Delhi's 3plus4crew wins big at K-pop dance finale

The Hindu

2 days ago

Inside the packed O.P. Jindal auditorium auditorium in New Delhi last weekend, the stage pulsed with energy, light, and synchronised movement. The music touched a crescendo and so did the applause. By the end of the electrifying performances, the local team, 3plus4crew not only won the crowd's hearts, but also the national title.
Winners of the 15th All India K-pop Contest 2025, 3plus4crew made history by becoming the first team to win the competition twice — a feat they first achieved in 2016.
Organized by the Korean Cultural Centre India, the event saw an overwhelming response from K-pop fans across the country, with over 1,278 teams participating. In the end, only three winners stood out, 3plus4crew (dance), Shylee Preetam from Hyderabad (vocal), and Riniya Taku from Itanagar (rap).
Nitin Theo and Nikhil Noyal founded the group in 2016 featuring seven young college students. They have come a long way and grown into a 13-member professional crew. 'We are full-time dancers, teachers, and choreographers now. Returning to the K-pop stage after a decade is like coming full circle,' says Nitin.
Most members of 3plus4crew are trained in styles ranging from hip-hop and jazz to open-style choreography. Several have taught or performed in reputed institutions across the country and overseas. Despite varied schedules, they regrouped this year eyeing a win.
'Last year, we weren't selected for the K-pop competition and it hit us hard. Later, we came across an interview where choreographer Choi Youngjun mentioned how his inspiration for this choreography came from being rejected at the Street Fighter competition. That really resonated with us. We had been facing similar hurdles in our dance careers. It was a unanimous feeling. This song, 'Super', was something we could pour all our energy into,' says Siddharth Choudhary.
Rehearsals began weeks in advance, with long nights and scheduling the routines to fit around work commitments. The challenge was not choreography but coordinating the dancers. 'Balancing personal commitments with intense practice wasn't easy. Aligning our visions, energy, and timing took patience, but it made us stronger,' Nitin recalls.
The crew will now represent India at the K-pop World Festival in Changwon, South Korea, later this year — an opportunity they narrowly missed after their 2016 win. 'Though we travelled to Korea then, we didn't get to perform at Changwon,' says Nitin. 'This time, we hope to not just attend, but truly represent India. That's our dream.'
While their success story is a source of pride, the group has also faced scepticism. 'People often question why we follow a genre not originally ours,' says Rishabh Negi. 'But for us, dance goes beyond borders. K-pop is a language we've embraced — and we speak it with our own rhythm.'