On April 8, 9, 15, and 16, Korean pop septet BTS took to the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada for a series of four concerts, along with a livestream of the concerts held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena about two miles away. I attended the first day, and while I went into the night knowing my expectations would be exceeded, I never thought BTS would be able to blow my mind more than they already have. 

Titled “BTS Permission to Dance On Stage: Las Vegas,” the shows in Nevada are not the first set of concerts BTS have held under the same name in the last few months. In November and early December, they held four shows in Los Angeles, and then held three in Seoul in March. These performances are not under the name of an official world tour but rather single sets of concerts scattered worldwide over a few months. The April concerts were their first time ever holding a show in Vegas. 

Excitement was exuding from every fan — also known as ARMYs — in Vegas, myself included. The line to get inside to the stadium was extensive. With up to 70,000 fans in attendance, it was destined to be rather chaotic, but the Allegiant Stadium staff took the crowds in stride and the process of getting fans inside was impressively efficient. As expected, the lines at the merchandise booths were also lengthy, but ARMYs are nothing if not determined — despite my very smooth and short merchandise experience, some fans arrived in line very early in the morning and only left it in the late afternoon or early evening. 

The concerts were all scheduled to begin at 7:30pm; however, on the first day, technical difficulties delayed the start of the show for 45 minutes. Despite the hiccup, BTS put on an incredible performance as always. Opening with a track released in 2020 titled “ON,” I felt chills crawl down my spine as the seven of them were slowly revealed to the crowd. One of my favorite parts of their music is the dancing that is paired with it. “ON” gave all fans a taste of what was to come for the rest of the night: jaw dropping, beautifully organized choreography, as well as intricate sets, outfits, and amazing backup dancers — also known as “The Lab,” who are an iconic dance crew based in Los Angeles. 

As hard as it is to choose, my favorite performance of the night goes to “Black Swan.” An experimental track with one of my all time favorite choreographies, the performance was elegant, creative, and unbelievable. Opening with an orchestral instrumental and contemporary-inspired dance, the seven members — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook — presented a beautiful introduction to the track. While I was screaming rather passionately during every song, in my opinion, “Black Swan” definitely takes the cake for the most memorable performance of the evening.

Throughout the entire concert, BTS made it impossible to get bored or feel tired. Their energy was endless and all seven of them were determined to interact with the fans in every section of the stadium. It is hard to put into words how much I enjoyed the concert, and if the opportunity is ever presented to me once more, I would be overjoyed to see them again. With genuine personalities, gorgeous voices, and stunning choreographies, BTS succeeded in making all four concerts absolutely unforgettable.