Kpop dance group, OOPS wins $1,000 prize at UTSC’s Homecoming

Photo by: (Christian Zdravko//The Underground)

University of Toronto Scarborough’s (UTSC) annual Homecoming talent show, taking place Sept. 28 2024, outside of the Academic Resource Centre brought many students together this year with a series of creative performers competing for a $1,000 cash prize.

This year, in a close battle for first place, against rock bands, singers, a competing K-pop group, and an acrobat, the Kpop student dance group, OOPS came out on top.

Amarie Davidson shows off his gymnastics skills at UTSC’s Got Talent. Photo by: (Christian Zdravko//The Underground)

“We've been practicing a lot for the past month. We had a scheduled practice section every week, and we worked very hard,” says Esme Zhu, a third year psychology student at U of T, and one of the group members.

Lucas Niu, a fourth year marketing and management student at U of T says OOPS plans to use the prize money to reinvest in themselves so they can continue to grow.

“Since we’re a dance team, we’re gonna use it for our future fund. For example, future performances, equipment spending, to build our team spirit more, and to enhance more opportunities like this.”

K-pop dance group, OOPS takes a selfie with their $1,000 cheque, and the host of the show, De-Mario Knowles. Photo by: (Christian Zdravko//The Underground)

Niu says the group is hopeful about continuing to dance together.

“We have been together for almost a year. I think what keeps us around is our friendship, and how we really enjoy doing different dances and hanging out with each other. For sure, we're gonna keep going in the future.”

Still, he says it depends on the group’s dancers, and “the path they’re going.” Their Instagram tag is @_oops._official.

DUSK was another group of artists to perform for the show. The rock trio performed Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana. They consist of three members, Bella Valera, the lead singer and guitarist, Salma Garcia also a guitarist, and her little brother, in tenth grade,  Saul Garcia, on the drums.

DUSK performers, Bella Valera (right), and Salma Garcia (left) at UTSC’s Got Talent. Photo by: (Christian Zdravko//The Underground)

Salma Garcia, a first year population health student at U of T said in an interview that she and her brother began playing together during the pandemic.

“Me and my brother started playing during Covid. I started with the guitar, he started with the drums, then we brought in my other friend, then we started playing, all three of us, because we have the same music taste.”

She says the band plans to keep performing in the future, and hopes to put out more of their own original music.

Saul Garcia from DUSK performing at UTSC’s Got Talent. Photo by: (Christian Zdravko//The Underground)

Aside from Nirvana, the group is also inspired by Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes.

De-Mario Knowles is a third year student, double majoring in neuroscience and mental health studies, and minoring in French. This year marks his second year in a row hosting UTSC’s Got Talent.

In an interview, he said he was happy that so many students showed up to watch — more than there were enough seats for. He said he finds UTSC to foster a strong community among its students.

“We're the smallest campus of the three in the U of T Tri campus system. It really makes it easy to establish that sense of community with each other, and I think that was pretty evident tonight.”