MUSIC
Dream Academy, growth character → unexpected charm… 13 people who entered the third gate, 13 charms
As the finale stage gets closer, the competition among contestants for the top spot becomes fiercer. As each individual's charm becomes more prominent, elements to enjoy 'Dream Academy' become more abundant, including not only missions but also behind-the-scenes videos and personal social media content. We looked at the faces of 13 people who are showing different charms to K-pop fans around the world and the secrets to their popularity.
# 'Top 4 for 2 consecutive days' Lara, Samara, Sophia, Nayoung
‘The Debut: Dream Academy’ is made up of expert evaluations and global fan votes. The participants who were firmly included in the TOP 4 in the last two missions are Lara (USA), Samara (Brazil), Sofia (Philippines), and Nayoung (Korea). In the ongoing competition, they overcame the pressure in their own way and showed stable vocals and perfect performances. These four participants have something in common: they are always immersed in the charm of K-content. Lara enjoys music-related entertainment such as 'Street Woman Fight', Nayoung enjoys entertainment related to music such as 'IU's Palette', and Sophia enjoys variety shows such as 'Run Bangtan' where the artist's personality is revealed. Samara is a fan of ATEEZ member San. Samara said, “I was touched to see Mr. San immersed in the performance. “Looking at him, I get a lot of inspiration in expressing K-pop.”
# ‘Scary growth’ Daniela, Yun Chae
Daniela (USA) and Yun Chae (Korea) are showing impressive growth. Daniela, who was 17th in the first mission, surprised everyone by jumping to 5th place in the second mission. In the past, he was ranked in the ranks of American survival programs such as 'America's Got Talent' and 'So You Think You Can Dance', so as the mission progressed, he showed a strong mentality and noticeably improved skills. It is captivating viewers. Yun Chae, who ranked 6th in the first mission, also rose to 3rd place in the second mission. Thanks to my experience as a trainee in Korea for about two years, I quickly adapted to the ‘Dream Academy’ training process. Yun Chae said, “Sleeping well and eating well are the secrets to maintaining physical strength,” and added, “In America, I soothe my regrets with ‘Mukbang’ and Rosé Tteokbokki.”
Emily (USA) and Woowa (Japan) are contestants who boast overwhelming performance skills at ‘Dream Academy’. Emily has been working as a choreographer in the United States since she was 14, and Woowa is the youngest participant in 'Dream Academy', having started learning dance at the age of 3. Emily led the team in the first and second missions that included performances, demonstrating positive synergy with fellow participants. In the second mission, Woowa received high praise from the performance director of the original song 'FEARLESS', saying, "You can stand as a dancer right now." Megan, who was evaluated as “making good use of the strengths of ‘ANTIFRAGILE’”, is excellent at incorporating her own colors into her performance. Megan started dancing at the age of 4 and has studied a variety of dance genres, including ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary. After leaving his family at the age of 10, traveling around the United States and taking thousands of auditions, he is blossoming at 'Dream Academy'.
# 'The charm of a twist in off-stage content' Celeste, Ezrela, Manon, Maki
Celeste (Argentina), Ezrela (Australia), Manon (Switzerland), and Maki (Thailand) are attracting attention from fans with their ‘unturned charms’. Unlike their powerful appearance on stage, their calm voice tone and tension in everyday life is providing 'healing' to fans. In fact, Celeste, Manon, and Maki are gaining great popularity with their own content released on their personal social media channels. In the behind-the-scenes vlog video, Ezrela spoke English, Korean, and Japanese, showing off her leadership and unexpected charm. In addition, he was often seen liking games, which added to the friendliness of fans his age. Although they are usually quiet and introverted, they are excited to see whether their 'reversal charm', which exudes fascinating energy hidden within, will lead to the results of the 'reversal rankings'.
The third mission ('MISSION 3: ARTISTRY') that the participants who have captivated viewers with their diverse charms will undertake is a process to check their ability to digest concepts and artistry. The mission task will be released on the HYBE LABELS YouTube channel at midnight on the 26th. In the third mission, three people will be eliminated.
Reporter Junho Yoon, Ten Asia delo410@tenasia.co.kr
