The pursuit of happiness... Figuring out LIFE and embracing it as it comes.

Sunday, August 09, 2009

S+S Experience


With awesome dancers, Suhaili and Weijun!

Gala night was great although we didn't win anything (except for our fellow dancer, Suhaili which took home the award for best female dancer for Shades Of The Moon, and best choreographer AND best production for her other piece, Nerds Gone Nuts. Yeah the woman is multi-talented. However I guess Weijun was more disappointed due to the feedback we got from some audience that our dance was rather "artsy". Apparently not many people actually understood the piece. Deeming it as too "deep". Well I guess that's the challenge of being too artistic when the audiences are not. Sometimes you need not crack your head too much to solve the mystery, but just enjoy the art as it is. At the very least for its aesthetic value. Well that's what I think. Art (even paintings in art galleries) always leaves room for personal interpretations.

The art of lights, sound and movements perhaps?

Oh well whatever is it for me, I'm very much happy with the outcome. For me it was the whole experience, the whole package. Since I had no dancing background whatsoever (except salsa) and I just wanted a stage to perform. And the fact that I was an outcast (as nobody actually picked my during the auditions) but Weijun took me in. He told me that everybody who auditioned should deserve a chance and for that I'm just so grateful. Being in the gala night itself was such an honour. And for me working with such professionals like Weijun and Suhaili, I couldn't ask for more as I learnt so many things from them, besides getting to meet new people. Truly, I'm very much inspired by all these talented dancers. They have the talents, the commitment and most importantly the passion to dance!


My debut performance in "Shades Of The Moon". And that my friend, is the block.

Most of the time backstage, I would feel so small and insignificant compared to others in the Short+Sweet Dance. I understand that some of the dancers were trained ballerinas from the age of 5! Others could do headstands, splits, flips, twirls and stunts almost effortlessly which I could only dream of doing. Therefore, I'm only good at what I do, which is the choreography on the block. Oh but it was just so inspiring to see them dance nevertheless! It felt just like in the movies (being backstage) but lesser dramas of course. Dancers getting ready warming up before the show as my nerve creeps up!

Adrenaline pumping 10 minutes before show. From the backstage monitoring screen we could see the audiences as they enter the hall and fill up the seats. The stage manager cues us and the show begins! Nothing else that went through my mind as I stepped up the block and do my 'thang. In mind, all I could think of was "I just needed to get it right, every step, don't screw up!" And add in some soul to each choreographed step (which am still figuring out how!).


Auww.. Backstage with The Moonies.

I'm also thankful I didn't have any wardrobe malfunction the whole time we were on stage as it was just a thinly-strapped white baby doll dress clinging over my shoulders. Thankfully nothing snapped, otherwise it would ended up as a peek-a-boo show! And the white dress I got from Times Square, oh it was just perfect and cheap!

Dressing room 2 : Moons + Nerds + Mamis!

What also made the whole experience most memorable was sharing the same dressing room with a crazy bunch of people, Nerds Gone Nut and Mami Jarum. They are just hilarious! We would laugh our heads off watching Little Rascals together in the dressing room backstage while getting ready for the show. Plus having Fuzzy together in the same competition and same dressing room is just the cherry on top! I think we were destined to get into it together, we auditioned together, we got in together and share the same dressing room together! Although for different dance pieces. But it was fun to have him around and he's such a sweetheart for doing my hair every night before the show! Apparently he had always had a dormant passion for hairstyling since childhood! Just missing was a make up artist!

My hairstylist, Fadzli. Thanks dude for doing my hair!

All in all, it was a wonderful experience for me as I will surely not forget my debut dance performance (not to mention artistic dance!). Besides, I don't know when will I have a chance to do it again. I must say the timing was just perfect. If it was any bigger production I wouldn't have the time to commit due to my work schedules. Indeed it the experience was Short+Sweet!

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