.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Living alone in a foreign country was a big adjustment, and I had to learn how to figure things out on my own.
I also spent two years in a very intensive dance school program, and those were probably the most challenging two years of my life. I was training almost every day and constantly pushing myself physically, and there were definitely moments when I wondered if I could really make it here and continue pursuing dance in New York.
But at the same time, I was surrounded by people who were passionate about dance, and that kept inspiring me. Going through those challenges taught me to trust myself, stay consistent, and keep moving forward even when I wasn’t sure where things would lead. Looking back, I’m really grateful for those experiences because they helped me grow both as a dancer and as a person.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a New York–based professional dancer and choreographer from South Korea, specializing in commercial dance with a focus on heels. My work is mainly centered around performance, musicality, and bringing personality into movement.
Since moving to New York, I’ve had the opportunity to work in different areas of dance. I teach K-pop dance, and through the dance studio I work with, I’ve had the opportunity to teach in Herald Square and share K-pop with people in New York. As a Korean dancer, I’m proud to be able to share K-pop with the dance community here and contribute to the growing K-pop scene in New York. I’ve also had the opportunity to perform as a dancer at an exhibition in Rockefeller Center.
What I’m most proud of is how much I’ve grown as a dancer since coming to New York. I think what sets me apart is that I know myself well as a dancer. I’m aware of my strengths and the areas I need to improve, so I try to make the most of what I do best while continuously working on my weaknesses. I think that self-awareness helps me adapt to different opportunities while still bringing my own personality to the work.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I’m still at the beginning of my journey, and there’s so much more I want to learn and experience. I’m grateful for everything dance has brought into my life so far, and I hope to keep growing, challenging myself, and creating along the way. Most of all, I hope I can continue pursuing the dreams I have for myself and, one day, make them a reality.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yeonjae.__._
Image Credits
Leela visuals
sohx.visual
zety.pic
