On December 13 & 14, 2025, the Level 10K Dance K-onvention hosted its Athens Edition for the first time. Held at The Core Force CrossFit studio, the two-day event was designed to offer dancers direct access to Korea’s world-class dance scene. Participants trained with two leading Korean choreographers, Noh “Alexx” Dong Heon and Yechan Jin, and showcased their skills in a K-pop cover dance contest judged by these same industry professionals. 

Level 10K is a dance convention dedicated exclusively to inviting top choreographers from Korea and East Asia, aiming to offer dancers a direct and immersive experience of the contemporary dance scene. Founded between 2022 and 2023 through ProDancers, the initiative was inspired by the vision of Anna Mpoutsia and brought to life by leader and founder Claire Karapidaki. Since its early editions, Level 10K has become a platform for dancers to learn, showcase their skills through competitions and connect with a passionate community. After a modest first edition in 2023 featuring the international artist Yumeki Takenaka, the convention rapidly expanded, welcoming top-tier choreographers such as BADA, LUSHER and TATTER from TEAM BEBE to Thessaloniki in June 2025.

The workshops were led by Alexx and Yechan, two prominent figures in Korea’s dance scene. Both are members of the dance crew GrandBoys, are affiliated with 1MILLION Dance Studio and gained wider recognition through Mnet’s Street Man Fighter. Signed under Jam Republic, they represent a new generation of Korean dancers whose work bridges performance, education and global exchange. They have danced alongside major K-pop figures, including BLACKPINK’s Lisa. While sharing this common foundation, their artistic identity remains distinct. Alexx is known for blending hip hop with African movement influences, characterized by sharp precision and fluid musicality. His credits include work with many artists such as Stray Kids and NEXZ under JYP Entertainment. Yechan, on the other hand, is celebrated for his versatility across jazz, jazz funk, emotion-driven and fluid styles. He has choreographed and performed for various artists including THEBOYZ, Kai, G-Dragon and the Japanese boy group Warps Roots.

On December 13, dancers of all ages filled the studio well before the official start of the event, reflecting the anticipation surrounding the workshops. Alexx kicked off the dance workshop with choreography set to Kendrick Lamar’s “Peekaboo”, guiding participants through a demanding hip hop routine within a 90-minute session. He challenged dancers to focus on musicality, precision and control, while maintaining an encouraging teaching style. The class concluded with a powerful solo performance by Alexx that drew enthusiastic applause. 

Yechan followed with an energetic class set to the iconic dance break of “4 Minutes” by Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. His choreography blended multiple styles, pushing dancers not only to adapt quickly but also to maintain confidence. Both Alexx and Yechan actively encouraged participants to step into the spotlight, dancing alongside them and fostering a sense of shared enthusiasm and equality. 

Later the same day, at about 6pm, the K-pop cover dance competition took place in the same venue, with the entire studio filled with an enthusiastic audience. The competition was hosted by Angelos Petrou, founder and CEO of GET AP Dance Studio, who set a dynamic and engaging atmosphere with his vibrant personality. With Alexx and Yechan serving as judges, participants were evaluated on criteria including reproduction, technique, difficulty, expression, lip sync, synchronization, and overall performance. 

In the youth solo category, Raife Achmet claimed first place with a performance set to Aespa’s “Black Mamba”. In the adult solo category, Hong took first place with a cover of Xikers’ “Breath”, while the adult crew category was won by MASK with their performance of Dreamcatcher’s “Scream”. Winners received scholarships for the 2026 Level 10K event, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to supporting dancers’ long-term growth.

On December 14, Yechan opened the day with choreography to “Slidin’” by Kai, delivering an R&B-focused class that balanced groove, emotion and control. The session completed with him performing the choreography solo, a moment that left the studio in awe. At the conclusion of the session, Yechan expressed his gratitude with the following remarks: “I’m really happy to teach and share this energy here in Greece. I feel motivated by you guys and your passion and I’m really proud of my job. Thank you for having me Level 10K! I want to see Acropolis now,” he added with a smile, before closing with, “Thank you for enjoying the class. See you next time everywhere, anywhere!”.

Alexx closed the weekend with one of his most iconic choreographies set to “This!” by Amaarae – a piece he has previously taught as a masterclass at 1MILLION Dance Studio. The class featured a challenging routine blending two of his signature styles, African movement and hip hop. After completing the choreography, Alexx warmly invited participants to form a circle and ask questions, turning the session into open exchange. When asked what advice he would give to dancers striving to grow and follow their passion, Alexx emphasized the following: “First, I think you guys need to enjoy it. If you feel too much stress, you need to stop,” he explained. “I never have stress time. Also, for me dance is not a job. Dance is my favorite hobby. When I dance, I'm very happy. When I create K-pop choreography for artists, it becomes work. This is for artists, not me. When I make (moves) for NEXZ or Stray Kids then I have a little bit of stress because I have to think about the company and the artist’s personality. But when I make choreography for my classes, I don't feel stress. I imagine that I'm dancing with my friends, with my students, so I'm very happy”.

After the final workshop, I had the opportunity to speak briefly with both choreographers backstage and ask them a few questions about their experience in Greece. When asked what they enjoy most about teaching dance abroad and meeting dancers from different cultures, both Alexx and Yechan shared the same answer: the opportunity to connect with people and make new friends, just as they did during their time in Athens.

I then asked about their first impression of Greek dancers, as this was their first time teaching in Greece. Alexx was quick to respond, describing the experience as overwhelmingly positive in terms of energy, which he characterized as strong and genuinely motivating. He noted that the atmosphere in the classes felt relaxed, without a rigid “teacher-student” hierarchy. He commented that it felt like sharing the studio with friends rather than leading a formal class. He admitted that he initially felt uncertain, as he did not know much about the Greek dance scene before arriving, but this uncertainty turned into surprise and appreciation. He described Greek dancers as calm and respectful, elements that, for him, made the entire experience even more enjoyable.

The Athens edition of Level 10K was supported on-site by a dedicated team, including event manager Raya, Anna Mpoutsia and Ioanna Faka, a faculty member of the school that consistently supports the convention. A few days after the event, Raya shared with me the philosophy that shapes Level 10K each year: “The lineup is selected carefully, reviewing our choices and creating a composition that can satisfy even the most demanding audiences. Our goal is to create a one-of-a-kind street dance camp that combines the hottest names in Korean choreography with the needs and requests of our local community”. Raya concluded by revealing that the lineup for June 2026 has already been announced, with two new Korean choreographers confirmed for the next edition of Level 10K, a sign of the event’s steady evolution and expanding vision. 

Beyond choreography and competition, this convention became a living example that Korean contemporary dance emerged once again as a universal form of expression that dissolves any kind of boundaries and build mutual respect and understanding. Korean culture and K-pop is not only being celebrated, but genuinely experienced, creating meaningful human connection and, of course, cultural exchange.