Dance Analysis: Dissecting The Sharp Charisma Of ZEROBASEONE's Ricky

Launching this past summer with a highly anticipated debut, ZEROBASEONE (ZB1) has quickly become one of the most well-known rookies of 2023.

In this current generation of K-Pop, it has been made clear that dance is a primary focus and thus it is no surprise that this group is filled to the brim with phenomenal dancers. With such an abundance of talent in a group with high synergy both on and off stage, extra efforts must be made to highlight the individual skills of the members. 

  Today the spotlight focuses on Ricky, an idol who has rapidly become one of my favorite dancers to watch

If you are unfamiliar with this quickly-growing group's origins, ZB1 was formed from the Top 9 most voted contestants of MNET's 2023 idol survival show, "Boys Planet". Ricky, (real name: Shen Quanrui) a Chinese '04 liner under YueHua Entertainment, placed 4th in the show's finale and became a member of the debut lineup alongside Kim JiWoong, Zhang Hao, Sung HanBin, Seok Matthew, Kim TaeRae, Kim GyuVin, Park GunWook, and Han YuJin.

WHY TALK ABOUT RICKY?

Whether you're just a casual fan or a full-fledged Zerose,  one is most likely to come across dancers discussing the extensive talents of Sung HanBin with his high professionalism or the free and groovy details of Seok Matthew. 

I hardly blame anyone for overlooking Ricky though; being a G-Group contestant on Boys Planet was not exactly an easy ride and his stunning visuals definitely make up a large part of his first impressions. I fear that this has made it common to pass by his skills, since even I, someone who is now writing a whole analysis honoring his dance ability, didn't pay him much time of day until the group's debut.

Truthfully, I first noticed Ricky for a moment where you couldn't even see hint of his face - the off the shoulder jacket intro of G-Group's 'Back Door' by Stray Kids performance from the first round of "Boys Planet". Commanding the stage so powerfully with just a mere silhouette in less than a second - I knew from that moment that he had clear potential. Yet despite this brief moment of interest, Ricky would barely remain on the fringe of my attention as the show continued. My one-pick was eliminated in the third round, I voted Kim JiWoong in the finale, was thoroughly obsessed with Zhang Hao's 'Jelly Pop' performance, and am endlessly charmed by the polite and witty Park GunWook.

And yet, here I am, with Ricky climbing his way into my list of favorite idol dancers. But why? What is it about Ricky's dancing that is so captivating? 

THE ANALYSIS

This analysis will aim to explore several examples of what aspects of Ricky's dancing catches my attention. I will explain the idol's version of the move and how to spot it as well as the impact of their version. For those that may consider themselves less experienced with dance, I hope that this format and these explanations can bring an enhanced understanding and appreciation for the efforts in these details!

DISCLAIMERS: This analysis is an exploration of a dancer's stylistic choices as a personal preference of the author and any comparisons are merely for educational purposes to highlight details. Dance preferences are subjective, and this analysis comes from the perspective of someone whose favorite dancer is Rocky (former member of ASTRO).

1. Elegantly Powerful

To me, the most distinctive part of Ricky's style is his regal, powerful aura. This is something that he doesn't just simply possess - Ricky executes moves with stunning power through his commitment to holding strong angles. Some dancers excel at power and elegance independently; Ricky uses his power and elegance in combination.

'New Kids on the Block' - 0:56

Ricky's Version

(1) Before looking his head to the right, Ricky maintains a downwards left gaze up until the first head nod. 

HOW TO SPOT: Focus on looking at the ears. When watching Ricky, you see his right ear, left ear, and then right ear again. This indicates that he's turned his head three times total. 

(2) Rather than keeping his shoulders level (a.k.a. parallel to the ground), Ricky tilts his shoulders so that his right shoulder dips down and his left shoulder comes up higher.

HOW TO SPOT: Watch each member and imagine a line connecting their two shoulders. You'll notice that Ricky's shoulder line does not stay parallel to the floor.

What's the impact? 

Ricky does both of these things to make his movement appear more powerful. In my general observations, one basic way to make a movement look more powerful is to increase the distance that has to be crossed. 

