K-pop originated in the 1990s, gaining mainstream popularity in the 2010s. Throughout those thirty years, we’ve seen massive generational changes through both the style of music and groups. From 2NE1 to New Jeans, this originally Seoul phenomenon has travelled throughout the entire world – and to Macleans too!
It has been said many times before, but Macleans’ extracurricular field is wide. We have the well-known Korean Dance Group, commonly known as KDC. Annually, they perform at Night of Intercultural, which recently took place in our very own auditorium.
KDC performed a mash-up of five songs this year at the Night of Intercultural, with the first being an excerpt from Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s wife by LE SSERAFIM, continuing onto Baddie by IVE, Drama by aespa, Killin’ It by P1Harmony, and ending on a high note with Secret Story of Swan by IZ*ONE. Click here if you want to read more of Night of Intercultural.
The group is run by three seniors, Taylor Ma (Kupe Year 13), Andrea Monasterio (Year 12 Batten), and Evana Song (Year 12 Hillary). Auditions are held in the beginning of the year and consist of two rounds. In the first round, auditionees are able to choose a song of their choice to perform in front of the leaders. The second round provides more of a challenge as students are invited to a mock rehearsal with the task of proving how quickly they can learn and pick up new dances.
“KDC is really fun. You get to meet and bond with new people, along with practices that are always fun but still strict. Being able to dance with my friends is always so fun and I’m grateful to have KDC as one of my extracurriculars.”
– Isabel Moreton – Y10 Upham
Although rehearsals can be intense especially as the performance dates approach, being a part of KDC is still a blast of exercise and fun. Members first individually learn their own choreography with the K-pop idol they want to mirror from, and then on Fridays they all come together and practise together.
If you didn’t catch them this year, make sure you come to the eventful Night of Intercultural or Talent Quest next year!
20th September, 2024
Written by Emma Li, edited by Hope Zhang and Aaron Huang
Photos by Emma Li from NOI, and from Isabel Moreton
