Choreographer Kyle Hanagami's Viral Dance Videos Powered by Final Cut Pro

Hanagami credits Apple's video editing software with helping to build his career as a choreographer for K-pop stars and Hollywood films.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 7:55pm by Ben Kaplan

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Director and choreographer Kyle Hanagami has built a massive social media following for his emotive dance videos, but he prefers to stay behind the camera. Hanagami has been using Final Cut Pro since 2009 to edit and produce his work, which includes choreography for K-pop group BLACKPINK and the 2024 film Mean Girls. He credits the video editing software with giving him full creative control and the production chops to translate his craft into a beloved brand.

Why it matters

Hanagami's story highlights how powerful tools like Final Cut Pro can empower creators to build a career and audience around their artistic passions. His use of Apple's ecosystem, from iPhone to iPad to Mac, shows how an integrated workflow can streamline the creative process and allow artists to focus on their craft.

The details

Hanagami first discovered dance in college, after switching from a pre-med major. He started recording his dance classes with a digital point-and-shoot camera and teaching himself video editing on iMovie. In 2009, he transitioned to Final Cut Pro, which gave him more creative control over how his work was experienced. Over the years, updates to Final Cut Pro have helped Hanagami's workflow, with features like Magnetic Mask and Smart Conform saving him time on editing tasks. Hanagami now uses Final Cut Camera and Final Cut Pro for iPad to capture multiple angles in the studio, making the editing process easier than ever.

  • Hanagami started using Final Cut Pro in 2009.
  • Hanagami's first big gig was as supervising choreographer for Jennifer Lopez's Las Vegas residency in 2016.
  • Hanagami is currently choreographing Disney's stage adaptation of Zootopia.

The players

Kyle Hanagami

A director and choreographer who has built a massive social media following for his emotive dance videos. He has worked with global K-pop sensation BLACKPINK and is currently choreographing Disney's stage adaptation of Zootopia.

Final Cut Pro

A professional video editing software that Hanagami has been using since 2009 to edit and produce his dance videos, giving him full creative control over how his work is experienced.

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What they’re saying

“I've always been an early adopter of technology. Final Cut Pro allowed me to think about more than just what I saw in the camera.”

— Kyle Hanagami, Choreographer (Mirage News)

“I choreograph to music so intentionally, so being able to edit with that same intentionality is so important.”

— Kyle Hanagami, Choreographer (Mirage News)

What’s next

Hanagami is currently choreographing Disney's stage adaptation of Zootopia, which is expected to premiere in 2027.

The takeaway

Hanagami's story shows how powerful tools like Final Cut Pro can empower creators to build a career and audience around their artistic passions. His integrated workflow across Apple's ecosystem has streamlined his creative process and allowed him to focus on his craft, translating his choreography into a beloved brand.