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THE ALL GIRL DANCE AND MUSIC GROUP fiveALIVE CONTINUES THEIR PATH TO GREATNESS PERFORMING LIVE AT THE CONSTELLATION ROOM IN SANTA ANA, CA, BY DON MARCELO

There can be different meanings or attributions to the word GREATNESS. But from a general point of view and meaning, greatness can be described as “someone who possesses a natural ability to be better than others”, whatever that ability may be. For this Southern California Asian-American girl group called fiveALIVE, their greatness is not only…

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There can be different meanings or attributions to the word GREATNESS. But from a general point of view and meaning, greatness can be described as “someone who possesses a natural ability to be better than others”, whatever that ability may be. For this Southern California Asian-American girl group called fiveALIVE, their greatness is not only their ability to have natural talents in both singing and dancing, but their ability to connect with fans and music and dance lovers.

Written by Don Marcelo

However, the challenge of being a Great Asian-American Girl Group is to surpass the popularity of KPOP Groups (or at least to be on par with them) in this super competitive market. Surpassing this challenge of popularity isn’t an easy task to accomplish, not because these KPOP idol groups are any better, but rather, the main difference in overcoming and surpassing the challenge is that because fiveALIVE is an independent group and have far a less budget than that of the KPOP groups who have an unlimited amount of budget and resources and are managed by big labels and corporations in Asia. It’s like David vs Goliath. But we all know who wins at the end of the story of David vs Goliath.

And from my perspective, the difference about fiveALIVE’s greatness is their ability to immediately connect with fans who love the world of KPOP. One can only see and feel this connection once they see them perform LIVE on stage and interact with them during their Meet and Greets. One can even see this greatness when fiveALIVE asks a 4Lifer and invites them on stage to dance with them. This is the 3rd time I have seen this gesture. How cool and great is that gesture and act! But as far as their Meet and Greets are concerned, one will experience what I experienced, true authenticity as if one has been friends with them forever, especially for me since I am someone who is still unfamiliar of this world and predominantly listens to hard rock music (particularly JROCK music) and have covered hundreds of rock shows, but I am slowly learning the world of KPOP and DANCE groups. 

This GREAT All Girl Asian-American group consists consists of the following Great and Talented Artists:

• Nini – Filipina/Vietnamese ethnically. Nationality – American

A performer on stage smiling while holding a microphone, wearing a stylish outfit with lace and a corset design, illuminated by stage lights.
Photo by Don Marcelo

• Jia – Chinese/Vietnamese ethnically. Nationality – American

A singer performing on stage, holding a microphone and wearing a stylish black outfit with a lace detail. Her long hair flows as she sings, with a spotlight illuminating her.
Photo by Don Marcelo

• Bay – Korean ethnically. Nationality – American

A singer performing on stage, holding a microphone and smiling. They have long brown hair and are wearing a light blue outfit, with colorful stage lighting in the background.
Photo by Don Marcelo

• Ellie – Korean ethnically. Nationality – American

A smiling performer with curly hair wearing a sparkling blue top and black gloves, holding a microphone on stage.
Photo by Don Marcelo

• Ciara – British/Filipina – Nationality – American

A young woman with long blonde hair singing into a microphone, wearing a cropped denim top and a white fingerless glove. Another performer is slightly visible in the background.
Photo by Don Marcelo

Before their show, many 4Lifers (the name of their fandom) talked to one another about who their bias was. They exchanged gifts and/or handed fan made gifts to other fans. It became a party and gathering of like-minded fans who were full of enthusiasm and excitement. Many traveled a big distance to Orange County during rush hour traffic from the greater part of Los Angeles just to see them perform, including myself as I hardly ever go to The OC for coverage, unless it was someone special or a client paying me to photograph.

Two people holding large posters promoting an event, with one person posing enthusiastically in front of the poster while the other stands nearby. In the background, several people are walking along a street lined with greenery and vehicles.
A person dressed in black is standing on the sidewalk, holding a poster for an event called 'In Call Live 5' beside another person with a similar poster, set against a backdrop of trees and a road during sunset.
A crowd of people waiting in line outside the Observatory venue in Orange County, with a prominent sign for the box office visible.
A crowd of people waiting in line outside the Observatory in Orange County, with a woman smiling and waving in the foreground.
Photo by Don Marcelo

During fiveALIVE’s performance at THE CONSTELLATION ROOM on Friday, September 18, 2026, fans once again screamed and howled and danced and sang non-stop in support of these artists just like the first time they had their show at CATCH ONE LA. Nothing really new to report and to what I have said before in my previous article and review except this time around they filled the space all the way to the back of the music venue, which looked to me as if it was SOLD OUT, but definitely a packed house. Their show was GREAT! Their dancing and choreography was FLAWLESS! Their singing was EXCEPTIONAL. Their songs are RELATABLE to all their fans and music lovers. GREATNESS was seen and heard and experienced by everyone on this night. Even a friend, who is a huge KPOP fan, texted me at the very last minute and made the drive down from LA in rush hour traffic on a Friday night to Orange County since I hyped up fiveALIVE so much. He barely made it in time, but made it to the show all the same. Immediately he became a 4Lifer. Thank you Antonio for coming to the show and supporting fiveALIVE. Welcome to the world of 4Lifers. Shout out to the following Father-Daughter 4Lifers, Lenny and Brooke, whom I met during the meet and greet session in Downtown LA at KOLLAB. Great seeing you guys again. A BIG SHOUT OUT to some of the parents, Rona, Steve, and Elizabeth. Also to my colleague Erin who was there to photograph for the opening act. 

