“Rafa Mendez, the famous choreographer popular for his participation in the various versions of “Fama, a bailar”, will be responsible for directing the choreography and stage set-up of the upcoming tour of the South Korean band JYJ.
Rafa Mendez has a long history behind him in which he has collaborated with major people in the industry such as Luca Tomassini, the choreographer of Madonna and Kylie Minogue, or Kim Gaven, who was responsible for the performances of the group Take That. As a dancer, he has assisted artists as well known as Atomic Kitten, Geri Halliwel or Tiziano Ferro. He also recorded Paris Hilton’s latest MV.
Next Thursday on October 6, auditions will be held to pick the backup dancers that will accompany the group in the concerts in Barcelona and Berlin.
JYJ, who have sold more than half a million records in Asia, will land (come to) our country to present their latest album “In Heaven”. The group has chosen the city of Barcelona to hold their first concert in Spain, initiating their tour through the continent. This act will take place in the symbolic surroundings of Poble Espanyol, on Saturday, October 29.
Berlin will be the other European destination for JYJ, who will arrive at the German capital to perform in the Tempodrom Stadium on November 6. European fans will finally have a chance to see their favorite artists live.
Source: jyjworldtour11
Translation Credit: ilovekimjunsu
Shared by: JYJ3
JYJ3 
He’s a good choreographer (and a good dancer, may I say) but I find it really funny to imagine him and JYJ in the same room. He’s so… intense, lmao. It’s like everything Koreans aren’t (or at least, how the korean sterotype isn’t). But yeah, he’s good, I’m sure whatever he does he’ll do a great job.
Talking about that, what’s exactly what he’s doing? I mean, choreographing and directing the back up dancers or… what exactly? Bc obviously JYJ songs have already a choreo… I’m confused, lol.
I’ve seen his choreography. Hopefully JYJ doesn’t make out with each other and with their dancers.. There would be chaos. I hope the choreography doesn’t change.
I think the choreography will change because then there would be no point in hiring a choreographer.
@Shi Burrowes
“I’ve seen his choreography. Hopefully JYJ doesn’t make out with each other and with their dancers.. There would be chaos.”
lolol Hmmm… Do you have extended knowledge about Mr. Mendez perhaps?
A video or two, maybe? Just for comparative purposes of course.
🙂
I saw this vid. Great chreography though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge9vsWFAl7Q
Thanks for sharing this. He looks very passionate and i like his choreography except for the latter part – looks quite porno to me, geeez—-sorry if i’m offensive— just cannot imagine JYJ doing such an act on stage. I hope they maintain their wholesome image.
They are UN Ambassadors right 🙂
I don’t like his dancing style, although it’s intense…but his body movements are so…………..=/ I can’t imagine JYJ “swaying” like that lol
LMAO. Apart from the fanservice, the “choreo” part of it it’s good. I don’t think JYJ are going to make out with each other, in any case xDDD
I don’t know him but JYJ Fighting I’m sure everything gonna be epic with jyj ❤
ahh im so excited for the European tour even though i live in NJ XD! im really interested for JYJ to try to speak Spanish ❤ Hopefully they say more than Gracias and Hola! But any bit of Spanish speaking is perfect for me. also want to hear German ^_^
Also excited to see the stage set up and choreography! ^_^ Kya!!! so many things to be excited for!
I’m dying to hear them sayanything at all in Spanish >< !
“Say anything” sorry, got a bit excited
so , new choreography for JYJ’s songs ?
OMG this gonna be Epic ^^
Rafa Mendez is a great choreographer and dancer but he is a bit crazy and really intense i can’t imagine him with JYJ in the same room LOL… here are some of the best coreographys he has done, in my opinion. They are all of the same programme in wich he appears as a teacher and coreographer of funky, thats why he is well known here in Spain. They are all choreographed by him.
And here is him dancing:
Is it just me or are they rehearsing for a new vampire-themed MV in the last vid? LOL! Totally gave me a True Blood vibe (even though I haven’t seen that show in a few years)
rafa is pure fire and crazy
and above all sexy in their choreography
JYJ certainly surprised me want to expand their world
omg lol what are you saying he’s so bad….
What?!!!! He’s bad! OMO! Don’t tell me these things cause now I’m freaking out! I don’t want JYJ to do bad choreography.
