By RONNIE FUENTES 
The Tower 

Dancing requires skill and practice, perseverance and creativity, and stage presence. 

Manteca High senior Alyson Tse has it all, making her a coveted member of the K-Pop dance group One Motion.  

Tse is an active member of the local K-Pop dance cover group One Motion, led by founder and East Union High graduate Riland Simpao, and the clarinet section leader for Manteca High’s band. Her talent and energy have stood out to those around her, including Simpao. 

“When forming One Motion, I could tell Alyson was an individual who challenged herself from the get-go. Giving herself the time and commitment, she does for the group, showed her desire to grow as a dancer,” said Simpao. “That’s what made me want to bring her passion and drive into the group.” 

Founded on July 14, 2021, One Motion focuses on making an inclusive environment for dancers of all skill levels. They are a collection of performers from schools across the Central Valley and perform on special occasions throughout the year in the Bay Area. As the leader of One Motion, Simpao has strived to make a community where people who love K-Pop and dancing can come together and find a safe place for them to do what they love.  

“One Motion focuses on taking those who are interested in dancing, and really challenging them initially within their comfort zone, and then outside of their comfort zone,” Simpao said. “We strive as a dance group to aim for strong and captivating performances, while also improving on their own dancing, on an individual level. We want to make sure everyone understands the basics and feels confidence whenever they dance. 

“The concept of One Motion is centered around the idea that everyone moves in one motion. Whether that be in dancing or as a team, we do not leave anyone behind,” said Simpao. “We do our best to dance in harmony and synchronicity so we can be in one motion. We’re also a young group, so we plan to impress those around us and show that age doesn’t limit our skill.”  

Dance has always been a creative outlet in Tse’s life.  

During her middle school years at Joshua Cowell Elementary, she found her love for K-Pop choreographies. Through practice and dedication, she was inspired to take her dancing skills to the next level.  

“I loved K-Pop back then and it really inspired me, even though I wasn’t good at all,” said Tse. “I would practice every now and then, especially to songs that had choreography and that continued for a while.”  

Aside from being a dancer, Tse is also the clarinet section leader and social media manager for the band’s Instagram page. Tse has been in band since her elementary school years and doing so has exposed her to a world full of music.  

“Being in band has taught me leadership skills and problem-solving skills,” she said. “Band has given me the opportunity to meet new people with the same interests, travel and better my musical skills.”  

Cody Marchetti, Manteca High’s band director, has been a major piece in Tse’s band career. Marchetti and Tse have been working hand in hand for many years now to ensure the success of the MHS band. Marchetti recognizes Tse as an important member of band, as she is always optimistic and willing to help others. 

Without Tse’s helping hand with the clarinet players, Marchetti recognizes that this section would not be as successful as it is.  

“She has helped me a lot in making sure the clarinets have music, materials, and know how to play their parts,” said Marchetti. “This year we have many beginning players in our concert band, and she has been giving one-on-one lessons and her students have learned more than I would have thought in such a short time this semester. She is a special student and one that I am going to miss when they graduate this year.” 

One Motion has served as a groundbreaking experience for Tse and her journey to excel as a dancer. All her practice has made perfection when it comes to performances. Simpao said that Tse’s durability and perseverance helped her at the start.   

“When forming One Motion, I could tell Alyson was an individual who challenged herself from the get-go. Giving herself the time and commitment, she does for the group, showed her desire to grow as a dancer,” said Simpao. “That’s what made me want to bring her passion and drive into the group.”