(1)   Ricky maintains a downwards left gaze up until the first head nod. Ricky keeps his head pointed downwards until the very last moment and his first head nod has a downwards gaze rather than an upwards one. In the GIF below, the arrows help visualize the distance that Ricky creates for his head/gaze to move. This deliberate choice increases the distance his head travels during the movement, therefore increasing how powerful the movement appears.   

This powerful appearance is not a result of the head movement alone, but a rather a combined impact from his use of the shoulders.

(2) Ricky tilts his shoulders. In the GIF below, the straight line helps to visualize just how much higher Ricky brings his left shoulder. In a similar reason as the head movement, by tilting his shoulders, both of his shoulders have to move a further distance than if they were to remain straight, creating the appearance of more power. More importantly, though, tilting his shoulders allows Ricky to tilt his chin as far down as he does, which - as explained previously - makes his head movement appear more powerful. Having his gaze, chin, and shoulder line all in parallel creates stability, showcasing a satisfying control over his power.

This example demonstrates Ricky's preferences for making his movements powerful while also making specific choices to remain in control of that power. 

'Crush' - 0:45 / 1:34

Ricky's Version

(1) When bringing his right hand upwards, Ricky tilts his chin upwards just as his right hand stops. Not only this, but his right elbow does not rise higher than chest level. 

HOW TO SPOT: Focus on the chin and where the hands stop.

(2) When Ricky steps his right foot backwards, he raises his left knee so that his left toe is pointed nearly straight down at the ground.

HOW TO SPOT: Focus on the knee and toe of the planted legs. 

(3) When moving his left arm over his right elbow, Ricky opens his palm so that his thumb is on the inside, towards his body and the rest of his fingers point outwards.

HOW TO SPOT: Focus on the right elbow to see how Ricky 'cups' his hand.

What's the impact?

With these two subtle intentional movements, the timing of the head tilt and the lifting of the left heel, Ricky adds an illusion of more power. He creates a more immersive illusion that there is more energy influencing his movements.

(1) Ricky tilts his chin upwards just as his right hand stops. By keeping his hand at chin level, he is able to create the illusion that the upward motion of his right arm coming up is what 'pushes' his chin up. It is a very intentional and very controlled decision for him to add to his execution of the movement.

(2) He raises his left knee so that his left toe is pointed nearly straight down. Raising his knee brings his lower half into the overall impact of the movement. He incorporates motion in the upper area (chin tilt), mid area (arm movements), lower area (knee raise), and at his feet (heel raise). 

(3) Ricky opens his palm so that his thumb is on the inside. By doing this, Ricky ensures a consistency in his movements each time, further creating the sense of refined elegance. Keeping his thumb apart from the other fingers and straddling his elbow, he guarantees that his left hand will never go too far past his right arm. 

These small touches work to create such a large impact together because of Ricky's sharp care in timing them in such perfect synchronization. This kind of synchronization between different parts of the body turns movements that could be powerful but uncontrolled (and potentially sloppy in appearance) to an elegant display of strength that Ricky brings to his dancing.

2. Guided Flow

Within the outlines of a choreography, there are many ways to interpret the transitions between movements and the precise path limbs should take. One aspect of Ricky's dancing that I personally find extremely appealing is his interpretation of how energy flows within and between his movements. He is extremely intentional about not just the angles his limbs and gaze create, but he also exudes a deliberate mindfulness to have a smooth and continuous energy carry his momentum.

'Crush' - 0:33

Ricky's Version

(1) Rather than keep his right wrist near his head, the path of Ricky's right hand draws a circular path. For other members, their right hand does not drop beneath chest level until the second 'hit'.

HOW TO SPOT:  Focus on the shoulder area, starting from the right most member to the left. On the first 'hit' where one arm goes up above their head, the hands stay at or above chest level, aside from Ricky, who's hands both drop all the way down to waist level before the first hit. 

(2) When Ricky points, his gazes follow the direction of his hand as he points.

HOW TO SPOT: Follow each gaze during the upwards point. Ricky's gaze goes upwards.

What's the impact?

