Thai artist TEN begins his TEN US Showcase Tour next week, starting in Seattle on October 17, but he decided to stop by Los Angeles for the week for press and media junkets – and just hang out with his fans.
On Monday, the 30-year-old performer made a surprise appearance at Rūts Dance Studio in Koreatown, Los Angeles, during a K-pop dance class taught by owners (and sisters) Eileen and Diny Kim.
The song of choice? TEN’s most recent single, the genre-bending hip-hop dance track, “OUTWEST.”
TEN’s creative agency, ILLIMNT, contacted the dance studio, which has worked with multiple Asian pop artists, to see if TEN could stop by and say hello to the fans. Eileen Kim recalls talking to his team, assuring them they’ve done this a few times and learned how to do it in an organized way. Rūts Dance Studio posted their usual schedule, which includes a K-pop dance class every Monday at 9 pm. This time, they shared on their socials that they would be dancing to TEN’s “OUTWEST,” prompting more reservations and waitlists to spring up. Over 150 people signed up for the class (130 maximum, 20 waitlist), which the studio could accommodate.
Eileen and Diny Kim had worked on original choreography for the song until TEN shared that he would love to dance with them. So the girls had to pivot and teach TEN’s original choreography. Eileen Kim shares, “The moment we learned that he was willing to dance with everybody, we were like – we have to stick with the cover because it’s his. That’s the most important part of the experience of the fans, right? Once he said he was willing to dance with everyone, we switched 180.”
Near the end of the class, TEN came in to greet everyone. The class split into three groups, and TEN cheered for each as they shared what they learned in front of the track’s singer. No pressure.
Afterward, TEN jumped up and danced with each group, then danced freestyle with them after the routine. He thanked the crowd for being there and supporting him and his music. He added another surprise to the crowd – telling them they’re all invited to his concert at The Novo in Los Angeles on October 24.
TEN shared afterward why he decided to surprise his fans, “I don’t really get to interact with my U.S. fans. I feel like dancing will really help me and my fans connect better.”
TEN surprises fans at Rūts Dance Studio on Monday night’s K-Pop Dance Class in Koreatown, Los Angeles
With his busy schedule, it would be understandable if he had just dropped by, said hello, and then left, but he never thought about just doing that. He wanted to engage with them, which is why he told the studio that he wanted to dance with them. They learned it, so why not do it together?
“I just want to see everyone having fun with ‘OUTWEST,” he shares.
The crowd was so excited to have been able to dance with TEN – many of whom were fans and came to learn his dance. They had hoped he might show up, but were even more surprised to receive tickets to his show. For some of the Rūts regulars, it was a great introduction to the singer, and now they can learn even more at his concert.
“We love it when artists have a genuine excitement to dance with the fans,” says Eileen Kim, praising TEN’s genuineness and willingness to meet his LA fans. “[TEN] was so open and flexible, and willing to join the experience for what it is. That’s what makes us more willing to do things with artists. We enjoyed that aspect of TEN. He even brought his dancers and crew, so that experience itself was a very good, smooth experience for us.”
TEN surprises fans at Rūts Dance Studio on Monday night’s K-Pop Dance Class in Koreatown, Los Angeles
TEN continues his journey to meet his LA fans with a visit to Gong-gan, a local Korean-inspired cafe in Silverlake, on Friday. The cafe will serve specialty matcha drinks inspired by him: “The Outwest” and “The 10vely,” and an exclusive TEN-themed toast: “TENstachio Toast” on October 16 and 17. TEN will appear as a barista for an hour on the 16 before leaving for Seattle for his show on the 17. The cafe is prepared for the crowd, posting that they will distribute wristbands when the cafe event begins and asking everyone not to line up before 8 AM. He is excited to meet more fans throughout the week, at the cafe, and at his concerts.
“You know, going to the cafe [event], I just wanted to really talk to [the fans] in person,” TEN says, “[For the concerts,] I’m looking forward to seeing all my fans just like sing-along with me because I really want to dance with them. Not me doing it by myself, but really all my fans and I having fun together, like we created a stage together.”
TEN kicks off his TEN US Showcase Tour on October 17 in Seattle before traveling to Portland, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston — before concluding with a grand finale in New York. For full details and ticket information, click here.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com