8 weekend things to do in Saigon
August 31, 2024
Book a class with a well-known choreographer at 1MILLION Dance Studio
For years I have been a fan of 1MILLION Dance Studio. I found them on YouTube in 2016 and became part of their gigantic subscriber base.
I was so happy to discover that classes can easily be booked! Not only that, these classes are run by the same super stylish and groovy instructors that have helped garner the YouTube channel millions of followers.
If you’d like more travel recommendations for Seoul, message me on Instagram. Alternatively, we can book a meeting.
Content Outline
An intro to Seongsu-dong
Many have nicknamed this neighbourhood the “Brooklyn” of Seoul because of its arty and fashionable culture being similar to that of the famous borough in New York City.
Seongsu-dong is famous for its warehouse cafes, boutique shops, street art and tasty food. The best way to arrive is via Seoul’s subway where you alight at “Seongsu Station” on Line 2. You’ll start to see trendy looking cafes within a 5-minute walk.
To start off your itinerary in Seongsu-dong, I’d recommend a coffee at the industrial-themed cafe, Daelim Changgo (listed here).
First impression of 1MILLION Dance Studio
After your Iced Americano at Daelim Changgo, you can walk to this building within 5 minutes. It’s a giant of the Korean dance entertainment industry.
I was very excited for my first visit. The only impressions that I had were from watching 1MILLION Dance Studio on YouTube. I didn’t even know they had an accessible school until I landed in Seoul and out of leisure, googled their name.
There are multiple levels inside a building that has a striking architectural style. The interiors are sleek and minimal in design, focussing on an appearance as aesthetically pleasing as the dance choreography.
Fame of 1MILLION Dance Studio
Founded by Lia Kim and Timon Youn in 2014, 1MILLION Dance Studio has one of the biggest channels on YouTube for dance learning. Their videos are not just instructive, they are visually stunning. Google any famous Korean pop song and you will likely see a video by 1MILLION.
Book a dance class with a star instructor
South Korea’s entertainment industry is known around the world. K-pop idols are adored by legions of fans in most continents. At 1MILLION Dance Studio, there are 3 main types of classes that anyone can book: Step by 1M, Learner, and Master. These are in order of proficiency.
You can book and pay via the website here.
I met Yoojung Lee, who choreographed scenes in Netflix’s hit show “Sweet Home”. The class run by her was super full. Many people waited outside to take a picture with her afterwards.
You can also join classes instructed by other well-known choreographers, including Redy Shin, Tina Boo, and Dohee Kim.
A beginner's class with BALE
I had to immerse myself into the experience. I move like a vegetable on the dance floor, so I could only hope that a camera wouldn’t show my “dancing” to 1MILLION’s millions of followers.
I took the class run by BALE, a groovy and friendly teacher who taught us the steps to a 40-second segment of a Korean song (I forgot the name, sorry).
The class ran for around an hour and 15 minutes. While I tried to mimic the body contortions of BALE and the people around me, I admired the gleaming aethetics of the studio we were in.
Places to go in Seongsu-dong
Outside 1MILLION Dance Studio, there is a lot to see. Seongsu-dong was known for shoe factories, but has in recent years become a young, creative area. In 2022, it was one of the most tagged locations in South Korea on Instagram!
I’d recommend walking down Seongsu Cafe Street, highlighted by Grandpa Factory Cafe, and surrounding streets. Older, industrial buildings have been reborn into art galleries and boutique fashion shops.
Must-visit place: Cafe Onion
A must-visit cafe in Seongsu-dong is Cafe Onion. It’s in an abandoned factory, houses lots of seating, and serves a variety of pastries. The rooftop is perfect for conversation!
The "Brooklyn" of Seoul
What I appreciated was that despite Seongsu-dong’s popularity, it still felt like a local gem. Many of the visitors are Korean locals. Compared to Hongdae and Myeongdong, it felt much less tourist-populated.
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