ITZY's debut ended with a pose that, in retrospect, proved prophetic: five women holding invisible headpieces atop their heads, their fingers splayed like points of a crown, heralding the arrival of K-pop's newest queens. The actual coronation came after, when the music video for "DALLA DALLA'' racked up more than 17 million views in its first 24 hours and the song became one of the biggest hits of 2019 on South Korea's music charts. Its earwormy chorus was inescapable on the crowded streets of Hongdae and in noraebangs from Seoul to New York City. ITZY didn't just strut onto the scene with a confident banger; they did what all sovereigns do — they ruled it.
In the years since, ITZY have continued to lead this new generation of K-pop acts. Their most recent EP, Checkmate, doubled their first-week sales record, bowing at No. 8 on the Billboard 200. And they just kicked off their first world tour with two rousing nights in Seoul, with U.S. dates planned for the fall.
The crown pose has since become their signature move, a bold manifestation that's been replicated in every title track choreography since, from "Icy" to "Sneakers," their latest energetic bop about being unapologetically, and ambitiously, yourself. The visual embraces ITZY's regality, as members Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna dance around the ornate halls of a palace in glitzy gowns and, well, sneakers. The song hits all of the core parts of ITZY's charm. The lyrics are assertive and plucky; the beat bounces with feel-good funk; and the vibrant performance is distinct and decidedly not for beginners.
"Last year, we released 'In the Morning,' which was very dark," Lia tells Teen Vogue during a recent video call, where the members of ITZY are gathered in a stark white room wearing coordinated black-and-white outfits. The pleated ruffles on Lia's shoulders look like a modern Elizabethan ruff. "Now it's summer, so we wanted to try something more free and bright." Ryujin, sitting on a high stool behind her, donning a black cape, adds, "The song itself is summer."
The choreography is equally as sunny and playful, emphasizing clever footwork as they skip from side to side to show off their footwear. ITZY have a history of creating viral moves: Yeji's floor work in "DALLA DALLA"; Ryujin's shoulder shuffle in "Wannabe"; the #KittyDance in "LOCO"; and the way they broke their own necks during "Icy." With a history of iconic performances, the pressure to create something even more memorable mounts with every new release. "Lots of people anticipate our performance," says Lia. "So that's something we're always focusing on, how to make our performance even better and show it in a different way."
The performance for "Sneakers," they say, captures all of the group's strengths. When asked to put those strengths into words, they each chime in with their own perspectives. Chaeryeong believes the magic of an ITZY performance is their variety, the way they continuously embrace new styles. Yuna describes their performances as "attractive and energetic." And leader Yeji sums it all up in a single word and a cat-eye smile: "youth." Yuna, the youngest, waves her palms in jazz-hand formation and says, "That's a lot of words!"
One word you won't hear from the members: perfect. For ITZY, it's not about the pursuit of perfection. While synchronization is an important part of any performance, K-pop or otherwise, ITZY have developed their individual artistry. Yuna says they have their own auras. "All five members are really different," Ryujin says, "and all five are great on the stage." For example, Chaeryeong's performance is more sensual. Or, as Ryujin describes, "She's good at attracting people." (Yeji mimics Chaeryeong's signature hair flip.) "Yeji and I are both strong and charismatic, so we can be a little bit scary on stage," Ryujin laughs, to which Yeji interjects, "At the same time we're cool and chic!" Lia's smile, they say, is her charming point. "It's really attractive on stage," Ryujin says. And Yuna seamlessly adapts to any concept. "She has her own energy. She can be bright or she can be powerful." Hearing the way ITZY talk about their performance, they consider themselves to be more than dancers — they're storytellers.
In the pantheon of K-pop stages you'll find ITZY's staggering showcase at the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards, in which they solidified their place as some of the industry's boldest performers. It's also their favorite group stage. The performance featured a stunning fight sequence executed by Ryujin, pole dancing courtesy of Chaeryeong, and a cameo from Squid Game villain Heo Sung-tae as a mafia boss. Most importantly for ITZY, it was also their first time in almost two years performing in front of a live audience. In a backstage video following the performance, Yeji and Chaeryeong are so relieved and proud of what they accomplished they burst into happy tears. "You guys are seriously the best," the leader tells the rest of the group. "We worked so hard. Thank you for your hard work."
It's even more impressive when you account for the fact that these stages come together in a matter of a few weeks, sometimes even days. For "Sneakers," the group learned the dance in a week, the standard length of time it now takes them to pick up new title track choreography. Compare that to the four months of daily rehearsals it took to prepare for "DALLA DALLA," and you'll see just how much ITZY have grown as performers. "If we had more time, we'd practice more," Lia points out. But these days, given their schedules and commitments, they've learned to maximize their efficiency in the dance studio. "For 'Sneakers,' we practiced three to four hours a day, and we did that for about a week." They also practice the same routine for different stages. The way they perform during a music video shoot is different from the performance you'll see on music shows.
In terms of preparation, the members take their own approaches. "It's really important that I prepare myself mentally," Lia says. "I remember having a very hard time when I was nervous on stage. It's about controlling myself mentally. I try to tell myself 'it's fine' and not to focus on my mind. Because when I get too inside my own head, that's when I get nervous." Lia came to JYP Entertainment without any formal dance training. It was initially hard for her to adjust to being in a performance-based group. "At the beginning of joining ITZY, that was my very first time dancing," she says. "I had quite a hard time. I still do, actually. But I feel myself getting better with each comeback. That feels really nice." Lia credits her improvement to her members' constant encouragement — and "dancing nearly every day for the last three years," adding, "I've developed my own dance skills without even noticing."
For other members, like Yeji and Chaeryeong, dancing came naturally. As a child, Yeji was enamored by idols, especially SHINee's Taemin. "When I was young I really liked dancing and singing," she recalls. Behind her, Ryujin says, "She always dreamed of becoming an idol." Chaeryeong, whose older sister is also a dancer and idol, always wanted to be a professional dancer. "I've loved dance since I was young," she says. "I still love to dance." She pauses to find the right words in English, and with a grin, she adds, "I think I'm good at it."
"Our members were meant to perform," Lia says. "Individually, their dance skills are awesome. Even when they were trainees, their dancing skills were great." Their talents are just limited to dance either. "All the members are really capable in many ways," Ryujin says. "We can be a performance group, but we can try anything and have a great result."
It's a confidence that bloomed over time. As rookies, they held their hands high and pantomimed greatness, singing songs that celebrated their uniqueness. Inside, they felt their inexperience. "A few years ago I was never sure if I could match the concept," Chaeryeong says. That's because "we didn't have that much experience on stage," explains Ryujin. But every performance made them stronger, more self-assured, and according to Yuna, an even better team. "It's not an individual stage. It's ITZY's stage," she says. "So our teamwork improved a lot. Our harmony got a lot better." Now, Chaeryeong adds, they're "full of confidence." They wear it like a crown.
And they see it when they watch their old performances and fancams from their rookie era. "The first thing that comes into my mind is 'wow we were so young and pretty back then,'" laughs Lia. "We were so cute and fresh. We were babies."
The room erupts in giggles as Ryujin objects. "It's only been three years!"
