Interview with Kyle Hanagami

This article appears in Tokyo Weekend Vol. 4.
To read the full article, click here.

Kyle Hanagami is a Los Angeles-based choreographer and creative director who has worked with some of the world’s biggest musicians, including Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Alicia Keys and Blackpink. Best known for his work on YouTube, he has recently been more involved in film and television, this year working on the musical comedy Mean Girls.

So, where does his passion for music come from? And what’s it like working with Blackpink? We recently caught up with Hanagami to find out. During our conversation, we touched on his Japanese heritage, how he got started as a dancer, and the huge impact choreography has had on pop culture.

Full Interview with Kyle Hanagami

How much did your Japanese background influence you growing up?

Quite a lot. My grandmother was born and raised in Tokyo, and she would take me to the temple every weekend, and I would watch her do the Japanese fan dance. She would also go to Japan once a year and bring back videotapes of games and Hayao Miyazaki’s films before they became popular in the United States. I remember sitting with her and listening to her translate video games from Japanese into English.

Do you go to Japan often?

Yes, at least once a year. I’ve been going there regularly since I was 16 and I love it. But it wasn’t until my first solo trip that I really started thinking about it. This is my hometownGrowing up in Los Angeles, where the majority of people are white, I felt like an outsider culturally and experienced racism. Although I spent only a short time in Japan, I felt like I could relate to the people there. My father didn’t speak Japanese, but he raised me as Japanese.

What is your opinion of the Japanese dance scene?

The first time I taught dance in Japan was when I was 24, and I was blown away by how committed the students were to dance. The dancers were so talented and their moves were so clean. They took great pride in what they were doing and understood the basic styles. It was very inspiring. I have worked a lot with K-pop artists so far, but one thing I am currently focusing on is helping J-pop artists break into the mainstream. There is real potential there.

How did you get started as a dancer?

I started taking dance during my first year at UC Berkeley. I was majoring in psychology and economics, but then I got bored. I had spent my entire high school life studying, and I felt like it was time to do something outside of the classroom. In college, you have the opportunity to reinvent yourself, and that’s exactly what I wanted to do. I always felt like I had this creative spark inside of me, and dance seemed like the perfect art form to release that spark and express myself in ways I never had before. But because I started so late, I didn’t learn the “right way.” I had to figure it out on my own.

Have you always wanted to turn this hobby into a career?

Not at all. I got into it because I had a following on social media. The bar for virality has changed over the years. It started with 100,000 views, then 1 million, 10 million, and now I have over 200 million views on my videos. I started in the industry when I was about 23, right after college. An agent saw my videos on YouTube and signed me when I moved back to LA. I didn’t realize what was happening at the time. I remember thinking to myself, I never want my name to be more important than my talentThat’s the philosophy I’ve held onto throughout my career. I’ve always focused on honing my craft instead of worrying about how big I am.

How do you feel when you hear people say they started dancing because of you?

Old. I mean it’s cool. I didn’t have any dance influences growing up, so it’s hard for me to take it when people say I’m an inspiration to other people. Going back 10 years, I started hearing it from dancers. Now, it’s coming from A-list actors and singers, as well as executives and entertainment studio operators. I get messages from Hollywood stars right after they’ve seen their movies. It’s unreal. When I started dancing, I definitely didn’t expect anything like this to happen.

You’ve worked with some of the greatest musicians in the world. Have you ever been intimidated by anyone?

No, I wouldn’t say I have. But there was one time when I turned down an opportunity to work with a globally renowned artist. They contacted me about 10 years ago and wanted me to tour with them. I just felt like I would be thrown in at the deep end, and I don’t think I was ready for it. It would have allowed me to gain a foothold in the industry because I wasn’t as mature as I am now, but I don’t think I would have been fair to myself or the artist.

How does it feel to work with Blackpink?

They are so talented and they work so hard. When I first met them, they hadn’t released a single song yet. It’s like a dream to be able to help them grow their careers. I’m used to supporting established artists like J.Lo and Alicia Keys. With Blackpink, I was invited to join from the beginning. Each of them has their own unique qualities, and I enjoy bringing them to life on stage in their own way.

Can you tell us about Mean Girls?

It was such an eye-opener. It’s been a dream to work with someone like Tina Fey. I don’t think there are many talented people, but she is. Not only because of her undoubted talent, but also because she is so kind to everyone. It’s a privilege to be a part of such a great project. I’m also very happy for this opportunity because I hope to do more TV and film work as a choreographer and director. But ultimately, whether I’m working on a music video, a movie or a stage play, my goal is to find and highlight the strengths of the dancers.

You recently had a dispute with the game maker Fortnite Copyright issues. How important is it for dancers to protect their work?

It’s very serious. And it’s happening very quickly. I really want the world to understand the value of creators and choreographers. Systemically, we’re being taken advantage of, and this is bigger than any one case or incident. It’s about making sure people realize the huge impact choreography has on pop culture, from the biggest trends of the year to Wednesday dance parties. It’s a huge part of people’s lives, but it still feels undervalued.

Follow Kyle Hanagami on Instagram and YouTube.

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