JYJ wouldn’t have chosen this guy if they don’t like what he does. I wonder if Junsu will be dancing with the ladies this time? 😉
Hmmm… JYJ is awesome at fan service, and could it be that their thought is since they are to be in Europe to have that flavor at their fingertips and to WOW us all with this new taste of themselves? I feel excited!
Aigoo… Rafa, Rafa. We’re going to see some hot and raunchy choreos! (>,.<)
hot and sexy is fine with me, but raunchy ??? — i pray and hope not, sorry 😦
But i’ll give it the benefit of the doubt – they’re JYJ after all, they know best and i trust them 🙂
@jyj1214
Yes, I felt that immediately when I looked at his work where he was the lead. Now Barcelona is very “cosmopolitan” so this dance vibe maybe the preference for that market, I don’t really know. But when I checked out his website.. Much of his work is sexually charged. I feel like with JYJ less is more. Just the subtle hint of sexuality is better than the in your face style.
But if I were to just focus on the dance moves, to me there was a lack of fluidity and there were too many jumps, splits and leaps, like a aerobic dance exercise routine in many of the productions. Maybe its my K-pop dance bias where the focus is on tight, highly synchronized yet fluid movements. So its difficult for me to be objective about his style, since my eyes are so use to the K-pop style.
My thinking is that, Mendez is a professional no matter what his personal preference is. Hopefully JYJ has brought him on board to fill out, expand and tighten up their current choreography. I only hope that given the language and cultural challenges that they don’t completely allow him to make all the choices for them because they feel that well this is his “backyard” so we will defer to him. I think this maybe what happened with The Beginning Album. I liked the music, but the concept just did not sync with the JYJ brand.
But it seems JYJ has been about breaking new ground for themselves, lately. I hope and pray they don’t push the envelope too far, and just take us gently into the future.
Here is something I want to share.. I know it is old school DBSK and I don’t expect JYJ to go back but I have always enjoyed this video of the 5 dancing. I think this was one of their best choreographed songs. Its the Dance version of Wrong Number.
Watch Junsu’s hands at 0.25 and keep your eye on Jae.
@AFriendofJYJ
Hi, thanks for your reply. Yes, i agree with you, and the Wrong Number MV is my favorite dance video of DBSK too. My eyes were stuck on their lean and sexy legs the whole time, hahaha.Very subtle, very hot and sexy but not obscene. Hopefully the standards and quality of European Tour choreography -though definitely much more improved from this [because i’m sure there’s always room for improvement ] – but won’t sway towards obscenity. I PLACE MY FULL TRUST on JYJ. Our boys are now men and are very mature – conscious of their responsibilities being role models also.
Perhaps Rafa would consider this too. Otherwise, JYJ won’t entrust to him this task, right? I’m looking forward to their collaboration and performance. This is definitely an expansion of their artistic abilities – east meets west and vice versa!
Have a great weekend! 🙂
JYJ boys always know what they need. i will trust and wait
Shi Burrowes
on September 30, 2011 at 5:24 pm said:
I saw this vid. Great chreography though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge9vsWFAl7Q
New Choreographer PLEASE…hopefully he will be working with the dancers and not JYJ…His style seems so opposite of them…nonetheless he has worked with a lot of artist….I’m sure he knows what he is doing..and JYJ would probably interject if they don’t like something.
LOL…dude moves like a girl….
the fuck…who am I kidding…his choreography is extremely gay lol…why does he “ca-walks”? -__-
*cat-walks*
yeah! i had the same thoughts. he actually reminded me of those dudes in Lady Gaga’s Alejandro….noooooo…..
omg Rafael Mendez is such a joke srsly, he sucks 😐 I don’t get the hype from spanish people he’s so average…. Why are JYJ like this? There are far better choreagraphers in Spain, not to mention in the rest of Europe ….
Well, if he was good for Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Take That and the rest mentioned, he can’t be so bad.
X__X I must be tired. When I read your comment, a mental image of Jae with Madonna’s cone bra on popped into my head. ~shudder~ i don’t want to relive that.
