YK-Poppers bring K-pop dance to Yellowknife

A K-pop group started during the pandemic has evolved into an active part of Yellowknife’s dance scene.

Mich Chui, founder of YK-Poppers, moved to the city about three years ago and quickly realized dance options were limited. Wanting to share her enthusiasm for K-pop, she set out to find like-minded people.

Chui began teaching at Bella Dance Academy and even offered free classes to recruit members for a K-pop dance group. (K-pop simply means Korean pop, a music genre originating in South Korea that has achieved global popularity in recent years.)

Last year, she and three friends held their first K-pop performance at Snowkings’ Winter Festival.

“My vision is to start something locally here to form a K-pop culture community so people can get together and hopefully it can spread to the whole NWT,” Chui told Cabin Radio.

Since its launch, the group has performed at venues like Yellowknife’s multicultural gala, the Ptarmicon pop culture and gaming festival, and the city’s Pride parade.

One of the original members was Chui’s partner, whom she “dragged to dance because we needed numbers.” At the time, only a few people knew what K-pop was, though interest steadily grew when more people joined the group.

Members include Tori Sloan, Christina Lieu, Katie Cameron and Makayla Mackay, though many dancers also drop in for regular practices.

Before forming YK-Poppers, Chui was part of a Caribbean dance group and was heavily involved in events organized by the Multicultural Community of Yellowknife. She also worked as a substitute dance teacher for elementary and high schoolers.

“No matter what kind of dance you do, people are super supportive and even with general public too – for people that I don’t know – they are also very supportive of new dances and trying out new things,” she said.

“There are people who watch our dance and say, ‘Oh my God, that looks so cool. I want to learn that. I want to be a part of this thing.'”

Chui said the group used to practise in a room at the Quality Inn, though that space is no longer available. While they search for a consistent training location, they are currently holding practices at Somba K’e Park from 6-8pm.

“That time is almost sunset, right? So sometimes we can actually look at our formation through the shadows – not ideal but at least it’s something,” she said.

Chui believes there’s an opportunity for people in the city to connect with K-pop as well as explore other aspects of the subculture. The group organized a screening of Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters that drew more than 20 attendees. Another event in the works is a K-pop themed New Year’s party at The Underground.

Chui wants locals to join the group, even if they have limited experience.

“K-pop is very significant in lots of major cities and also around the world. I think it encapsulates a lot of people’s interest,” she said.

“K-pop is not just about Korean culture but also about people coming together, having fun and sharing common hobbies and love together.

“I would love the group to continue with all these performances and if we can make an annual K-pop show once a year, that would be awesome.”

To learn more, tune in to Cabin Radio’s YK-Pop show. You can catch our YK-Poppers interview on this week’s repeat broadcast on Saturday from 7-8pm, while YK-Pop airs new episodes each week on Wednesdays from 6-7pm.

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