“Etherea,” Koko Pops’ 2026 show, was an electrifying culmination of visual aesthetics, chaotic energy, and passion. A stark contrast to last year’s apocalyptic showcase, this year’s production embraced an ethereal garden theme with a gentle pastel color palette, flowy outfits, and delicate flowers and butterflies.
The show ran from Feb. 12–14 and, on the final night, attracted such a large audience that attendees without seats had to line the staircase in Frist Theatre. A sea of multi-colored neon popsicle lightsticks — a tribute to a classic feature of K-pop concerts — illuminated the dimly lit theater.
“Etherea” opened with an energetic performance of Illit’s “Magnetic.” Dancers wore pastel blue and white outfits that complemented the soft, subdued vibe of Illit’s original music video. Despite the large number of dancers on stage, the group’s quick footwork and intricate hand movements remained impressively coordinated and precise.
Between performances, three concept videos — including covers of “In Bloom” by Zerobaseone, “GO!” by Cortis, and “Gnarly” by Katseye — played on the theater’s projection screen. Beyond well-rehearsed choreography, the videos featured impressive transitions and engaging videography, capturing the distinct essence and energy of each song.
A particularly exciting and popular piece among the audience was a rendition of “DNA” by the South Korean supergroup, BTS. With its colorful hip-hop-inspired outfits and the dancers’ fluid yet sharply concise movements, the piece was a true standout in the show.
Other stellar pieces included “Closer” by Jeon Somi, memorable for its synchronized strobe lights with the song’s techno vocal fluctuations, “Killin’ It Girl” by j-hope, which opened with a dramatic red-light reveal and featured an intense dance break, and “FaSHioN” by Cortis, which sparked a hyped crowd chant before the choreography even began.
During the show’s 15-minute intermission, a steady stream of hits, including “Super Shy” by NewJeans, “POP!” by Nayeon, and “What is Love?” by Twice played. Audience members familiar with the choreography were welcomed onstage to dance.
As a long-time fan of “Love Dive” by Ive, I was thrilled by the warm golden-hour lighting and school-uniform-inspired outfits, reminiscent of the song’s viral music video. I also looked forward to “Secret Story of the Swan” by Iz*One, and I enjoyed their rendition which was characterized by its elegant, graceful swan-like outfits, bright fuschia lights, and fiery dancing.
While the show delivered a consistent set of meticulously executed, engaging performances with the group’s choreography as the main feature, many of the performances did not shy away from flashy jaw-drop worthy moments. Such moments include a surprise on-the-spot wardrobe strip revealing a bright teal crop top during “body” by Dayoung, which drew an electric cheer from the crowd, or spontaneous shots of alcohol mid-dance.
Koko Pops dancers in bright-colored outfits.
Kaichen Chou / The Daily Princetonian
Koko Pops’ performance of Dayoung’s “body” was not only a crowd-favorite but also popular within the cast. “It was a really lovely experience learning it,” Chloe Pendergrass ’29, a co-leader for one of the songs, said. “I really liked performing it onstage because it always got such a good reaction from the crowd.”
The show concluded with a bittersweet video dedicated to the seniors of Koko Pops and one last performance that included “Golden” from the movie “KPop Demon Hunters” and “ON” by BTS.
The “ON” performance was especially striking due to its fierce drumming and united atmosphere as all members joined the stage for the final dance.
“Coordinating that many people for choreography was definitely a challenge for everybody,” Pendergrass said. “It was really rewarding because I think it worked out really well, and I'm very grateful for our artistic direction team and all the help that they gave us in that process because they're the ones that really coordinated everything.”
With “Etherea” being my first Koko Pops show, I didn’t necessarily know what to expect beforehand. However, the enthusiastic shouts from the crowd, paired with the impressive choreography, contributed to an extremely lively and exciting experience.
Kaichen Chou, member of the Class of 2029, is an assistant Prospect editor and a staff Copy editor. She can be reached at kc2050[at]princeton.edu.
Please send corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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