Introduction of Clubs and Circles: K-POP Dance Circle "chumuly

chumuly (hereafter referred to as "chumuly") focuses on cover dances of Korean pop music (K-POP) artists. chumuly has over 80 members, who switch groups for each song, each taking on the role of the member they are assigned to in order to recreate the song to the fullest.

The results of their daily practice are presented in performances held three times a year. In the spring, we hold a welcome performance for new students, in the summer an unveiling performance for parents and friends to see, and in the fall a university festival.
When I went to see the welcome performance, I was impressed by the quality of the performance and costumes, which were in sync with the seniors' performance. I was completely mesmerized, and I definitely wanted to be a part of the group," said Kawasumi. Kawasumi recounts her efforts to improve her performance skills despite the restrictions: "In the 2020 academic year, the use of university facilities was restricted, so we each practiced individually at home and then rented a studio to practice as we saw fit, taking care to prevent infections.

Along with performances, the students also focus on participating in the "K-POP Cover Dance Contest for University Circles," which is held twice a year by an organizer outside the university. Chumlee, which has participated in the contest continuously since its inception, has won many championships, and in the last contest (held in December 2019), it came in second place out of 12 universities in the 10th contest. I'm practicing to be a perfect copy," says Minamimoto, "because I'm judged not only on my dance performance, but also on how well I can replicate everything from my costume to my facial expressions and gestures. The 2020 event itself was canceled due to the Corona disaster, so if we are able to hold the next event in December, I would definitely like to participate and make my last circle activity a complete success," says Minamimoto with a hidden fighting spirit.

Mr. Cho, the representative of Chumlee, talks about the unity of Chumlee, saying, "Holding the event itself is difficult now, and there are various difficulties in preparation, but everyone is willing to cooperate and help, so I am proud that we are a circle blessed with good members. No matter how hard we work in preparation and practice, when people cheer our performance on stage, we feel so much strength in our bodies that we no longer feel tired even after intense dancing. I hope that the daily life where such events can be held with peace of mind will return soon. For now, our biggest goal is for all circle members to be highly aware of infection prevention and to continue our activities in good spirits and with smiles on our faces," she said emphatically, expressing her hope that the coronas will subside.

(First published in the June/July 2021 issue of Hosei, a public relations magazine)

*This interview was conducted online.