First of all, the reason Seo-yeon learned to dance was surprisingly not because of a Vtuber.
After receiving an award, Seo-yeon had taken a break from acting for a while, and she was sulking.
She abruptly quit something that had become significant in her heart.
“I think Seo-yeon looks really down.”
Of course, Suah was more than worried about her.
After some serious thought, Young-bin responded.
“Well, maybe she just needs some encouragement or compliments to find fun in something else?”
“Do you think that would even work?”
Suah scolded Young-bin for that, but with nothing else to do, she diligently praised Seo-yeon every morning during her stretches.
“I see Seo-yeon has a good sense of rhythm when she moves her body!”
“Really?”
“I think you would do great if you learned to dance!”
Seo-yeon perked up at that.
In reality, Seo-yeon’s sense of rhythm was quite remarkable. She was generally good at using her body, so she picked up dancing quickly.
“Ah, you’re doing great. So good!”
Anyway, without much thought, Suah continued to clap for Seo-yeon.
And Seo-yeon, excited on her own, worked hard at learning to dance.
“Um, Seo-yeon. You’re really good, but… isn’t this a bit much?”
“You praised me too much.”
Of course, they eventually reached that conclusion.
Anyway, Seo-yeon felt fairly confident in her dancing.
First and foremost, dancing involves less emotional expression compared to singing.
It’s pure physical ability.
And it’s all about skill.
Of course, rhythm was important, but as mentioned, Seo-yeon wasn’t exactly tone-deaf.
She could sing, but it was more like an emotion imitation that could feel somewhat unpleasant.
‘First.’
Seo-yeon closed her eyes as the background music started.
The audition music had been prepared in advance.
In other words, it was a song from some singer prepared beforehand.
And this singer would later sing an insert song for Dream Future.
‘Just any dance won’t do.’
It’s a dance, but an extension of acting.
She must properly show that to the judges.
In the story, Joo Ha-rin was a bouncy and lively character.
Therefore, Seo-yeon also had some thoughts about the dance.
‘First, a light hip-hop dance.’
In common terms, it’s the most widely seen dance style.
This is roughly in the category that the public feels is ‘cool.’
Breaking—she could do it, but it was over the top.
It didn’t fit the character concept at all.
‘But still.’
One move should be okay.
She opened her eyes.
Seo-yeon’s red eyes locked onto the judges.
As she exhaled, a grin spread across Seo-yeon’s lips.
Thud, with the beat, Seo-yeon’s feet moved.
Naturally, she spread her stance shoulder-width apart, stepping one foot forward.
“Oh……”
The first exclamation came from casting director Shin Yoon.
Perhaps it was because the song was so subtle.
The dance stood out even more.
‘Her arms and legs are long, so her dancing looks refreshing.’
Of course, he was no expert in dance.
It was simply a judgment made from the audience’s perspective.
But even for a typical audience member, Seo-yeon’s dance was incredibly refreshing.
At the same time.
‘Expression.’
Only then did Seo-yeon realize she was simultaneously acting.
‘It’s a scene where Joo Ha-rin dances on the street in the story.’
Other judges caught onto that too.
It wasn’t due to the dance or Seo-yeon’s bright expression.
‘The gaze.’
Park Jung-woo carefully observed Seo-yeon’s gaze movement.
What he thought was directed at the judges turned into an attempt to make eye contact with the entire 360 degrees around her.
The audience.
She was envisioning the circle of spectators surrounding her.
As Joo Ha-rin dances on the street.
It was a movement modeled after the audience looking at her performing street dance.
Her stride was restricted.
And the movement of her arms and legs seemed to demonstrate the space given to her, coming to an abrupt stop at a moment.
It was like she could see the space.
The place where Seo-yeon danced wasn’t the audition hall but felt like the street where the audience watched her.
The song was reaching its climax.
Seo-yeon’s body bent downwards.
“Huh?!”
Someone let out a surprised exclamation.
That was because it transitioned from hip-hop dance to breaking so naturally.
At the final, passionate rhythm.
Spin, Seo-yeon’s body twirled.
Fast. Really fast.
