Universities Across Texas Gather for Annual K-Pop Dance Showcase

By Hope Vanderburg

Reporting Texas

Korean pop music, widely known as K-pop, has skyrocketed in popularity across the U.S. over the past decade. 

“K-pop is everywhere at this point. You can go to the grocery store and hear it,” said KMA Dance Coordinator Karena Pan.

But for K-pop dancers, it’s much more than a music genre.

“This community is very safe for me,” Pan said.

The University of Texas’ Korean Music Association hosted Dance the Night Away, its fourth annual K-pop dance showcase. They welcomed 13 dance teams to perform their K-pop dance covers.

“It’s really fun to meet a lot of other college students who have a common interest in K-pop… and see the energy that they bring,” said KMA Outreach Officer Kayla Grosskopf.

When ATX KDC dancer Hayden Nguyen first arrived at UT, the prevalence of K-pop was surprising.

“I wouldn’t have thought it was this popular, especially in college,” Nguyen said.

However, Dance the Night Away goes far beyond UT’s own K-pop community. Dancers from schools like Texas A&M University, Texas State University, the University of Texas at San Antonio and Texas Tech University traveled to Austin to showcase their performances. Independent groups from as far as Midland, Texas, also came out for the event.

“It always amazes me that people are willing to come so far,” Grosskopf said.

Texas A&M’s Royal Aces were back at the showcase for the third time, and there were no “horns down” gestures in sight.

“We’re rival schools, whatever, but we all have common ground,” said Texas A&M Royal Aces dance captain Shruti Kalva.

Without the pressure of competing, these dance groups could let go and just be themselves.

“Dance the Night Away has a lot of richer experiences than a competition because everyone is just here to have fun. Everyone is here to make friends and hype each other up,” Pan said.

Whether they sport burnt orange or maroon, Dance the Night Away has united these students and fostered a sense of welcomeness.

“Regardless of what type of campus I’m at,” Kalva said, “I can always find a community that will accept me.”