Many K-Pop trainees gain on-stage experience by performing as backup dancers. This was the case for BTS, whose members danced with 2AM‘s Jo Kwon and BIGHIT MUSIC‘s first girl group, GLAM, pre-debut.
Here are 10+ of BTS’s former backup dancers who went on to pursue careers as idols.
1. Lee Know (Stray Kids)
Five years after BTS debuted, Lee Know debuted in the popular JYP Entertainment boy group Stray Kids in 2018.
He performed with BTS during their first Japan tour, and he appeared in their “Not Today” music video.
Stray Kids mentioned Lee Know’s backup dancing experience in an interview with W.
MY SKZ BTS CRUMBS YES 🥹😭 they talk abt Lee Know being one of their backup dancer 🥹 pic.twitter.com/sjYWP9EWJJ
— 🌕 • fan acc (@namchanhyung) December 6, 2022
2. R1AN
R1AN, a singer under Lo-Fi Kids, debuted in 2020 with his song “에베베 (Eh bebe).” He also appeared on the survival program Boys24.
He danced alongside BTS in one of their most ambitious and legendary trailers to date, Intro Performance.
3. Sihoo (MustB)
In 2019, Sihoo debuted under MUSTM Entertainment in MustB. Before debuting as an idol, he was a dancer for 1Million Studio, and he danced with BTS for their chart-topping 2018 single, “Idol.” You might have seen him dancing with the group during their promotions on M Countdown, Music Bank, Show! Music Core, and Inkigayo.
4. Junhyoung (F.ABLE)
In 2020, Junhyoung debuted in F.ABLE (previously called ENERFIVE), under Haeirum Entertainment. During the year leading up to his debut, he danced with BTS at the 2019 Melon Music Awards and with GOT7 at the KBS Song Festival.
5. JJ (DUSTIN)
As a trainee, JJ worked as a backup dancer for BTS between 2017 and 2018. He went on to debut in 2020 as a member of the LPA Entertainment group DUSTIN in 2020. He left the group in 2021.
6. Yunsol (NIK)
In 2021, this former Produce X 101 contestant officially made his idol debut as a member of NIK, a Japanese-Korean boy group formed through the global Idol project G-EGG. He has worked as a backup dancer for BTS, but also for HOTSHOT.
7. Kain (ARGON)
In 2019, Kain debuted under MSH Entertainment as a member of ARGON. Sadly, due to inactivity, the group is presumed to have disbanded in late 2020. If you watched BTS’s WINGS tour performances, you might have seen this talented dancer-turned-idol in the background.
8. Jewon (NINE.i)
This former Produce X 101 contestant debuted in NINE.i, a boy group under FirstOne Entertainment in 2022.
He can be seen dancing with BTS to “Idol” in this clip.
omg jewon as bts's dancer 😱❤️ pic.twitter.com/MXcyIfzD1l
— with us trainee promoter (@autrainee_) May 13, 2019
9. Yonghyun (BOYS24)
Yonghyun was a member of Unit Black, a survival show unit within the pre-debut group BOYS24. Unit Black debuted in 2017with the album Steal Your Heart.
He appeared in BTS’s Intro Performance trailer.
BOYS24's Yonghyun were one of the back up dancer for BTS' 가요대제전 intro performance trailer back then ^^ pic.twitter.com/DxGWWmRffU
— 毎日防弾少年団 (@BANGTAN_DAILY) February 27, 2017
10. Rayoon (MVP)
In 2017, Rayoon debuted in MVP under PH Entertainment as the group’s rapper and main dancer. Before this, he worked as a backup dancer for BTS and Unicorn.
11. Taeeun (The Vish)
Taeeun debuted in The Vish during the summer of 2022 with the single “Magnolia.“ He previously debuted as a soloist in 2020 under VNVE.
Taeeun talked about his past experience as BTS’s backup dancer during episode 11 of The Unit.
Taeeun used to be bts backup dancer
Mày đi nhảy thuê từ thời nào??? pic.twitter.com/61rQtSA26F— Aoki (@Aoki_Yumi) December 3, 2017