LOOOOOL!!!!! 😀 😀 😀
interesting that they would choose him from what your comments are. i think they are trying out new things and want to expand their knowledge base of different styles but i hope they will say no if he gets to outlandish. i really don’t want to see them delve into the super sexy realm any more. all i need are their dancing and singing. no half nekked girls shimming up to them and being so suggestive. i guess it is one thing to imagine things and another to have them acted out in front of your face. takes away the feel of it. i just don’t like watching girls’ buttcheeks hanging out everywhere. hope the dancers are not like whats her name though. (telisha) i didn’t like her “using” jyj’s fame to aid her own cause( just how it hit me) i want them to stay high class and different from the average bear if you know what i mean. hehehe
I’m crying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK No I’m not but I’m seriously worried. I know he did choreography for Kylie Minogue and I’ve never seen her do anything indecent, but women are allowed to be a bit more sexy in their dances. I even doubt that JYJ necessarily picked him. Did they pick the dancers from Slaughternation? I know they hired them but does CJeS research and suggest these dancers/choreographers to JYJ and JYJ just goes with it. I really have no clue.
that is a good question. who exactly has a say in it? anyone know?
i didn’t care for the stuff in the videos. it seems a combination for modernish dance with lots of gymnastic stuff. can’t see that type of dancing fitting in with jyj’s songs and beats. guess he will come up with something else hopefully.
lets just see what happnes… im ALL EXITED… *imagines JJ dancing latin dance… & junsu swaying to tango or maybe Yoochun???* ^___^
Nag-iin-OA na naman tong mga to… maxadong ano eh!!!! highblood itu??? hahahahaha~!!!!
kaya laging nag-aaway tong mga adik na to kasi masyadong hot eh… calma lang~!!!! XDDD
@sam-sam,
Hi kabayan, gandang umaga :-)…natatawa ako sa comment mo. Oo nga- calma at hintay lang muna -hwag unahan and mga pangyayari, hahaha!
Adik din ako, pareho tayo kahat 🙂
Junsu can dance sexy but how bout jj and yoochun?? Cant imagine thrm swying their hips on a spanish song. But wait…maybe they prepared a spanish dance for the fans! Omo omo, sexy dance is okay but not to the extent that i have to cover my eyes because its fuckin erotic to see o.o noo!!! Jj!!! But i dont want the dancers putting their hands on jyj!!!!
Oh wow…I wasn’t expecting my translation to become an article. I’m glad I was able to be at least a little useful. As for Rafa Mendez, I’m not sure how I feel. Part of me is worried because his stuff seems EXTREMELY outlandish. On the otherhand, he wouldn’t have gotten very far in his career if he didn’t know what he was doing. I guess the only thing we can do is just wait and see. I’m sure it’ll turn out fine. It is JYJ after all…they wouldn’t put anything out for their fans if they didn’t feel it was up to par. Just try to have a little faith you guys! XD
muchas gracias for your translation. I’m really hoping for the best. It seems that many Spanish fans are clicking “like” regarding this on the official facebook page so it must be good. should i be ready for a culture/visual shock? haha!
No problem. I also don’t know if it’s good or bad thing…i’m hoping its good, but honestly…from the looks of it, you should REALLY be ready for a visual shock. I don’t know very much about his work but from what i’ve seen, it’s very different from what we’re used to seeing JYJ do.
Even though I freak out I do trust that if things become *too much* the boys, manager, whoever will stop it. Barcelona makes me antsy. The tickets that haven’t been sold out yet, the broadcasting companies that will be there, this Mendez guy, the pressure…..everything. In case you guys didn’t catch on I’m a chronic worry-wart. I know though that the boys always pull ahead….it is just *some* of the people around them I worry about.
Your not the only one who worries….I’m ALWAYS worried about things too. It just makes me nervous. I always want the boys to succeed so badly, that I freak out when I see there’s a possibility that it may not work out for them. Right now, this Barcelona concert worries me so much. I want the ticket sales to be super high, if not a complete sell out. I don’t want them to work so hard and then things don’t work out. Ugh…ok, ok…we should both just be a little more optimistic! XD
Yes. Positive thoughts! Positive…positive
*deep breath*
I love JYJ kind of like a mother does. I just don’t want anything screwing them up.
Thanks unnie ilovekimjunsu for sharing this! Im worried but I know they will do good! Thanks for your hard work! Admins fighting! Album fighting! Tour fighting! Jyj fighting!
Your welcome…if I come across anything else I can help with, I’ll definitely do it! XD
I’m hoping this guy be EXTREMELY gay that he can REDUCE all the girls on stage ¬¬
LOL
rolling on the floor laughing****
Girls flee in terror at this guy’s dancing but then again it won’t be him on stage it will be JYJ. I really hope JYJ don’t go with whatever this guy says because he is a “professional.” If they feel uncomfortable I want them to say it. I sometimes think the boys are a bit too nice.
