From 2016 classics to their more recent hits and from outer space to drifting clouds, TWICE’s first ever live appearance in Montreal at the Bell Centre took fans on a journey through their decade-long discography and across space with immersive visuals enhanced by an innovative stage setup.
Text by Louis Alson
Photos provided by JYP Entertainment, Patrick Beaudry
Since their debut in 2015, Montreal fans had been eagerly waiting for popular K-pop girl group TWICE to perform live on Quebec soil. On March 3, this dream finally came true as the members landed in the Bell Centre as part of their This Is For World Tour.
Having debuted under JYP Entertainment, TWICE is one of K-pop’s most recognizable girl groups and is composed of nine members: Nayeon, Jihyo, Jeongyeon, Dahyun, Momo, Sana, Mina, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu. Unfortunately, not all the members were present, as Dahyun is currently on a temporary hiatus after fracturing her ankle.
Despite being short one member, TWICE still brought great energy to the Bell Centre, with striking stage presences, impressive dance moves, and powerful vocals. This is their fourth world tour, in support of their fourth album This Is For. They follow the same mature, elegant, and “girl boss” concept that the group has had since 2019 (having switched from their previous colorful, cute concept that lasted from 2015 to 2019). While staying aligned in terms of concept, this tour stood out in an unexpected way, with a new, intriguing stage setup.
One of the most striking visual elements of the This Is For World Tour is the new stage setup that TWICE brings with them to each city. Referred to as a “360-degree stage,” it’s placed in the middle of the arena with the crowd surrounding it from all sides and features a square in the middle, with two branches forming an inverted S-shape, resembling the number “2,” calling back to TWICE’s group name. When performing, the members moved along the branches and the middle portion, rotating directions, so fans could see them from all sides. Indeed, Jeongyeon noted that the 360-degree stage allowed them to see all of the fans, even those in the back.
The center square was divided into nine smaller platforms, one for each member, rising and falling to spotlight their individual parts. Continuing with the 360-degree theme, there were screens all over the stage, even on the floor, allowing the vibrant visuals to appear everywhere, even at the members’ feet. This innovative setup was the perfect stage for TWICE to shine.
The show opened with the lead single “This Is For,” setting a tone of elegance and energy. The members were clad in graceful all-white outfits, fitting their mature concept. Recent hits like “Strategy” and “Set Me Free” followed, bringing a surge of excitement through the crowd. After taking a quick break to introduce themselves to the audience, the members asked the fans (known as “ONCE”), to turn on their cellphone flashlights for “Options,” a more calm track from their new album, creating a sea of twinkling lights. This was reflected on the stage, creating a galaxy of stars that transported ONCEs into TWICE’s own universe. This space imagery continued, culminating in another of their recent popular tracks, the dreamy “Moonlight Sunrise.”
Keeping with the space theme, the first act transitioned into the second with a performance from the backup dancers dressed as space explorers, leading into the performance of “Mars.” The members now donned brown outfits with fringes, like cowboys exploring the deserts of the Red Planet. The visuals gradually shifted from outer space to drifting clouds, bringing the audience back down to earth for “I GOT YOU.” The arena buzzed with energy as fan-favorites like “The Feels” and “Cry for Me” got the crowd singing along. Jihyo commanded the show with her unmistakable stage presence, while Momo’s sharp, powerful movements drew eyes from every corner of the Bell Centre.
After a break featuring a performance from the live band, it was time for the third act. It gave each member the chance to shine individually, featuring solos from all eight present members. After the solos came a powerful rendition of “Takedown” by Chaeyoung, Jeongyeon, and Jihyo, each on their own elevated platform in the middle of the stage. Originally featured in the hit movie KPop Demon Hunters, “Takedown” would later be added to the deluxe version of the This Is For album. Because the song is entirely in English, the Bell Centre crowd could sing every word back to the members effortlessly and with roaring energy.
The final act opened with the iconic “FANCY,” with the members forming an outwards circle at the center stage, ensuring every ONCE had a direct line of sight. This was followed by some of their more nostalgic hits, like “What is Love?,” “YES or YES,” and “Dance the Night Away,” each met with waves of cheers and synchronized dancing. TWICE could tell the crowd was hyped up, which is why they asked everyone to stand up and dance for the last song: “ONE SPARK.”
Before the encore, there came a fun segment where some lucky fans got featured on the center screens and were prompted to dance to some of TWICE’s most recognizable choreographies, sometimes dancing solo, sometimes being pitted against someone else from the audience in a friendly dance battle. One highlight was a fan dressed up as a human-size version of TWICE’s signature lightstick, dancing like the rent was due.
But the show wasn’t over yet, as the eight present members returned to the stage with a relaxed rendition of “Feel Special.” Then, the screens featured a fun pixelated animation of TWICE against the Montreal landscape by Maxime Girault, followed by heartfelt video messages from local fans to the members.
For the “real last song” of the night, TWICE asked the crowd which song they wanted to hear. Seeing many ONCEs holding up the iconic hand pose from the song’s choreography, the group ended the Montreal show with a playful rendition of “TT,” a throwback to 2016, which brought the show to a heartwarming close.
Blending a journey through their decade-long career with a voyage into outer space through innovative staging, TWICE’s long-awaited Montreal debut felt like both a celebration of everything they’ve achieved so far, as well as a glimpse into what’s still to come.
