UM’s K-pop dance team, LOCKED (Love of Chinese Korean and Eastern Dances), took the stage at the Shalala Student Center ballroom by storm on Nov. 15.
LOCKED performed their Fall 2025 showcase, “Project: LOCKED,” to a lively crowd of students, families, and community members..
The night was filled with free boba drinks, fun stickers and 12 dances that were covers of popular K-Pop songs. The showcase mimicked the process K-POP bands go through on Korean survival shows such as I-LAND and BOYS PLANET.
For the night, members of LOCKED became trainees competing for a chance to debut.
In Korean survival shows, trainees that debut go on to form a new K-POP group which kickstarts their career. Once part of the new group, they get to officially release music and perform.
Sticking to the script, LOCKED introduced every performance with a skit-like video that was dramatic and witty.
The video presented a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the group’s rehearsals, challenges and final moments leading up to the performance. It drew laughter and great cheers from the audience.
At the end of the night, the audience scanned a QR Code to vote for their favorite performance. Their votes determined which trainee team would debut.
After votes were cast, the trainee team that performed “ZOOM” from BOYS PLANET 999 came out victorious.
“This was my first experience ever attending a K-POP show and it was exhilarating. I loved all the dances,” Ariel Shavit, a first-year student at the University of Miami, said.
From their opening song “Samidare” to the finale “Wish Mix,” LOCKED captivated the audience with their dynamic dance moves and interactive activities.
“I thought [the performance] was fantastic. The energy was so good and the choreography was great,” Nikki Desai, a UM senior, said.
Following their performances, LOCKED capped off the night by honoring their three graduating seniors: Ivy Chen, Jae Lee, and Dolly Coreaga Coleman.
With their skillful moves and love for all things K-POP, members of LOCKED presented an electric performance that left the audience buzzing with excitement.
For the entire two and a half hour performance, there was no shortage of cheers.