11월 27일, HUNTR/X는 2025 메이시스 추수감사절 퍼레이드에서 ‘혼문(Honmoon)’을 닫는 무대를 선보이며 큰 화제를 모았다. 넷플릭스 영화 <케이팝 데몬 헌터스>에서 루미, 미라, 조이의 목소리로 활약한 이재(EJAE), 오드리 누나(Audrey Nuna), 레이 아미(REI AMI)로 구성된 3인 보컬 그룹은 이 날 퍼레이드를 통해 낮 시간대 TV 첫 데뷔 무대를 치렀다. 하늘에 떠오른 거대한 더피(Derpy) 풍선과 옆을 지나는 작은 서시(Sussie) 플로트, 그리고 총 100명의 댄서들이 함께해 히트곡 <Golden>에 맞춘 대규모 퍼포먼스를 완성했다.
그보다 앞서, <롤링스톤 코리아>는 뉴욕 I LOVE DANCE 스튜디오의 설립자이자 K-팝 커버 댄스 중심의 활동으로 잘 알려진 안무가 MJ Choi와 만나, 방송 캐스팅 과정과 리허설 비하인드, 그리고 K-팝 업계에서 댄서·안무가로서 걸어온 여정을 들어보았다.
1. [RSK] 바쁜 일정인데도 함께해줘서 고마워요, MJ! 이번 대형 프로젝트 참여 소식을 처음 들었을 때 심정이 어땠나요?
SEVENTEEN Performance Video - Credit: I LOVE DANCE
2.[RSK] 커버댄스로 잘 알려진 만큼, 커버 댄서로서의 시작과 업계에 진출하게 된 계기가 궁금합니다.
MJ: 저는 34살에 춤을 시작했고, 지금은 49살이에요. 여기까지 올 수 있었던 이유는 플래시몹이나 길거리 퍼포먼스 같은 걸 수년 동안 스스로 기획하며 꾸준히 해왔기 때문이에요.
I LOVE DANCE는 미국 내 ‘K-Pop in Public’ 챌린지를 대중화시킨 팀 중 하나로, 스튜디오 공식 유튜브 채널에는 100개 이상의 K-팝 커버 영상이 올라와 있다. 전소미, 싸이커스(xikers) 등 인기 아티스트와의 협업뿐 아니라 <불후의 명곡 미국 특집(KBS Immortal Songs: Live Concert in US)>, <KCON> 등 대형 행사에서도 무대를 선보였다.
MJ Choi 본인 역시 K-팝 업계에서 다양한 활동을 이어왔다. 미쓰에이 민의 솔로 데뷔 앨범 [PRIME TIME] 크리에이티브 디렉터, 브로드웨이 뮤지컬 <KPOP> 부안무가, 아이들 <Uh-Oh> 활동 무대 댄서 등 다양한 분야에서 활약하며 존재감을 다졌다.
3. [RSK] 수많은 지원 영상 중 어떤 점을 가장 중점적으로 봤나요?
MJ: 메이시스 퍼레이드 댄서를 모집한다는 공지를 냈을 때 정말 수백 명이 지원했어요. 첫 번째로는 당연히 춤 실력을 가장 중요하게 봤죠. 하지만 동시에 다양성도 정말 중요했어요. K-팝은 모두를 환영하는 장르니까요! 가능한 한 다양한 배경을 가진 사람들을 포함하려고 노력했어요. 그리고 무엇보다 긍정적인 에너지를 보고 싶었어요. 영상만 보고 확신이 서지 않는 몇몇 지원자는 직접 불러서 대면 콜백을 진행하기도 했습니다.
며칠간의 추가 리허설과 의상 피팅을 거쳐, 올블랙 의상을 갖춰 입은 I LOVE DANCE 팀(일부는 HUNTR/X 유니폼 착용)은 NBC와 피콕(Peacock)의 생방송 무대에서 실제 애니메이션 걸그룹의 모습을 재현한 HUNTR/X와 함께 황금빛 폭죽과 스트리머가 가득한 메이시스 헤럴드 스퀘어에서 공연을 완성했다.
HUNTR/X Performance Video Credit: NBC/Peacock
Photographs by Lauren Nakao Winn
Behind-The-Scenes of HUNTR/X’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with MJ Choi
On November 27, HUNTR/X sealed the Honmoon at the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The singing trio of EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI, known for their vocals as Rumi, Mira, and Zoey in the Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters, made their daytime television debut at the esteemed holiday celebration. In addition to a gigantic Derpy balloon flying in the sky as well as a small Sussie float on the side, a total of 100 dancers came together to deliver a synchronized performance to the chart-topping hit “Golden.”
Earlier in the week, Rolling Stone Korea sat down with MJ Choi, founder of the I LOVE DANCE studio in New York City, to talk about the casting process for the television broadcast, take a behind-the-scenes look at rehearsals, and learn more about her journey as a dancer and in the K-Pop industry.
[RSK] Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to meet with us, MJ! We know things are hectic as the team is preparing for your big performance. How did you feel when you found out that you would be joining this project?
MJ: “I was very excited and honored to be asked to take part in such an iconic event. The Macy's parade… everybody knows about it! And the other choreographers and directors I worked with (Original “Golden” and “Take Down” choreographer Jo Na In and movement director Luam) are also amazing people that the dance community looks up to. As I was going through the first meeting, I knew what my responsibility was, and I felt like, “Oh, I've had enough practice.” I've done a lot of crazy stuff all leading up to this moment. I mean, I organized a dance cover event with 200 people in the past. Nobody asked for it. I just did it for fun, filming with a drone and all that. So I'm ready.”
SEVENTEEN Performance Video - Credit: I LOVE DANCE
[RSK] Speaking of dance covers, how did you start out as a cover dancer and then break into the industry professionally?
MJ: “I started at 34, and I'm 49 right now. What brought me here is how I have been doing a lot of stuff on my own, like flashmobs and dancing on the street for several years.”
As one of the originators of the ‘K-Pop in Public’ challenges, especially in the United States, the I LOVE DANCE studio channel alone boasts more than 100 different K-Pop cover videos, including collaborations with popular artists such as Jeon Somi, xikers, and more. The team has also made special appearances at large events like the KBS Immortal Songs: Live Concert in US and KCON.
Choi herself has also found success in the K-Pop industry, serving as the Creative Director of Min from Miss A’s solo debut album “PRIME TIME,” the Associate Choreographer of the Broadway musical KPOP, and a dancer for the global girl group i-dle during “Uh-Oh” promotions.
[RSK] What was the main thing you were looking for while watching the audition tapes?
MJ: “When we first announced that we were looking for dancers for the Macy's parade, we had hundreds of people apply. So as I was checking them, I did look at their actual dance skills. That's number one. But I also wanted to make sure the cast was diverse. I wanted to welcome everybody - that's what K-Pop is all about! So I made sure that I included many people from different backgrounds. And I definitely wanted to see positive energy! There were a few that I was unsure about just over video, so for those people I asked them to come in and do in-person callbacks as well.”
After a few more rehearsals and costume fittings, the 60 I LOVE DANCE crew members in all black attire (except for a few HUNTR/X jerseys!) joined the cartoon girl group come-to-life during the main chorus of “Golden” on the NBC and Peacock live broadcast, completing their mission in a stylish fashion as fireworks and streamers filled Macy’s Herald Square.
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