Dancer J Black, who choreographed the debut song “Neon” for rising K-pop group A2O Light, has taken the internet by storm with his own rendition of the challenge.
On Wednesday, tvN’s hit variety show “You Quiz on the Block” shared a post on their official social media platforms, teasing: “EXCLUSIVE: J Black’s ‘Neon’ – How can anyone resist? The OG choreographer serves up next-level moves that’ll leave you mesmerized.”
The video showcases J Black and fellow dancer Lee Dong-kyu nailing the intro dance to A2O Light’s “Neon.” Their flawless execution of the intricate choreography, infused with the creator’s signature flair, left viewers in awe. Even host Yu Jae-suk can be heard repeatedly exclaiming, “Wow!” in the background.
Earlier, on Tuesday, as fans flooded his social media with requests for the challenge, J Black playfully responded, “You want me to just whip out the dance and post it? As if! But seriously, I’ll put my heart and soul into filming it for you all. Just give me a minute.” He added that the A2O choreo video is coming, he promises. He’s just swamped right now. Might take a few days.
The subsequent release of the video on the “You Quiz on the Block” account set the internet abuzz. Fans were quick to praise J Black’s skills, with comments like “The original creator hits different” and “His moves are so effortless and smooth.”
“Neon” perfectly embodies A2O Light’s self-proclaimed Zalpha Pop identity. The track boasts a heavy bassline and an addictive, high-energy sound, with the phrase “Neon and beyond” echoing throughout. The song symbolizes the group’s ambition to soar higher and push boundaries, following their own unique light.
The intro choreography for “Neon” was a collaborative effort between J Black and Cream Dance members Lee Dong-kyu and Choi In-young, who assisted with both creation and training. In a recent interview, J Black revealed that he was asked to amp up the difficulty beyond typical idol choreography, and he crafted the basic framework in a mere 10 to 15 minutes.
The standout intro, featuring members Aijing and Xili, is characterized by low-body postures, extended leg movements, and impeccable synchronization between the two performers. As the challenge featuring this section went viral among singers and dancers, interest in the choreography team skyrocketed, with J Black’s participation adding fuel to the fire.
“Neon” is currently dominating music charts both in South Korea and internationally. Domestically, it claimed the top spot on the Melon Top 100 just 29 hours after release and held onto the #1 position for an impressive 13 consecutive days until Tuesday. The track has also secured four music show wins. On the global stage, it’s making waves on Billboard’s latest chart (dated October 31), ranking 8th on the Global 200 and 3rd on the Global (Excluding U.S.) list.
A2O Light is the latest nine-member girl group to emerge from A2O Entertainment, founded by industry titan and key producer Lee Soo-man. The group consists of Young, Oa, Ayune, Aijing, Himeki, Rada, Xili, Vora, and Merci. They made their highly anticipated debut with “Neon” on October 13 and are currently in full promotional swing.
