Photos and Interview by Maui Ong
On September 22, Girlie Pop, an all-femme dance team, and their beginner/intermediate counterpart, Candy Melts, hosted their inaugural showcase titled “Sweet Escape.” We had the pleasure of sitting down with Justine Wang, the visionary founder behind both teams, to delve into their mission and discover the exciting experiences they're eager to bring to the community.
Girlie Pop began as a passion project for Dance for a Cure 2023, with Justine's initial intention being to dance with a group of friends. However, as the project gained popularity and nurtured a vibrant community, Justine was inspired to take on the rewarding challenge of establishing a dedicated dance team and a welcoming home for a broader community of dancers.
How has the journey been so far?
“I feel like I have been really doubtful of myself, so the fact that people stick around is wild to me. There have definitely been a lot of challenges, but there are a lot of things to appreciate. I really can’t believe that almost 40 people show up to rehearsal, and I cannot believe that there is a whole showcase that people want to watch."
What was your mission with Girlie Pop and Candy Melts?
“For Girlie Pop, I really wanted to create a space that empowers women. I wanted to challenge myself this year, and so I created Girlie Pop to help focus on my own while also challenging the other directors and teammates to explore their own creativity. Candy Melts is a lot more community-oriented and more about what I can do to give back to the community. I wanted to start this team because I know that there are so many beginners who are interested in dancing but are intimidated. I also know that people are looking for a community to belong to, which is why I wanted to start this team.”
Tell us more about the showcase and what you want to gain from it.
“I really wanted the showcase to be for people’s families to come and watch them be their best selves. The showcase was supposed to be just a preview night, but someone on the team proposed the idea of having a showcase, and we were like, why not? I hope that my teammates feel accomplished and that they can go to themselves and say, “I did that, and I can really do something that I set my mind to.” As for the audience, I really hope that they have a good time. It is named Sweet Escape so that everyone can 'escape' from whatever they are dealing with and just have an hour and a half to be present and just enjoy dancing.
Support Girlie Pop and Candy Melts:
Instagram: @girliepopdance @justinewang
Venmo: @justine_wang
Keep an eye out for future workshops from both teams!
View the full gallery of the show below