In Ricky's interpretation of the movement, I found that the extra long path that he takes his right wrist before snapping into position gives a strong sense of balance, as my eyes were subconsciously able to understand where the power that he hits both poses with comes from. He maintains a strong sense of stability and control as he guides his energy. The GIF below highlights this circular path that Ricky draws his wrist through. 

The flow of this energy is not only held within his limbs, but also in very conscious choices Ricky makes with his gazes. His gazes emphasize the energy paths of his hands, as if all are being guided by the same force. 

'New Kidz on the Block' - 2:52

Ricky's Version

In Ricky's execution of the move, I want to primarily highlight (1) the path that his wrists travel, as instead of throwing his hands up, Ricky throws his hands down and let's the motion carry through in an arc that results in his hands landing at his sides in a downwards motion, rather than moving straight out from the waist. 

HOW TO SPOT: Focus on the waist. For other members, the hands come down to the waist and stay at the waist. For Ricky, you'll watch his hands pass his waist once and then come down again at his sides. 

What's the Impact?

(1) Instead of throwing his hands up, Ricky throws his hands down. By throwing his arms down from his sides and inward before landing out, the downwards motion of his hands dropping into place reflects the timing of the downwards motion of the hop. In addition, Ricky throws his hands down in fists that open as they swing around. While his hands are moving, he keeps his fingers relaxed, and it's not until they land in position that he extends his fingertips and holds his thumbs out. This choice makes it so both the first land of his hop and the moment his hands hit the 'down' position happen at the time - the energy of his arms and energy of his bounce are going in the same direction.

3. Balanced Contrasts

Another aspect of Ricky's performing that draws me in is how sharply he interprets movements in relation to each other. When I watch him move, I can see the vision and intention that he has with the individual 'poses' of moves, maintaining clear angles and lines. With Ricky, he is very particular with how one 'pose' transitions to the next. To retain such consistency through a whole routine shows not just a keen attention to details, but also a strong commitment to his vision.

'New Kids on the Block' - 3:20

Ricky's Version:

(1) Before moving his right arm out downward to the left side, Ricky's left arm crosses his body.

HOW TO SPOT: Watch at the torso and draw an imaginary line down the center of each person from head to floor. You'll notice that Ricky's arm crosses this imaginary line.

(2) Ricky pushes and pulls his chest upwards and back with the movement.

HOW TO SPOT: Focus on the collar of the shirt. If the shirt collar moves side to side horizontally, it indicates that the chest is also moving side to side horizontally. If the collar moves up and down vertically, then the chest is also moving up and down. 

What's the impact? 

(1) By crossing his left arm across his body, Ricky makes his movement feel larger and more dynamic. Incorporating the contrast of the arm going across his body before landing at his side adds a motion opposite of where the arm ends up staying, giving an interesting layer of visual interest.

(2) Ricky rolls his chest, which emphasizes the motion of his legs. As his right leg turns out, his chest pushes out too. As he right leg pulls back, his chest pulls back too.  

The distinct contrast between movements makes each individual move more clear, and the combination of legs and chest working together makes the overall movement feel larger and more active.

'Crush' - 2:37

Ricky's version

(1) Ricky's arm positions alternate three times. Left arm: in line with shoulders, down to floor, and then back in line with shoulders. Right arm: Down across body, up towards shoulder, down at side. 

HOW TO SPOT: Watch each arm individually, focusing on the wrists, and count the distinct number of positions. 

(2) Ricky keeps his weight on his right foot, rather than shifting weight to his left foot. 

HOW TO SPOT: Focus on the pointed toe, and watch to see if the heel ever touches the ground. 

What's the Impact? 

Both of these elements add a sense of stability to Ricky's movements. Each distinct pose feels if it comes together as one distinct thought. By keeping the weight on his right foot, Ricky maintains his steady motion until the final pose which makes the whole sequence breathe together as one rather than feeling like two separate ideas. 

Bonus: Tension & Release

The ever flowing transitions between tension and release that Ricky chooses to incorporate in his dance style is something I continue to find myself drawn to. I love the way his body breathes through the choreography.

