On Friday and Saturday night, students packed Salomon 101 as Daebak, a K-pop dance group, celebrated its 10th annual spring show, “Hello World.” Before the first track even began, the room buzzed with anticipation — a reflective prelude to a night defined by explosive smiles and constant movement.
The show opened with “Maestro,” which immediately showcased the group’s cohesion. A dancer wielding a conductor’s baton at the front of the stage guided the ensemble behind them as if orchestrating not just the music, but the performers themselves.
This clean, organized execution carried through the rest of the program. The performers moved on and off stage in rapid succession, and their coordinated transitions created a pace that rarely allowed the audience to settle.
While much of the choreography also drew from existing works rather than original compositions, this did not take away from the show. The dancers’ high energy and performance quality illustrated how reinterpretation — when done intentionally — can be just as compelling as original work. The show’s only sore spot was its length — at two and a half hours, the show felt prolonged at times.
Performances featuring music from some of the world’s most popular groups — KATSEYE, TWICE and BLACKPINK — drew some of the loudest reactions of the night, with audience members ecstatically responding to the familiar songs and choreography.
At several points throughout the performance, the physical demands of the choreography became visible. But what stood out was their evident joy to just be able to perform. Each dancer went above and beyond with their facial expressions, which were reflective of genuine enjoyment. This distinct contrast — visible fatigue paired with a contagious energy — became one of the most compelling aspects of the show.
Daebak’s “Dance Camp” segment introduced an element of surprise. During the event’s planning process, several students reached out to Daebak about performing their own pieces during “Hello World.” These students took the stage during the “Dance Camp” portion of the evening, reinforcing the message that dance and K-pop are accessible to everyone.
Collaborations with groups such as Mezcla — a Latin American dance group — and Molì Dance Company — an East Asian dance group — further expanded the show’s reach. While the groups varied in style, the collaborative performances struck a balance between the differing genres’ costumes and props. But at times, the collaborations felt slightly disorganized — a reasonable shortcoming considering the increased number of performers on stage.
The most memorable moment of the evening was the senior set — a skit-like introduction of graduating members. Interwoven with choreography, the segment felt less like a conclusion and more like a reminiscent memory. Daebak members tearfully bid farewell to each senior while embracing the graduates’ new beginnings — a notion that echoed the show’s title, “Hello World.”
Thanking both the audience and her fellow team members, Daebak co-Director Lily Yu ’26 said that “because of you, we have the strength and courage to say hello to the world.” Yu’s words illustrated how the performance was more than choreography — it was a tribute to a lifelong community.
Timothy Ro is a senior staff writer covering arts and culture.
