Aiki, the renowned street dancer who gained widespread recognition through Mnet's hit competition show "Street Woman Fighter" and built a massive following as a TikTok influencer, has ventured into uncharted artistic territory with her musical theater debut. Last month, she took center stage in the original Korean production of "Frida," marking a significant milestone in her expanding artistic career.
In this ambitious musical production, Aiki takes on the dual role of Refleja, a charismatic talk show host, and Diego Rivera, the complex lover of legendary Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. The musical, now in its third successful run, presents Kahlo's life story through an innovative theatrical device - a play within a play format where Kahlo appears as a special guest on a late-night talk show.
For Aiki, whose career has been built around the dynamic intersection of music, dance, and performance, the theater stage itself wasn't intimidating. However, the challenge of fully embodying entirely different characters opened up new emotional territories that she found unexpectedly therapeutic.
"I realized how limited I had been in expressing emotion," Aiki shared during a group interview with reporters on Thursday. "My dance performances were mostly about energy - focused on joy and projecting strength. But here, expressing the full spectrum of emotions, not only the positive ones, but anger and sorrow too, has been incredibly healing."
The rigorous training process for the musical revealed aspects of herself that Aiki had never explored before, particularly when it came to emotional vulnerability on stage.
"At first, I was embarrassed when I cried during rehearsals," she recalled with candor. "As a dancer, crying often felt like weakness, like losing, you know? But here, tears felt like genuine emotions, and I learned to accept that. It made me want to express not just bright and positive feelings, but also darker emotions on stage in the future."
The musical "Frida" chronicles the extraordinary life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, focusing on how she transformed her lifelong physical and emotional pain into groundbreaking artistic expression. This narrative of artistic transformation through adversity resonated deeply with Aiki's own journey of expanding her creative boundaries.
Initially, Aiki found the multifaceted demands of musical theater challenging. "At first, juggling dancing, acting and delivering lines all at once felt awkward," she admitted. However, the role ultimately showcased her diverse strengths, allowing her playful personality to shine through as the talk show host while utilizing her exceptional dance skills in powerful sequences.
Her talents are particularly evident in the show's standout musical number "Hummingbird," where each actor portraying Diego Rivera performs their own specialty act. Aiki took creative control of this moment, choreographing her own unique routine that seamlessly weaves together multiple dance styles including street dance locking, dance sport Latin steps, and samba-based movements. This dynamic performance has consistently earned enthusiastic cheers from audiences night after night.
"And I like to sprinkle in ad-libs, just to make sure each audience has a little extra fun that day," she said, revealing her commitment to making each performance unique and engaging.
Despite her natural inclination toward high-energy performances, Aiki demonstrated remarkable artistic maturity by deliberately restraining herself in certain scenes to serve the larger narrative.
"I worked closely with the choreographer to find the right level of dance for the show, something that wouldn't steal the focus but would support Frida and complement the story," she explained, showing her understanding of ensemble work and storytelling through movement.
This leap into musical theater has fundamentally shifted how Aiki perceives her artistic identity and future possibilities.
"I think of myself as an artist, not just a dancer," she declared. "I believe there's always a reason why I'm drawn to certain things, and I've never regretted following those instincts. This challenge feels like a gift - it's hard to unwrap, but it's worth it."
The musical "Frida" continues its run through September 7 at Interpark Uniplex in Seoul's Daehangno district, giving audiences the opportunity to witness Aiki's remarkable artistic evolution firsthand. Her successful transition from street dance competitions and social media influence to legitimate musical theater demonstrates the power of artistic curiosity and the courage to embrace new creative challenges.
For fans who have followed Aiki's journey from "Street Woman Fighter" to TikTok stardom, her musical theater debut represents not just a career pivot, but a profound artistic growth that promises to influence her future creative endeavors across all mediums.