'In Bloom' - 0:18

Ricky's Version

When holding his hands up, Ricky crosses his hands with his wrists gently together. Just before dropping his torso, Ricky opens his hands instead of keeping them as fists. 

HOW TO SPOT: Watch just their hands for the 'pop' of Ricky's hands opening up. 

What's the Impact?

Rather than drop his momentum into the ground, Ricky's arms move outwards away from his body as he bends at the waist. Crossing his hands at his wrists and opening his hands before the drop are two small details that Ricky uses to prepare for his arms moving away. By crossing his wrists, Ricky creates a greater contrast between the position of his arms when up (crossed) and the position of his arms when down (out and open). By opening his hands between, he emphasizes the "pull" motion of moving his arms outwards. 

These kinds of details highlights Ricky's stylistic preferences for keeping a 'floating' feel to his movements. 

FANCAM RECOMMENDATION(S)

After reading this analysis, hopefully I have convinced you of the intriguing aspects of Ricky's dancing and you're curious to see him more in action to look for those subtle details yourself. If that's the case, I've got just the place to start!

Ricky's 'New Kidz On the Block' fancam from ZB1's debut on "M-COUNTDOWN" is the epitome of coolness. With his powerful precision and gazes full of intention, Ricky's crisp yet relaxed aura screams a regal confidence that commands all attention. For rookie b-side performances, this fancam sets quite a high bar.

Ricky's 'Crush' fancam from "Weekly Idol" is a great video to highlight a lot of Ricky's small refined details, since there aren't any other distractions of moving lights, backgrounds, or cameras. Additionally, the simplicity of his outfit and lack of any restricting jackets or accessories makes the clarity in his movements extra stunning. Both at ease and fully engaged through the whole dance makes this fancam in particular one that I can't stop after watching it just once - I have to watch it a second time at half speed too appreciate his accuracy and flow!

Ricky's 'Over Me' fancam from the "M-COUNTDOWN" Performance is the number one Ricky fancam I would recommend to anyone who has yet to watch any "Boys Planet" content. Ricky's sophisticated flow and intricate finesse evoke the essence of a stunningly choreographed sword fight. Commanding with a sense of grace, it's hard to deny the immense star potential that emanates from 'Over Me' Ricky.

DREAM STAGE

Ricky's exemplary sensitivity to distinct shapes and strong angles, balance of strength and delicacy, along with his intense charisma make him a fantastic fit for the powerful yet elusive allure of ASTRO's 'BLUE FLAME'.

There is a certain level of confidence in one's own attractive appeal that is required to successfully pull off concepts with a certain sensuality; a level of confidence that Ricky has demonstrated again and again on stage. Furthermore, this is a confidence that is not at all unfounded or without good reason. Ricky hits with striking precision and a poignant combination of strong shoulders, relaxed wrists, and extended energy through his fingers. The Blue Flame choreography is perfectly suited for Ricky's dance skillset.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Ricky brings an overflowing confidence that is not easily found across even more experienced idols. With additional exposure to performing in front of live audiences, Ricky's raw charisma will grow so refined as he inevitably becomes an idol whose fancams are a 'must-watch' for all dance enthusiasts every time his group makes a comeback.

His sharp gaze leaves a long-lasting impression, one that he pours much intention into with every quick head tilt and fleeting smirk. His sense of rhythm and the way he makes his movements look both powerful and effortless is just an absolute joy. He builds an unstoppable charisma with a beautiful sharpness in his extensions and exquisite power. Ricky's aura is unwavering and his impact pierces with terrifying accuracy. He treats himself like a work of art when he performs, and the impacts of that do not go unnoticed.

At the end of the day, I suppose the amount of time I have put into this analysis serves as an ode to how compelled I am by Ricky's dancing.  For those that know very little about ZB1 and perhaps haven't taken the time to check out any releases, I will consider my efforts a success if you find yourself with even the slightest bit of curiosity to watch a performance even just for Ricky. 

Dance practices mentioned in this article:

Do you have a favorite dance moment from Ricky? A choreography you think suits him well? Share in the comments below!