Mendez: OK. Energy!!!! Energy! Crap energy!
JYJ: OMG…….
Junsu:…..well I mean….he is a professional…he can’t be wrong right? *does moves reluctantly*
Jaejoong: *crying in a corner*
Mendez: You! Pale boy! Why do you not dance to the rhythm? You and the greasy one slouch as you dance. How is this possible?
Yoochun: Hey! He is not THAT pale!
You know what? ♩Fuck off! No more talk!!!!!♩
Mendez: How DARE you! I will give you the worst dance possible you ungrateful little bastards!
Junsu: OMO! Yoochun! What have you done?
Yoochun: I answer to my own rules…..not society’s…..let’s roll. *snaps fingers, pimp sunglasses magically appear on his face*
You won’t see us again…..
That is what I think will be the worst case scenario…..ridiculous I know……I hope this is for the dancers not JYJ
Lord in the Heavens have mercy!!!
LOL!!! I laughed so hard at this…especially at the Mission lyrics and the pimp sunglasses magically appearing! XD
@MIA2 you make me smiles again^____^
¡ROFL! @ Mia, you’re right dear. I hope everything will have a very happy ending, full of successes and lots of patience. 🙂
LOL I swear anyone who is worried just needs to read this cause all my worries went away when I was picturin this scenerio in my head.
@MIA2
Love your script- made me ROFLOL, FOMCL and in the end ICSL….. Geeez i almost had a HAFL here -just can’t stop laughing now 🙂
SPEAKING OF DANCING AND CHOREOGRAPHY
JYJ has the ultimate Dance Machine already….. Behold…. KIM JUNSU
Please don’t kill me, but really Kim Junsu moves with more fluidity than any dancer I have seen in K-pop. His body totally synchs with the music, his timing is awesome and the fine details with his hand placement, right down to his fingers are simply amazing.
Watch some of the old DBSK vidoes and only keep your eyes on Junsu’s hands and fingers. He is simply an incredible dancer.
@AFriendofJYJ
I copy that – JUNSU IS AN INCREDIBLE DANCER. Let me elaborate:
Junsu NATURALLY EXUDES SENSUALITY FLUIDLY- like waves, i love it when he moves his hips-its ELECTRIFYNG – like all his nerves are in total sync with each musical note [ whoah, i’m not a dance expert- but as a viewer, this is how Junsu affects me, hihihi] ,SO SO SEXY and CUTE! And he doesn’t need to occupy so much space when he does this, he doesn’t need to spread out his legs and arms wide, to get all the attention to himself. He may be situated on the left side of the stage among the 5 before, yet he won’t fail to capture our eyes when he starts MOVNG HIS BODY RHYTHMICALLY. Both his voice and body express to us the story of the song beautifully. – oh. I’m so wowed with Junsu!
And so historically, he effortlessly/naturally earned the “Charisma Title” right? 🙂 [which was not originally assigned to him by his former management] – and Junsu couldn’t help it too – because he is just so full of it without trying hard. He naturally earned it and that former management agency couldn’t stop it,- they must be so frustrated until now, hehehe.
In conclusion, For me, JUNSU is the best dancer in DBSK. – bow!
so agree! fluid is the word to describe his moves in dancing. i think he is so awesome because he IS the music. it flows in his veins and exists in his soul. he FEELS it in his body and naturally moves to the rhythm. he hears it in his head and bursts out singing. he does not have to think about dancing, it just flows out of him. his long years of practicing have really paid off for him and for the fans.
I want to watch their concert on youtube… I hope their will be upload their concert on youtube…..
any way JYJ fighting…..
I like them I hope their will be a great sucsess……
JYJ fighting…
we can always to support you to fight SME…..
I hope …i just worry to much…every thing will be ok…hummm still worry!! Eu fans … if you can please support the boys!!!!
I wish JYJ luck with their new coreographer. He seems to be exactly the opposite of them. A hot blooded man who likes extreme, strong and raw movements while dancing.
yes, i think so too…That why I am worry.. if they know how to mix between them maybe they will give us something special like alot of thing opposiite happened in the world..try imagination^____^ my english not good to enplain !!
We’ll have to wait and see how it turns out.
I think the boys are decisive and can make decisions when the situation calls for it.
