For Kyra Timberlake, K-pop began as a quiet obsession in middle school that she only shared with her older sister. Now as a dancer for UT’s Korean Music Association dance group, KM8, she finds herself immersed in a network equally as passionate about K-pop.
“It’s really mind blowing,” English senior Timberlake said. “It’s not just middle school Kyra anymore. It’s college Kyra and all her college friends and all their friends.”
Showcasing 13 dance crews ranging from UT groups to ones traveling from West Texas, the music association hosts its annual Dance the Night Away event this Saturday at 4 p.m. in the William C. Powers, Jr. Student Activity Center. With activities such as a photo booth, raffle and trivia, the organization’s outreach officer Kayla Grosskopf said the event centers around the groups’ performances. Grosskopf, a mechanical engineering fifth year, said last year’s showcase received roughly 400 attendees, and they expect a similar turnout this year.
“K-pop is very creative and bright and energetic,” Grosskopf said. “(The showcase) is a way to appreciate (and) participate in that ourselves and show it to other people.”
Paulina Warren, head dance captain of Texas A&M’s only K-pop dance group, Royal Aces Crew, said when preparing for their set, their weekly practice hours range from six to 12 hours. This contrasts their usual two hours per week.
“Our crew gets better and better each year,” biomedical science senior Warren said. “I get excited to showcase all of our hard work, especially because we admire a lot of these groups so much to go and have the opportunity to showcase what we can do.”
Warren said the event offers a way to bridge differing communities and remains uniquely significant for attendees travelling from smaller cities that may lack a thriving K-pop scene.
“We can dance to these choreographies, and most of us don’t know the language,” Warren said. “Most of us aren’t Korean, but it’s that we’re together. We’re all from different schools (and) different orgs, but we’re all dancing K-pop.”
Emily Leschber, a KM8 dance coordinator and Korean Music Association vice president internal, said they have two setlists planned. The first follows the night’s theme, Film Noir, and the second remains a surprise.
“The first set list will be alluring,” nursing senior Leschber said. “Then the second set list is just — hopefully someone laughs.”
Leschber said organizers reserved Greg Plaza for an hour after the event to host a random dance play session, which entails playing random songs while groups who know the choreography dance along.
Warren said it proves a nice way to end the night after watching everyone perform.
“You kind of forget which team you’re a part of because it’s just everyone dancing together,” Warren said.
Since their first showcase in 2022, Timberlake has attended all showcases the music association has held, and this year she will emcee the showcase.
“(The event) is a lot of fun,” Timberlake said. “I’m a little sad that this is my last one, but I’m hoping to go out with a bang.”
