Azure, Hofstra University’s Korean pop (K-pop) dance troupe, held its yearly audition in the Hofstra Fitness Center on Sept. 14. Eight students showed up to audition, all of whom were brought into the studio in randomized duos.
“We do covers of different choreography and then perform on campus,” said Jupiter Housen, senior forensic science major and vice president of Azure. “We also hold events to do with K-pop in general. Overall, Azure lets people have a safe space to enjoy K-pop and the fan culture that surrounds it.”
Each dancer at the audition was evaluated on their choreographic knowledge of two songs: “Lemon Drop” by ATEEZ and “The Chase” by Hearts2Hearts. Both songs feature intricate footwork and a fast pace.
ATEEZ, a South Korean boy group, debuted in 2018, and Hearts2Hearts, a South Korean girl group, debuted in early 2025. Boy and girl groups differ stylistically from each other, a quality Azure celebrates by presenting a mixture of the two stylistic qualities when they perform on campus.
Each dancer has their own story about what it means to get on stage and perform.
“The culture around K-pop is colorful, and so it has made my world more colorful. I started by getting into BTS, and that has really gotten me out of my shell and given me the ability to branch out and get out of my house. It’s all about culture and community,” said Chantel Bilson, an auditionee and sophomore sociology and psychology double major.
Housen feels that having a K-pop group at Hofstra is important because there are many other representative cultural groups on campus. Azure is all about celebrating a style of dance and culture that is oftentimes ignored or not represented. The organization is also working on a subsection for fans of K-pop who are not dancers in order to be more inclusive.
Being a fan of K-pop can sometimes come with some scrutiny, and outsiders may attach stereotypes to its supporters due to its origin of South Korea. This was a lesson that Azure President Miché Hines learned from the start. When Azure formed in 2023, they performed at Hofstra’s annual Drop of Drag performance. People recognized them as a multicultural group, but the lack of Asian dancers in a K-pop cover group was a problem Azure initially faced.
“In the [U.S.], K-pop dance clubs and founding members are usually thanks to Black people and our influence, especially hip hop,” Hines said.
Every individual on the team has a range of technical skills and backgrounds. This is an aspect Hines wanted to emphasize.
“We don’t have the years and hours of training that [the Hofstra dance team] has, but we try to make our performances fun for those used to Western dance styles. It’s a very different world. There are also different expectations,” Hines said.
Maxina Ingersol, a dancer at the audition and freshman broadcast journalism major, found her way into the studio because she loves both K-pop and dancing, so she wanted to combine both interests. Ingersol has been dancing since the beginning of middle school. She also has indulged in learning K-pop dances on her own time for seven years.
Interest and passion guided the selection process during and after auditions. At the end, Azure’s executive board members welcomed a new batch of K-pop lovers into the team. This new dance crew will help Azure define K-pop at Hofstra, echoing those who have come before them.