Windmill.
To put it simply, it was breaking.
Often referred to as breaking dance, it belonged to the basic moves.
Moreover, it was one of the most familiar breaking dances to the public.
However, no matter how basic it was, it was difficult for an average person, and if they didn’t learn properly, it would just look awkward.
With her long limbs, it was almost comedic how she opened her mouth in awe.
Forgetting that she was even acting.
And as the music came to a stop.
Seo-yeon’s hands touched the ground, her body standing proudly in mid-air.
“Wow!”
Someone among the judges inadvertently gasped.
Freeze.
A position to support her body using the strength of her arms and upper body.
Usually, it’s a movement that shows a finishing pose in breaking.
Seo-yeon intentionally performed the windmill to showcase a natural ending.
As her body, which spun rapidly, now halted in mid-air, the music came to a close.
The judges had their mouths agape, unable to speak first.
No, they couldn’t.
‘No, she dances too well!’
More importantly, how on earth is she supporting her body like that?
Is it just her arm strength holding her up?
‘Wow, she can do that.’
For those seeing breaking for the first time, it was indeed a mind-blowing feat.
As Seo-yeon observed the amazed expressions, she couldn’t help but feel cocky.
Her attitude was entirely different from when she sang, causing Jung-woo to chuckle.
‘…What an overreaction.’
Naturally, Park Jung-woo thought that and exhaled a sigh of relief.
When he saw Seo-yeon bowing her head as she stood up, Jung-woo nodded back.
Anyway, with this, the disadvantage caused by her singing was definitely made up.
‘She seems to be good at just about everything physical.’
Typically, the extravagance of dance movements is just extra points, not significantly impacting the evaluation.
The inability to sing was the same.
However, if one performed too well or poorly, it definitely would have an effect.
Seo-yeon’s singing had done that, and dancing did, too.
Let alone considering the character traits held by Song So-ha and Joo Ha-rin.
“The dance moves and acting are very natural. It definitely fits the character of Joo Ha-rin.”
At the Dream Future audition meeting.
“Her singing is a bit lacking, but we still have time, and we can strengthen it to some degree.”
“But dance, that can’t be improved in a short period.”
Song So-ha.
Honestly, the production team wanted to cast Seo-yeon for that role.
However, the actress herself didn’t want to play as Song So-ha.
More than anything, Joo Ha-rin was a character known for her dance skills.
While she wasn’t a character unable to sing, it was set that she had a great understanding of dance to showcase her bouncy character.
“But Joo Ha-rin’s significance…”
Casting director Shin Yoon muttered that and glanced in a certain direction.
It was the writer Lim Jin-ha, who had written the script for this Dream Future.
A writer who should still be called a ‘rookie’ at this point.
Normally, if one said, “Change it,” it would need to be changed in the context of drama writing.
“Is it possible to adjust Joo Ha-rin’s role significance?”
“If her screen time could just increase a bit more after Episode 8, it would be great, I think.”
With these words from casting director Shin Yoon and cinematographer Kim Pil-seok.
“Then, there’d be too many places to amend the script. The contents would surely be ruined.”
Lim Jin-ha shook his head in refusal.
To that expected response, director Kim Pil-seok clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘Tsk. How unfortunate.’
All in all, writer Lim Jin-ha wasn’t very pleasing for the director in many ways.
Though he was a rookie, he had two hit works under his belt.
One was as a co-writer, but he had truly crafted only one.
Anyway, even for a rookie writer, the difference between having a hit and not having one is like night and day.
Additionally, Lim Jin-ha was known to have some influence within the broadcasting station.
Perhaps it’s tied to a certain PD in the drama department…
Anyway, because of that, if she became stubborn, even director Kim Pil-seok wouldn’t be able to push through easily.
“Writer Lim Jin-ha.”
To her, Park Jung-woo said with a single smile.
That smile loosened Lim Jin-ha’s tense expression.
“Yes?”
“Then, if an unexpected situation occurs, would it be possible to make modifications?”
“An unexpected situation?”
“Oh, for instance, if any role unexpectedly gains massive popularity.”
