The gym lights dim, and the first beat drop hits. A wave of cheers follows every sharp dance move. The Kultural Dance Club makes its comeback at the fall pep rally, transforming school spirit into a cultural showcase. Students were shocked to see the energy of the group.
As a seemingly new club formed this year, Phi Tran (’27) explains that the Kultural Dance Club (KDC) was not recently created, but instead reformed. The established organization at Robinson was founded in 2018 and stood strong for six years until last year.
“I decided to bring back this club as its president because of my strong passion for dancing, and I’ve always wanted to share it with people interested in it,” Tran (’27) said.
Tran reveals his love for dancing through its connection to his Vietnamese heritage. He enjoys performing traditional Vietnamese dances with fans and hats at local festivals in the Tampa Bay Area.
“At first, I saw this club during Club Fair Day, and it reminded me of how I’ve always wanted to dance at school to show off my passion. I had always seen dancing as a hobby and never assumed I would get to experience it as an extracurricular activity until I discovered this club,” Tran (’27) said.
Tran believed many others may have the same interest in exploring their culture and even other cultures through the art of dance.
Senior Aiaru Akylbayeva expresses her interest in becoming a KDC dancer through her youth passion.
“I’ve been interested in dance since I was a child. For me, dancing makes me feel closer to my roots and gives me a chance to share them with others,” Akylbayeva (’26) said.
Last year, Tran was talking to School Counselor Kathryn Ferriero about how he wanted to bring KDC back, and later asked her to sponsor.
“As far as I know, the club was inactive for at least a year or more before Phi brought it back. Phi is a very hardworking student, and I was happy to help if he needed an adult to sponsor.” Ferriero said.
The club first began with meet-ups taking place at local dance studios outside of school. After gaining more participation, the dancers transitioned to holding meetings on school grounds. The practices prepared the club for their awaited debut performance at the fall pep rally. Tran explained that the music they dance to is chosen to best match the performances with the pep rally themes.
“We, as a club, decide our dances by always trying to feature different genres and styles for every pep rally,” Tran (’27) said.
After months of preparation, the members are ready to perform their work to the school. Some dancers feel confident in their preparation, while other students are nervous about showcasing their skills.
“When preparing emotionally and mentally, I do my best to keep a positive mindset, especially when dealing with anxiousness or fear, by reminding myself that I have the confidence to do it and that I have friends in the audience supporting me,” Tran (’27) said.
The performance can be nerve-racking, however, because the pep rallies hold faculty and students of all grade levels. Some dancers find ways to lower their nerves by learning from teammates before stepping onto the gym floor.
“Everyone feels nervous before a performance, so supporting each other makes a big difference,”Akylbayeva (’26) said.
The group delivered their performance to ‘Like Jennie’ by Jennie, and it was a banger. Positive gasps and screams were heard around the gym in excitement. President Tran feels the performance did its job of showcasing what KDC can do and bring to the table.
“After the performance, I have definitely seen appreciation for the style of dancing we showcase, as well as admiration for the songs we choose. It helps change perceptions of certain genres that people might underestimate, and that is a positive impact we are proud to see,” Tran (’27) said.
The KDC is already practicing for their next performance at the winter pep rally. The team hopes everyone understands the message through their art.
“The message I hope to send through our performances is the level of commitment and sacrifice that each and every one of our dancers has for this club, and how we always create a spirited and positive environment for those watching,” Tran (’27) said.
