For a 13th year, Graham Chapel will play host to WashU K-pop dance group PL4Y’s Fall Showcase, an hours-long K-pop dance extravaganza. Sixty dancers will perform 12 songs, interspersed with videos and appearances from other local performers and WashU dance groups.

For the uninitiated, K-Pop dance is a diverse set of dance styles all set to Korean pop music. 

Sharply coordinated dances are a large part of the K-pop industry, and fans often join their favorite artists by learning and performing the songs. Each dance presents unique components; some emphasize hip-hop elements, while others rely heavily on elements of cover dancing, trying to emulate what the artist has done in the past. 

For those who have seen previous showcases, junior Siham Ibrahim, PL4Y’s outreach chair, said this year will be bigger and better, including stronger performances and creative prop inclusion.

“Everyone’s been putting in a lot of effort, and a lot of the pieces are a lot more difficult than past years,” she said. “People are more involved. There are blindfolds; there are chairs.”

This year’s lineup features a rotation of classic K-pop hits, including “Blood, Sweat, and Tears” from megastars BTS, a new release from girl group aespa, and an upbeat pop anthem from soloist Younha, among others.

The Fall Showcase is PL4Y’s premier event of the year and has been long in the making. Showcase applications were sent out in the summer, and by September, auditions were in full swing 

Each coordinator operates relatively independently for their given piece, selecting music, developing choreography, and crafting a team that plays to each other’s strengths.

Siham said that by November, “it gets down to having everything ready.” In the run-up to the show, dry runs take place, bringing all the pieces together for more formal rehearsals, and dancers acclimate to being on stage.

The Showcase will be hosted by four emcees: the two presidents and two head coordinators of PL4Y. Additionally, for the first time, an introduction video will accompany dancers as each dance goes by.

Attendees can expect more than just PL4Y though. WashU’s Hip-Hop Dance Union (WUHHU) and other local St. Louis performers are billed to make appearances.

The Showcase is slated to run two hours (though Ibrahim noted it often runs longer) in Graham Chapel on Nov. 21, and it is free to all who wish to attend.