It was clear to whom Park Jung-woo referred with “any role.”
Joo Ha-rin.
Back when Kim Pil-seok and Shin Yoon were talking about it, Lim Jin-ha’s expression went stiff.
“Oh, of course.”
With a chuckle and responding in that manner, Kim Pil-seok wiped his face with his palm.
Here we go, one’s face is ultimately out of one’s control.
‘…Anyway.’
Park Jung-woo’s words held significant weight.
‘If it gains unexpected great popularity.’
Does that mean Joo Ha-rin will garner a bigger response than anticipated? Or…
Kim Pil-seok had one thought that came to mind.
The release of The Chaser overlaps with Dream Future.
If Park Jung-woo was considering that…
‘Can’t consider it an exaggerated assessment.’
Seo-yeon’s acting observed during the audition.
And those unexpected dancing skills.
According to Park Jung-woo, she seems to have aptitude for physicality in general.
She has some talent, no doubt.
“Then, let’s decide.”
Director Kim Pil-seok said while looking at the photos of two individuals.
Song So-ha.
And the actors confirmed for Joo Ha-rin’s role.
*
Seo-yeon was notified of her fate in Dream Future two days later.
Her manager Park Eun-ha gave her a pitying pat on the shoulder.
“Seo-yeon, what are we going to do?”
As Seo-yeon saw her downcast face, an uneasy feeling washed over her.
‘Am I… dropped?’
No matter how poorly she sang, wasn’t that a bit too harsh?
Just as Seo-yeon was about to sulk…
“We got word that they want to cast you as Joo Ha-rin.”
“Oh, really?”
“Huh?”
She had expected disappointment, but Seo-yeon’s face brightened suddenly.
Though her expression didn’t change, her eyes sparkled.
After continuously being around her, one could gradually understand Seo-yeon’s way of expressing emotions.
She just didn’t convey it well.
But her emotions had recently become very rich.
‘Say what?!’
What, did I really think I got dropped?
To begin with, she had aimed to audition for Joo Ha-rin, but Park Eun-ha thought Seo-yeon obviously aimed for the role of Song So-ha.
After all, she was the main heroine of the narrative.
“Oh, and…”
Just as Park Eun-ha was about to say something else…
Vroom!
A vibrating sound came from her pocket.
She took it out naturally to check and wore an expression that was difficult to explain.
“What’s up?”
“Uh? Oh. If Seo-yeon receives this, she’ll understand.”
“Huh?”
What on earth could this be about?
Such a question came to her mind, but first she accepted the phone handed over by Park Eun-ha.
If it was something suspicious, she wouldn’t have just handed it over like that.
“Hello.”
Just as she casually replied like that…
“Joo Seo-yeon?!”
On hearing that voice, the other side exclaimed in surprise.
It was a woman’s voice.
Seo-yeon, recognizing that unfamiliar voice…
“Who are you?”
“…….”
She sensed a hint of disappointment on the other side, but that must have been her imagination.
Anyway, the other person took a moment to collect her breath before speaking.
“I, I’m Jo Seo-hee.”
A trembling voice.
Ah, Jo Seo-hee.
Now that she thought about it, that was the kind of voice she used.
To begin with, Seo-yeon hadn’t really given much thought to her friend’s voice.
She was just going along with the flow.
“Hello.”
“Oh, uh. Not really that much of a hello… but…”
Seo-hee’s words made Seo-yeon frown as she briefly pulled the phone away from her ear.
That was surprisingly a very meek-sounding voice. Was that really Jo Seo-hee?
“But, suddenly, what do you need to call for?”
“Well…”
Jo Seo-hee took a moment to hesitate.
She seemed to be struggling with whether she should really say this.
But finally.
“Ah, it’s a no-no.”
“Yeah?”
“I didn’t realize it was about that film we wanted to shoot together…”
As Seo-yeon listened to Jo Seo-hee’s sudden confession, she finally understood the reason.
‘Ah, so that’s what it was about.’
She has just now figured out what the film directed by Director Baek Min that Jo Seo-hee mentioned earlier was about.
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