The lights were dim as senior Sunny Lok and her dance team stood in a circle backstage offering words of encouragement to each other. It was a familiar scene, one she had lived through countless times. But tonight was different.
Tonight was her senior recital, marking the end of her journey of junior competitive dance years.
“I started dancing ever since I was in Pre-K; I went to a Pre-K dance academy,” Lok explained. “Every Chinese kid kinda picks up a hobby when they’re young, and for me, dancing just stuck.”
She trained in a variety of styles, including hip-hop, Latin ballroom, jazz, and K-pop covers—all of which helped shape her into the dancer she is today. However, despite her years of experience, she had some setbacks along the way.
In her junior year, a difficult time at her old studio made her step away from dance completely. “It was a bad experience overall, and they did not treat me well. I quit that studio completely. I cut them off, and I stopped dancing for a good six months. I was just like, ‘Yeah, I’m done. I’m never going back,'” Lok recalled.
However, dance found its way back into Lok’s life.
This season, she danced with both Ruff Ryders, a junior competition team, and WyldStyl, an adult competition team both under the SoundBox Dance Studios.
“I joined both teams to put more pressure on myself because I feel like I work very well under pressure. It guided me and showed me what kind of styles I’m best at,” Lok explained.
Each day presents its challenges as she balances dance, schoolwork, and social life, but it has taught her the importance of balance. “I always say that I put dance first in front of everything,” she admitted. “But I know my priorities and what I need to get done.”
Beyond teaching her balance, dance has shaped her identity in ways that extend far beyond the stage.
“I feel like when I’m dancing, I’m myself. I get to move my body the way that I want to express my feelings, and that’s how I became confident,” Lok said. “It also taught me discipline, time management, maintaining a healthy body and mindset.”
As the curtain lifted, the thunderous applause sent a jolt of energy through her body. She stepped onto the stage with confidence, her movements sharp and deliberate. Their senior piece was dynamic; a battle between two boxing teams, red versus blue.
“It was worth it to put in all the hours into it, and it turned out amazing,” Lok remarked.
Every stomp of her foot, every extension of her arm carried years of discipline, struggle, and perseverance. And as the music swelled to its final crescendo, she hit the last pose, chest heaving, sweat glistening under the stage lights. Silence hung in the air for just a second before the crowd erupted in cheers.
“It was the most rewarding feeling ever,” Lok said, reflecting on the performance. “The amount of people that came up to us and said we did amazing, the genuine cheers from the stage—it made everything worth it.”
After countless rehearsals — late nights stretching into early mornings, overcoming mental blocks, and pushing through exhaustion—this was the moment she had worked for. And now that it was over, she felt complete.
As she looked toward the future, she knew dance would always be a part of her. “I would like to join a team in college and see where that takes me — maybe even take a leadership position if I could,” Lok said.
Her advice to young dancers? “Don’t be too hard on yourself. Everyone learns differently, and it’s okay to not get it sometimes. Just take your time and be patient; time will show you your progress,” Lok reflected.
And with that, she stepped off the stage, knowing that though this chapter had ended, her story as a dancer was far from over.