I do hope this guy can bring the boys to another level! A “good” level!!! Haha
reading the comments above, lol, u guys worry a lot. don’t worry, jyj are men not little boys who do not know what they are doing, trust them.
i know most fans probably do not want to see sexy dances after what they saw in jyj tour for north america leg but lets face it, they are going to try out new things, so let’s hope they can pull it off.
i am so excited to see xiah dancing some latin moves… though i wonder how micky and jae will manage… i find it hard to picture it in my mind since they are bit stiff. latin dances are full of passion, and a lot of movement, hopefully they will manage it.
omo… i just thought of what micky would do, micky is daring one in the group. i am super excited. i can’t wait to see.
i wonder how much did jyj has to pay him and the other backup dancers it will be not that cheap and the concert is not sold out
will jyj make profit or is earning money not there first worry but be different then other k pop artist
me as a jyj european fan just wants a simple jyj concert i anm happy the way they are please no change some of us wants to come
with family .i didnt like the n america thing backup dancers bowing and moving there butts from behind sorry not intrested
I hope JYJ wll stick to their own style and can add some new spices in but not those ‘ehem’ moves or it’ll be too much to see.
I hope the Rafa guy will not destroy JYJ image or reputation.
Can someone tell me –> Is the ticket sales not good? I have not see any articles saying that the tickets has sold out. Is it going well? 🙂
Reading your comments i see that a lot of people are scared of Rafa Mendez LOL i understand it but i’m sure our boys have done some research before choosing him and also Rafa Mendez is a great choreographer and dancer who has work with Madonna, Kylie Minogue or Robbie Williams, Tiziano Ferro Geri Halliwell and if he has agree to this then than means that he has search info about JYJ and seen JYJs talent. This guy doesn’t work with just anybody. So i think something good will come from this 🙂
It’s gonna by like collision of two worlds. Rafa is crazier than U-KISS’ party.
It’s gonna by like collision of two worlds. Rafa is crazier than U-KISS’ party.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgx3wLWuels&feature=related[/media]
I know this choreographer very well. His dances are very sexy and ALWAYS very cool, his style is amazing so I have no doubt that the concert will be good. He already worked with very famous people like Madonna, Justin Timberlake and so on. But he is also famous for being very strict and worn out his dancers till everything is perfect.
And yes he’s always a very great fan of kissing and stripping in the dances, hopefully he will strip those boys for the concert, can’t wait XD
i just wish for classy and not inyourface sensationalism. i really wish to leave a good clean image for them and no stripping please. madonna is raunchy to me and lady gaga goes for sensationalism. doesn’t mean it is good. depends on the eyes of the viewer though i suppose.
Even though Rafa it’s a bit extreme I wouldn’t call it sensationalism. I really like his work, I think he is original (doesn’t do what others already did) and his dances are really entertaining and different from any others and I think it’s good cause I tired to see all the same moves.
But I can assure one thing classy is not something Rafa will go for it’s just not his style and I’m glad cause I miss great dance perfomances from the boys (JYJ).
i think what we all want is a great performance from jyj and one that they are proud of and the fans appreciate. then it will be a success cause that is what we all want, jyj=success! i guess i just want them to stay true to themselves and the fans and not try something that is not right for their image just cause it is a different audience. the audience should like them for who they are and what their music is and not them trying to cater to others’ tastes.
I think that JYJ are always true to themselves independently of the choreography.
And in my personal opinion I didn’t like the choreography of the USA Tour with the album ‘Beggining’ and I think they can do better than that.
But what I really like about Rafa is that he -after hearing a song- can grasp it essence really quickly and do a choreography really according to it. And I think he will do the same for the music of our boys and do a good work.
Here are some of my favourite choreography from Rafa, so you see he can actually be really good, and honestly if he wasn’t that good the boys agency wouldn’t have contacted him.
thanks for the links. i think you are right! they will stay true to their own style and hopefully rafa can interpret the songs and do the choreo according to them. sometimes we hear or read something and get way too worried before we really see the results. wasn’t thrilled with their beginning stuff either but i feel that they don’t need to have distractions like those dancer girls pawning all over them and showing more than i care to see. all i need are jyj on stage and all else to blend with them and make it better but not overtake what they are there for. i will be interested to see what jyj+rafa=’s! i guess i am just worried about it being too overtly sexual. i like to bring my kids with me to watch them.
some of the comment in here, I cant even. So dumb and ignorance.