Madison Gunst busts a move to the beat of K-Pop
What is a star? And how are they different from mere mortals? Perhaps stars are mortals, blessed with heightened energy and a powerful dedication to their art. They live without fear, are always trying new things, and never give up easily.
If so, a star was born this Tuesday in Central Park. And she’s only fifteen years old.
Madison Gunst of Florida took some 2,000 viewers by surprise with her thrillingly exacting performance of K-pop sensation Jang Woo Hyuk’s ‘Weekend Night/ Jumalbam,’ right down to the robotic, chest gyrations and head slides. A complete dancing diva in the making, Kunst arrived on-stage, fashionably late, but did not leave her audience disappointed.
Gunst is a seamless fusion of b-boy cockiness and pretty-girl-next-door. Not something you see everyday. She’s a rare prodigy, not just in dancing talent, but also in her taste in music. Her favorite K-pop band is G-Dragon, Jang Woo Hyuk (“of course!” she giggled), and loves anything “that moves and grooves” her.
Her seeming preference for guy bands showed that she was something of a tomboy too. But I guess that goes back to the cocky assurance of her inner b-boy.
The 1st Annual New York K-Pop contest was part of a larger event organized by the Korean Cultural Service in New York, in conjunction with the Korean Food Foundation. It was a lovely summer day, not too hot, just about right, and some of my favorite Korean restaurants were doling out free food for hours on end, drawing in grazers from near and far.
It was a worthwhile outing, one that took me by surprise by the sheet talent on stage, some as young as twelve. I actually stopped by on assignment, but also realized something I’ve always suspected. Korean pop culture is globalizing, and no one really knows why, but if you’re young, full of hope, and have your whole life of ahead of you, you don’t need an explanation.
You just dance.
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