Even Madonna’s exclusive dancers rave about it… The birth of the “Dancing Gospelers” showcases Snow Man’s Teru Iwamoto’s divine sense of style

Impresses even Madonna’s exclusive dancers

It’s making headlines that Teru Iwamoto (33) of “Snow Man” choreographed the new song “UNItVERSE” for the five-member male vocal group “The Gospelers.”When the music video was released on The Gospellers’ official YouTube channel on June 24, fans of both groups flooded the comments with positive reactions to “The Gospellers dancing.”

This collaboration came about after three members of The Gospellers—Yoichi Kitayama (52), Yuji Sakai (53), and Tetsuya Murakami (55)—provided the song “Yakusoku wa Kimi to” for Snow Man’s album *Ongoshichin* (released in ’25).“UNItVERSE,” for which Iwamoto contributed choreography, is included on The Gospellers’ EP (a CD containing about 4–7 tracks) *UNIVER5OUL*, released on June 24 of this year, and is a danceable track.

The released music video has drawn numerous comments from Iwamoto’s fans, such as: “I came to see Hii-kun’s (Iwamoto’s nickname) choreography,” “The Gospellers are way too cool. I’m going to buy the CD too,” and “I came to see it because I was drawn in by Iwamoto-kun’s choreography, but the song, vocals, and dance are all amazing.”

“Iwamoto has been responsible for choreographing several of their own songs since his junior days, and he has even been entrusted with choreographing songs for younger members. He reportedly draws inspiration for his choreography from the movements of people walking through the Shibuya Scramble Crossing in Tokyo, and his unique sense of style is widely recognized.In the past, TAKAHIRO (44)—a choreographer and dancer who once served as Madonna’s (67) exclusive dancer—praised the choreography Iwamoto created for a segment on the show, saying, ‘The audience’s eyes are glued to the screen,’” said an entertainment agency executive.

Putting Together a Dance Routine in One Week

Ahead of the music video’s release, The Gospellers held a “Live YouTube Stream to Celebrate the Release of the EP ‘UNIVER5OUL’” on YouTube, where they revealed behind-the-scenes details of the shoot. On the day of the shoot, Iwamoto reportedly rushed to the set—a trip that took several hours one way—and watched the five members’ dance moves with his arms crossed.

According to member Yu Yasuoka (51), he also offered advice on filming techniques, saying things like, “This camera angle is better,” and “Next time, we should shoot from this side.” He reportedly encouraged members who were on the verge of giving up by telling them , “It’s okay,” and “You’re doing great.”

“We only had one week from the initial choreography run-through to the music video shoot. The Gospelers members, who aren’t used to dancing, seemed to struggle quite a bit.Since they usually sing while holding microphones, they had danced with one free hand before, but Iwamoto reportedly suggested, ‘Since we’re making a music video, why don’t we use both hands?’ Iwamoto must have been sincerely dedicated to his work with The Gospelers, squeezing it in between his busy schedule” (ibid).

To promote the EP, Yasuoka and Murakami appeared as guest commentators on the radio program “BEAT IT” (Kiss FM KOBE), which aired on June 29. When Murakami jokingly dissed Iwamoto, saying “He was strict, wasn’t he? A demon! Seriously, a demon!” Yasuoka countered, “No, no—I think he actually helped us level up by several notches,” adding , “He was a really great teacher, wasn’t he?” Murakami then clarified , “He’s incredibly kind when he’s being kind,” and added , “He really put us through our paces.”

In the video “The Gospelers ‘UNItVERSE’ Music Video Behind the Scenes,” uploaded to The Gospelers’ YouTube channel on July 2, “Mr. Iwamoto” can be seen intently monitoring the live performance and carefully explaining the subtle nuances of the choreography to the members. This collaboration seems to be having a positive impact on everyone involved.