Ever heard of "The Dance King?"

We cannot talk about the best dancers in K-pop without including Taemin of SHINee! He debuted with the group in 2008, when he was just 14 years old, and has grown to be a 32-year-old dance legend. As a teen who grew up in the spotlight, he has experienced pressure from the industry that requires total perfection. Taemin started training at SM Entertainment at a very young age, prior to their debut, and his dance skills have always stood out.

SHINee is known for their sharp choreography, and Taemin often takes center stage, thanks to his smooth, precise, and expressive dance style ever since he was a teen. Of course, he has greatly improved over the years by taking ballet and contemporary dance classes, which aid his storytelling through dance by using emotion and technique.

In 2014, Taemin made a solo debut with "Danger," where he made a Michael Jackson-inspired performance. However, he switched to a soft, fluid, androgynous choreography with "Move" in 2017. This dance broke the gender norms and expressed a lot of graceful body movement, which boosted both the song and dance.  

Taemin served us a handcuffed dance in "Criminal" (2020), where he mixed danger and elegance in one dramatic performance. "Advice" (2021) took us to another world of blended piano melodies and bold choreography with swift and sharp footwork while incorporating delicate emotions. All his stages showed growth, evolution, and how he challenges himself to achieve the best stages.

In the industry, he's close friends with other top dancers like BTS's Jimin and EXO's Kai. They are often called the "Dance Line," and he's highly respected by them because he's seen as someone who sets the bar high. He has been constantly praised and admired by many rookie idols who wish to be like him. He also contributed his dance skills as the center performer for SM's global supergroup, SuperM, where he helped the group deliver powerful performances.

In his dance career, Taemin has won the "Best Dance Performance—Solo" at the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) in 2016 for "Press Your Number" and again in 2017 for "Move." All these awards were given to recognize and appreciate his creativity, skills, and influence as a solo artist, proving his power. He's an artist who performs with his soul and not just moves.

Every expression, posture, and move of his is artistic with bold, powerful, and unforgettable charisma. This might be a bit different from his soft-spoken nature off-stage, but he sure knows his onions and how to be professional when the stage light is on.