Stray Kids’ Lee Know is an idol like no other. His years of experience in the industry as a dancer made him one of the idols with the most mesmerizing dancing and stage presence, tied together with his incredible, versatile, and stable vocals. As soon as he steps on a stage, he shines. He doesn’t stand out from the crowd only because of his skills, but also his journey and the path that ultimately led him to Stray Kids. And we’re here to tell you all about it.
Early Years
His determination for dance, to choreograph and perform on stage, was present from the very beginning. Lee Know‘s journey as a dancer started as early as middle school when he took interest in dancing. He later joined the Soul Dance Studio, which he paid for by working part-time jobs, and where he even started to make his own choreographies. Lee Know auditioned for several entertainment companies, and that’s how we got the iconic pre-debut video: his interview with National Geographic during the Cube Entertainment open auditions. And, well, spoiler: he did become the next best thing in K-Pop.
Joining a Dance Crew
With his involvement in Soul Dance Studio, Lee Know took part in a dance crew created by the founder of the studio: CUPCAKES. Members of this crew have gone on to become some of the most iconic and well-regarded dancers and choreographers in the industry, such as Bada Lee, and Lee Know was the youngest among them. This crew was beyond iconic, and they even performed at huge events such as the World Of Dance competition in 2016 as special guests – and fun fact, Hyunjin was in the crowd that day. And in the meantime, Lee Know got into college with his own choreography to become a professional choreographer.
Dancer for BTS
The most significant break for Lee Know before joining JYP Entertainment and Stray Kids came when he worked as a dancer for BTS. After taking part in CUPCAKES, Lee Know joined BTS’ dance crew at the beginning of 2017. You can still catch him in the front of the performance in ‘Not Today’ stages at music shows. But more importantly, Lee Know joined BTS for the Japanese leg of their Wings Tour in the summer of 2017. It was then that it became clearer than ever to Lee Know that what he wanted more than anything was to become an idol.
His Trainee Days in JYP Entertainment
After auditioning for entertainment companies, enough time had passed for Lee Know to believe that he hadn’t been selected until JYP Entertainment called. And thus, practically right out of the plane from Japan, Lee Know joined JYP Entertainment as the last piece to Stray Kids and the main dancer. It meant that Lee Know had about two weeks to complete the entire training process to join the team—and he did, breaking the record for the shortest time to pass all 40 basic JYP moves, all while learning four songs a week. It was a beyond chaotic time, but the fact that Lee Know accomplished all that in only two weeks is a testament to his hard work, determination, and undeniable talent.
Stray Kids’ Main Dancer
And that leads us to today. Lee Know plays a major role in Stray Kids as a main dancer. He’s a major force in Stray Kids‘ stage presence, and his leadership in dancing is always noticeable. From helping members learn the choreography, leading rehearsals, and adding his own touches and arrangements to the choreographies, Lee Know‘s mark is all over every Stray Kids performance. Additionally, he has choreographed performances such as his first SKZ-PLAYER, ‘Dawn,’ as well as the Danceracha‘s SKZ-PLAYER, and helped in the design and construction of special stages. His role in the group has also led him to take the stage for solos, blowing everyone away with his performances, technique, and strength —not only as a dancer and performer but as an all-rounded idol.
Lee Know‘s path was a long one, but it was full of success, hard work, determination, passion, and overflowing talent, which led him right where he needed to be in Stray Kids.
What’s your favorite Lee Know dancer moment? What’s your favorite performance by him? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
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