The inaugural mission of The Debut: Dream Academy culminated in a dramatic twist on September 15, as the competition bid farewell to its first pair of finalists. HYBE Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk had previously emphasized the importance of teamwork and etiquette in the debut episode.
For this mission, the contestants were divided into four specialized teams—two focusing on vocals and two on dance. The dance teams featured a mix of talents like Daniela, Megan, UA, Adéla, and Hinari in the first team, and Emily, Ezrela, Marquise, Yoonchae, and Mei in the second. Vocal teams were equally diverse, with the first comprising Karlee, Lexie, Iliya, Brooklyn, and Manon, and the second featuring Sophia, Lara, Celeste, Samara, and Nayoung.
Dreams end …
Fan votes poured in on WeVerse and YouTube following the stunning performances. However, the mission concluded with the elimination of 19-year-old Adéla from Slovakia and 14-year-old Hinari from Japan. The remaining 18 contestants have flown to Korea for the second mission at a top K-pop training centre.
At an LA press event, Chairman Bang shared his long-held ambition to create a global group based on K-pop methods. He found a like-minded partner in John Janick, CEO of Interscope Geffen A&M Records. Janick echoed Bang’s sentiments, highlighting their shared vision for artist development and global reach.
Changing the game
The collaboration between HYBE and Interscope Geffen A&M Records aims to redefine the K-pop landscape, promising an unprecedented musical experience for fans worldwide.
Dream Academy is definitely different from traditional shows. Rather than airing weekly episodes supplemented by social media content, the trainees will exclusively showcase their skills online.
The audience has the opportunity to get to know each contestant better through brief TikTok videos. Scheduled to last for twelve weeks, Dream Academy allows viewers to cast daily votes for their top six favourites over a four-day period on Weverse, as well as by liking individual solo fan cams on YouTube.
Check out our coverage of Dream Academy below:
Read | The Debut: Dream Academy – Meet the 20 Global Contestants
Read | Dream Academy girls face first dance and vocal survival mission