This year, Highland Park students revived the K-Pop Dance Club, bringing back an activity that faded during the pandemic era. New members came together over a common passion for Korean pop music, known for its dynamic girl and boy groups. K-pop fans are allured by multi-talented “idols,” who seamlessly blend singing and dancing with perfect synchronization and style.
Every Wednesday, the now-thriving club meets to learn choreography with club leader and dance coordinator, Yuni Lin. Both middle and high school students are welcome to work on their dance skills with the moves projected onto a screen and the club mirroring them, similar to Just Dance. A sophomore joining in on a practice said, “It’s really fun,” adding, “Once we start [dancing], then we get better.” Mrs. Stephen, the advisor, actively participates in the dance sessions herself, mentioning that it's a great way for her to stay active.
The club practices dance routines featuring songs from popular K-pop girl groups like NewJeans and ITZY. Currently, the dancers are focused on mastering the choreography for “Attention” by NewJeans in preparation to perform at the Asian Culture Club’s Lunar New Year event in February. Senior Lily Jiang also mentioned the club’s plan to put on a show at an upcoming pep rally. “[We’re] probably going to dance for the spring one, and we’ll just play out some songs and perform outside,” she said.
The revived K-Pop Dance Club not only fosters a love for this genre but also provides a platform for students to express their enthusiasm through dance, creating a vibrant and engaging community.