From K-pop videos to trot: Bulgarian dancer Claudia Petzova's unusual dance journey in Korea
Published: 21 Apr. 2026, 15:16
Updated: 28 Apr. 2026, 17:11
-
- YOON SEUNG-JIN
- [email protected]
Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI
![Bulgarian dancer Claudia Petzova speaks during an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily on Jan. 28. [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/04/28/0f203186-993e-4f08-868c-b95f23608b6b.jpg)
Bulgarian dancer Claudia Petzova speaks during an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily on Jan. 28. [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]
[Hired in Korea]
Claudia Petzova’s interest in Korea began when she first watched a performance by K-pop boy band Big Bang at her cousin’s recommendation. She recalls falling in love with their singing and stage presence almost “immediately,” a spark that later led her to a career as a professional dancer in Korea.
Although she has appeared in K-pop music videos for groups such as Sistar and Monsta X, what ultimately drew her in was, of all things, trot — a semitraditional pop genre, popular among older audiences, which blends ballads, dance and jazz, often paired with equally eclectic choreography.
“I came to Korea as a Global Korea Scholarship student and majored in human resources at Konkuk University, hoping to get a job in the music industry in case I didn’t make it as an artist myself,” said trot dancer Petzova. “However, I had some great opportunities and took on numerous dance and choreography projects across different genres based on my previous experience working as a professional dancer back in Bulgaria.”
“Now I specialize in trot, aiming to make a mark in the trot world, just like Kany did in K-pop,” Petzova added, referring to French choreographer Kany Diabate Ahn, who has created choreography for many K-pop artists, including SHINee, Jisoo and Hwasa.
The Korea JoongAng Daily sat down with Petzova to hear more about her journey, the challenges of being a foreign trot dancer in Korea and her advice to those hoping to build a career here.
![Bulgarian dancer Claudia Petzova, second from left, poses for a photo with other dancers and trot singer Leo, center. [CLAUDIA PETZOVA]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/04/28/7178185b-0677-44dc-8db5-63655db50868.jpg)
Bulgarian dancer Claudia Petzova, second from left, poses for a photo with other dancers and trot singer Leo, center. [CLAUDIA PETZOVA]
Q. What kind of work are you doing as a dancer in Korea?
A. I work as both a backup dancer and choreographer for trot artists like Leo and Changho.
I’m also part of a dance team made up of foreign dancers. We perform samba, flamenco, Arabic dance and various traditional folk dances at festivals and events.
In addition, I have worked as a backup dancer for K-pop artists before and have performed on major music shows such as “Music Bank” (1998-) and “Inkigayo” (2007-).
At this point, I’d say I’m one of the very few foreign dancers who specialize in trot.
Can you share more about the process of becoming a dancer, how you found your agency and what auditions are typically like?
I started dancing when I was 10 and worked as a professional dancer in Bulgaria.
As for Korea, I initially went to an interview with my first agency just to accompany my roommate. But the interviewer asked about my experience too, and I ended up auditioning and eventually working with them.
In this industry, you have to audition constantly, and the process is usually quite similar each time. You find a job posting and submit your resume outlining your experience, along with videos featuring your dancing.
If you pass the initial screening, you move on to in-person auditions, where you’re expected to demonstrate your dancing skills very quickly.
It’s a simple process overall, but everything moves at a fast pace, which can feel a bit intense at times.
What drew you to trot?
I fell in love with trot because I think it represents Korea so well and has a unique way of bringing fans together.
I’ve danced with K-pop groups and artists, which was an amazing experience and something I had always dreamed of. However, I happened to perform on a trot stage by chance, and that’s when I realized I enjoyed it even more. There’s something about trot that really makes people want to dance and stay engaged, which creates a more fun, livelier atmosphere.
The lyrics are also deeply emotional and reflect different aspects of Korean culture, which helps create a strong sense of connection and community among listeners. Because of this, the fan culture is incredibly warm, energetic and welcoming.
My biggest dream is to share the charm of trot with audiences around the world and help elevate the genre’s profile internationally.
![Bulgarian dancer Claudia Petzova, right, poses for a photo with trot singer Kim So-yeon. [CLAUDIA PETZOVA]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/04/28/416fbe63-7641-46b4-a550-84e381afd435.jpg)
Bulgarian dancer Claudia Petzova, right, poses for a photo with trot singer Kim So-yeon. [CLAUDIA PETZOVA]
What’s the culture in the industry like?
Here in Korea, there’s a strong collectivist culture, so dancers and artists rehearse together very frequently to perfect every detail.
There’s also a big emphasis on performing in complete harmony. If someone makes a mistake, we start over, aiming for a perfectly synchronized result.
This can be both a good and a challenging aspect.
I initially found it difficult to adapt, but over time, I’ve come to find it very inspiring. Working closely with talented and passionate people keeps you motivated and pushes you to improve.
Do you think Korea is a good country for foreign dancers?
Interestingly, some of the stereotypes Koreans have about foreigners can actually create opportunities.
People often assume that Korean dancers are stronger in K-pop, while foreign dancers may excel in other styles. That perception can sometimes lead to more opportunities for foreign dancers in certain genres.
At the same time, even in K-pop videos and dramas, many producers and artists specifically look for foreign dancers for their presence and distinctive look.
So overall, I’d say you might find more opportunities than you’d expect to perform and appear in videos in Korea.
What about the challenges?
One of the biggest challenges is maintaining the E-6 entertainment visa, which is typically sponsored by an agency. To keep it, you need to consistently prove that you’re actively working as an entertainer.
However, that can be quite difficult at times.
For example, during Covid-19, when I transitioned to the entertainment visa, it was especially challenging for performers because many jobs were being canceled, and some companies only offered short-term contracts, which weren’t enough to maintain the visa.
Eventually, I had to return to Bulgaria because it became nearly impossible to cover rent and other living expenses.
This kind of situation is a real risk for those on the entertainment visa, as the work can be very unstable and irregular.
![Bulgarian dancer Claudia Petzova poses for a photo after her speical lecture at the K-pop 4 Impact Summit held on April 7, 2025. [CLAUDIA PETZOVA]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/04/28/dc735fb2-32b0-4cf3-a25c-b4e304876823.jpg)
Bulgarian dancer Claudia Petzova poses for a photo after her speical lecture at the K-pop 4 Impact Summit held on April 7, 2025. [CLAUDIA PETZOVA]
Are there any other areas in the entertainment industry you’d like to explore in the future?
Since dancers often face limitations as they get older, especially as I’m now entering my mid-30s, I’ve been thinking more seriously about transitioning into singing. My love for trot has grown so much that I believe performing it as a singer could be a great way to continue in the genre long-term.
I actually applied for a popular trot singing competition called “Miss Trot 4” (2025-) and went through the audition process.
Any tips for readers who want to pursue the same career in Korea?
No matter what you want to pursue in the entertainment field, whether it’s dancing, modeling, acting or something else, I’d strongly recommend building as much experience as you can in your home country first. It makes it much easier to start working in Korea and to obtain a professional entertainment visa.
As I have already mentioned, I already had some experience working as a professional dancer in Bulgaria, and I think this experience helped me a lot along the way. So, focus on gaining solid experience as early as possible, as it will really work in your favor.
It’s also important to build connections whenever you can with other entertainers, agencies and other professionals working in the industry.
Networking plays a huge role in this field, and having those connections can make it much easier to find new opportunities and projects.
BY YOON SEUNG-JIN [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)