In a Split Second || BTS

Chapter 6

"Five, six, seven, eight. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight," I count, clapping my hands to the rhythm as they perform the eight-count I selected from Danger. My goal is to ensure everyone appears as one soul in different bodies, but that is not an element of group dance they have focused on in the past. How do I teach them something they have learned to put aside for the sake of learning choreography quickly?

"That was better," I say uncertainly.

"Meaning we sucked," Hoseok laughs, taking a drink from his water bottle.

I shake my head at him. "It wasn't that bad, but you aren't quite getting what I need you to do. We've all heard that dance is about interpretation and expression, but that has to be pushed under the rug when you're learning a group dance. By all means, express yourself, but do it to the same degree as everyone else. Would it help if I show you what I see versus what I want to see?"

The boys nod, although I notice Taehyung is more interested in fixing a scuff mark streaked across the floor than me.

"Taehyung?" I say gently, swallowing hard. I hate calling people out because it makes them the center of attention. His eyes flicker up towards mine, and I fight the blush rising in my cheeks as our eyes meet. I quickly avert my gaze after I am certain his attention is on me and run through the eight-count three times while counting aloud, so they see where the problem lies.

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" I ask, shifting uncomfortably at their intense stares.

"Nothing, no reason," Hoseok says quickly, drinking more water to hide his flushed cheeks. Jimin rolls his eyes.

"Basically," I explain, my brow slightly furrowed in confusion, "you are all moving your body slightly differently, and I feel like some of it has to do with back flexibility, but these hip movements have to be precise. Let's run through Danger one more time from the beginning."

As the music begins to play and the boys start dancing with more exaggeration on the movements I pointed out, I walk around the group, counting out the rhythm when the choreography becomes difficult and carefully scrutinizing every detail.

"Yes, that was much better!" I insist, nodding affirmatively as the song concludes with the squealing of an electric guitar. "Exaggeration may feel unnecessary, but it will make your live performances more impactful on the audience. Let's run through War of Hormone a few times and call it a night." Even though I am not working with my choreography and I can't change any of it, the few suggestions I have made are helping the boys improve exponentially.

While the boys grab a drink of water, I scroll through the extensive song library on my iPod until I find War of Hormone. It has been a little over two weeks since I first began working here, and I am finding the experience highly enjoyable. The boys are friendly and easy to work with because of their continuously optimistic attitudes. The studio is in my hands until 8:00 in the evening; after practice concludes, I use the full space to practice ballet and map out a bit of choreography I would like to use in the future for other songs.

"Cherisse, can I ask you something about Danger?" Hoseok asks, approaching me after we finish War of Hormone. Sweat is slicked across his forehead and trickles down his face, staining his clothes with dark spots – part of what makes the boys truly admirable is their drive to succeed.

"Yes, of course," I reply, setting down my phone to give him my full attention.

"What is the counting for the part towards the middle after the chorus?"

I think for a moment and run through the music in my head until I find the beat and then dance while counting out loud. Hoseok's eyes are glued to me the whole time.