Empowerment Through Dance 

Amid the noise of flashy reality programming, few shows manage to strike a good balance between spectacle and actual substance. Yet, Street Woman Fighter (SWF), the breakout Korean dance series, manages to do exactly that, reimagining the dance competition genre through the lens of femininity, culture and self-expression.  

While it plays into the familiar drama of rivalries and high-stakes eliminations, the show stands out for its unapologetic celebration of women in dance, showcasing all-female crews from around the world who bring not just choreography, but their stories, histories and identities to the battle stage. 

Unlike typical competition formats, SWF centers exclusively on all-female dance crews from around the world including countries such as South Korea, Japan, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand. 

The show not only celebrates the diversity of dance, featuring identity-focused missions where crews have to represent their respective cultures through dance, but it also amplifies the power of movement as an act of self-expression and owning one’s femininity. “A global dance battle of fierce women from around the world,” reads a translated tagline for the third season.  

While the international lineup and high-octane performances fuel its entertainment value, what also sets SWF apart is its cultural impact. From viral dance challenges to sold-out workshops, the series has sparked a wave of inspiration, particularly among young girls, who have begun to see dance as a source of renewed confidence and creativity. 

Take Miyu Pranoto (or Mata Miyu for short), for example. After watching the first season of SWF, Miyu felt inspired to take up dance and enter battle competitions. Now, at just 11 years old, Miyu is not only one of the most respected kid dancers but has gained recognition across the dance scene in general, even going head-to-head with adult dancers and beating them at their own game. 

It’s a full-circle moment for the young dancer, who even had a cameo in the latest season of SWF, joining America’s hip-hop team, Motiv, during their mega-crew mission. 

However, this cameo was more than just a personal milestone, it also placed her within one of the season’s most powerful and politically resonant performances. Beyond the purpose of celebrating hip-hop culture, Motiv’s piece, titled “We the People,” confronted systemic injustice and racialized violence within the country’s current political climate. 

Members of the crew, representing a range of diasporic identities, moved in unison and defiance, illustrating acts of solidarity and struggle. Meanwhile, Australian dance crew, AG Squad, also took SWF’s mission as an opportunity to showcase the Indigenous peoples native to Australia through their Outback piece, incorporating the boomerang into their choreography as a symbol of the enduring strength of Aboriginal culture.  

Rather than relying on entertainment alone, Street Woman Fighter showcases dance as a powerful form of expression in its own right. Now in its third season, the show continues to grow a dedicated global following, not only for the technical skill and creative vision of its diverse crews, but for the way it centers a medium so often treated as secondary or in service to someone else.