And finally, for me, the highlight of the evening was getting my infamously infamous fistbump selfies with a few of the ladies, captured on my camera of course, as they finished their set and was on their way off the stage but suddenly stopped in front of me seeing my left arm extended with my left hand clenched into a fist and ready for a fist bump and with a camera on my right hand ready to photograph the moment. Thank you Ellie, Ciara, and Nini for my fist bump selfie. Good times and great vibes.

Check out my previous write up and review and report here:

FIVE STARS OUT OF FIVE STARS PERFORMANCE BY ALL AMERICAN FEMALE GIRL GROUP CALLED fiveALIVE AT CATCH ONE LA AND AT KOLLAB LA., BY DON MARCELO

Overall, it was another fun night seeing fiveALIVE, MY 3rd time. It was a BIG PARTY in celebration of the release of their latest single and music video called  “BAD IDEAS.” Check out the official music video below and check out the short video clip I recorded from their performance on this night

fiveALIVE – Bad Ideas (Official Music Video)

SHORT VIDEO CLIP BAD IDEAS LIVE BELOW

FOLLOW fiveALIVE for more as they have several shows lined up for the rest of the year from here to Atlanta and back as I write this report today September 22, 2026:

Website: fivealiveofficial.com

Facebook – Five Alive

Instagram: @fivealiveofficial

Snapchat: @fivealivepov

TikTok – @fivealive_official

X: @fivealivepov

YouTube: @fivealiveofficial

Photo Gallery by © Don Marcelo Photography 2026

A group of five performers singing on stage, surrounded by floating bubbles. They are wearing stylish outfits, with one using a bubble gun.
Five female performers singing on stage with microphones, wearing striking outfits amidst a backdrop of bubbles and stage lights.
A group of five performers singing on stage, each holding a microphone and dressed in stylish outfits with a dramatic lighting backdrop.
A group of five female performers singing on stage, holding microphones and wearing stylish outfits. The background is dark with colorful stage lights.
A group of four female performers singing on stage, wearing stylish outfits and holding microphones, with energetic movements and a spotlight effect in a dark environment.
Five female performers singing on stage with microphones, wearing stylish outfits, under stage lights.
A female performer on stage with one arm raised, surrounded by three dancers in dynamic poses. The performers are dressed in stylish outfits with a dark background, emphasizing the energy of the performance.
A group of four female dancers performing on stage, with one singer holding a microphone while the others are striking dynamic poses. The background is dark, emphasizing their movements and outfits.
A group of five female performers dancing energetically on stage, wearing colorful, stylish outfits and showcasing a dynamic choreography.
A group of five female performers on stage, dressed in stylish, revealing outfits, striking dynamic poses in a dramatic lighting setting.
A dynamic performance scene featuring four female dancers on stage, with one woman in the foreground smiling and holding a microphone, while others are in various poses in the background.
A performer with pink hair sings into a microphone on stage, surrounded by colorful bubbles and a purple-lit background.
A performer on stage holding a champagne bottle amidst a shower of colorful bubbles, with another performer smiling and singing nearby.
A group of female performers dancing energetically on stage, showcasing vibrant costumes with sequins and bold patterns, illuminated by stage lights.
Four dancers performing on stage with energetic movements under colorful lights, dressed in stylish outfits.
A group of performers in stylish outfits dancing energetically on stage under colorful lights.
A dynamic dance performance featuring four women on stage, with dramatic lighting and a focus on movement and expression.
A group of dancers performing on stage under bright lights, showcasing energetic movements and dynamic choreography.
A group of female dancers performing on stage under purple lighting, showcasing energetic movements and diverse poses.
Four female performers singing on stage, dressed in stylish outfits with microphones in hand, during a dynamic live performance.
Five dancers performing on stage, showcasing dynamic movements and stylish costumes in a dramatic, low-light setting.
A group of three female performers dancing on stage during a live concert. They are wearing stylish, revealing outfits and performing energetically under stage lights.
A group of female dancers performing on stage, dressed in stylish outfits with dynamic poses and energetic expressions, illuminated by stage lights against a dark background.
A performer holding a large bubble gun and creating bubbles on stage, with colorful lights and a dark background.
A fashion model walking down a runway under dramatic stage lighting, showcasing a stylish outfit with a confident pose.
A performance scene featuring five women on stage, surrounded by a shower of bubbles. They are dressed in colorful outfits and engaging with microphones and bubble-making equipment under bright stage lights.
A group of five female performers on stage, engaging with the audience while smiling and laughing. One performer is reading from a piece of paper, while the others are dressed in stylish outfits, and a microphone is visible in the foreground.
Four performers on stage, smiling and engaging with the audience while holding microphones. They are dressed in stylish outfits with a mix of denim and accessories.
A group of four female performers on stage, engaging the audience while one holds a microphone and another reads from a piece of paper. They are wearing stylish costumes and are illuminated by stage lights.
Two female performers dancing on stage, holding hands and bending at the waist, with dramatic lighting and a focused audience in the background.

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