Red Velvet’s Irene Gains Praise For Intense Choreography “Not Made For TikTok”

Red Velvet’s lead dancer Irene has always been known for her grace and skill as a performer, and her solo debut is only solidifying her reputation. Alongside raving about the album’s haunting concept teasers and catchy songs, fans are now praising Irene’s choreography for doing something unique: avoiding TikTok conventions.

| SBSKPOP X INKIGAYO/YouTube

Since TikTok rose to prominence around the world, the social media platform has become one of the most popular places for K-Pop acts to promote themselves. Alongside funny trends and behind-the-scenes clips, this promotional tactic usually involves posting TikTok dance challenges for fans and fellow idols to cover themselves.

나의 용기들🩷💛🩵 #아이린 #IRENE #슬기 #SEULGI #웬디 #WENDY #LikeAFlower #IRENE_LikeAFlower #레드벨벳 #RedVelvet

♬ Like A Flower (Sped Up) – IRENE

Over the years, as dance challenges have become a K-Pop staple, many fans have lamented the impact TikTok has had on choreography. While the genre was once known for choreography you couldn’t find anywhere else in pop music (whether down to its complexity, synchronization, or intensity), numerous fans think dances have become overly simplified to fit a TikTok audience.

| Naver

“Like a Flower,” on the other hand, has subverted expectations with an intense, ever-changing choreo that numerous K-Pop fans have praised as “refreshing.”

So refreshing seeing chorus choreography that wasn’t made for TikTok https://t.co/O1unQsf2TU

— emma ʚ♡ɞ saw red velvet 08.04 (@todollua) November 29, 2024

Created by the renowned performance director Shim Jae Won, in collaboration with Jinstar and Emily Lis, the “Like a Flower” choreography stands out for its intricate and technically challenging moves. Throughout, Irene mixes flowing arm movements with impressive footwork, and the dance is missing something found in almost every K-Pop dance today: a repeated “point” move in the chorus.

There's 4 different choreography for the Like A Flower verses and I like them all and that dance break 🤯. That footwork and hip choreos. Whew.. Irene ate this choreo. Definitely has that morning zumba exercise vibe though 🤣. https://t.co/ucyrhPcqta

— 주현아 jiě | Like A Flower 💜🌷 (@juhyunah_) November 28, 2024

Instead, all three choruses of “Like a Flower” feature completely different moves, a rare choice that highlights Irene’s skill level. Both fans and Irene herself have also noted that the most stand-out element of the dance routine is the formations she creates with her dances, mimicking the look of a real flower in the wild.

did you guys realize when she was in the center with the dancers around she was resembling a flower petal swinging in the wind literally a flower dancing pic.twitter.com/uB6YimHKWC

— HAPPY ARMYLUV 💙💚❤️ (@filterofthesoul) November 26, 2024

In the intro and outro, the dance is then capped with a blooming petal-like finger pose that calls back to Red Velvet – Irene & Seulgi’s tutting choreography for “Naughty.” Rather than dedicating the bulk of the dance to TikTok challenge worthy moves, this is the action that’s become a highlight in some of Irene’s TikTok uploads.

Unlocking super powers #아이린 #IRENE #LikeAFlower #IRENE_LikeAFlower #레드벨벳 #RedVelvet

♬ Like A Flower – IRENE

All in all, in true Red Velvet fashion, Irene has strayed from following trends for her very first release as a soloist. While the star’s choreo choice may have been a risky one from a promotional standpoint, it’s paid off in praise from fans and non-fans alike.

Red Velvet