BTS and Blackpink choreographers set for showdown as world-leading dance league IDL lands in Seoul

Some of the world’s top dancers will bring their high-voltage performances to central Seoul on 1 August, when the International Dance League — billed as the first global professional dance league to pit elite crews from around the world against one another — stages its Seoul Series at Kyung Hee University’s Grand Peace Palace.

The Seoul Series is the fourth stop of IDL’s 2026 debut season, which has already shaken the global dance scene. The three shows staged earlier in New York, Vancouver and Sydney sold out as soon as tickets went on sale. It has also become a runaway online hit, drawing more than 500 million views worldwide.

The lineup is formidable. Led by South Korea’s mega crew 1MILLION, the field includes Canada’s Brotherhood, Southeast Asia’s fan-powerhouse Jam Republic, Norway’s inventive Quick Style, New Zealand’s powerhouse Royal Family and the United States’ GRV — top teams representing six countries will go head to head for a single championship trophy.

Fans at home and abroad are especially excited because the leading figures in each crew are choreographers who helped drive the global K-pop phenomenon. They include 1MILLION’s Lia Kim, who created choreography for megahits by Blackpink and Twice; Brotherhood’s Scott Forsyth, who oversaw performances by BTS and Stray Kids; Jam Republic’s Julian De Guzman, who made a strong impression with NCT 127’s 'Hero'（英雄; Kick It）; and Quick Style’s Nasir Sirikhan, who helped create BTS’s "Blood Sweat & Tears" and "Boy With Luv" — together they promise performances that push dance to an artistic peak.

Connor Lim, co-founder and chief executive of IDL, expressed high expectations for the Seoul Series. He said: "South Korea is currently the most emblematic country for producing the most influential choreographers and trends in the global dance world. With every team performing at the height of their powers, Seoul will host the most intense and thrilling battle on the road to the 'IDL 2026 Championship'."

IDL has moved beyond a simple competition format, positioning dance as both a professional sport and a form of high culture. Tickets for the IDL "Seoul Series" are now on sale through Ticketlink. More details, including the schedule and timetable, are available on the league’s official website at www.IDL.pro.