tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15396248688989908052024-02-03T07:54:46.362+08:00Swinging SalseraUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-57838598698455512692013-03-30T13:06:00.001+08:002013-03-30T13:14:51.171+08:00Reflections: Auditions for USS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.rwsentosa.com/Portals/0/RWS%20Revamp/USS/uss_auditionslogo_240x140.jpg"><img border="0" src="http://www.rwsentosa.com/Portals/0/RWS%20Revamp/USS/uss_auditionslogo_240x140.jpg" /></a></div>
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Yesterday I grabbed the opportunity to <a href="http://www.rwsentosa.com/language/en-US/Homepage/ThingsToDo/UniversalStudiosSingapore/Auditions">audition</a> for a casual contract with Universal Studios Singapore (USS), and I think that was one of my worst auditions that I did. So what were the chain of events that led to my downfall in a major audition like this?<br />
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It all started with knowing that my fellow dance scholars were also parade dancers in USS. They mentioned that it was easy to get in, that they just went for it with minimal preparation and got the job. With their stories in mind, I thought it no harm to just go ahead nonchalantly as well since it sounded easy to get in. </div>
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I didn't expect it to go wrong on so many levels.</div>
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Firstly, I'm at that phase in dancing where I want to perfect my technique. My double pirouettes are definitely getting better, and I've increased my flexibility. Secondly, I'm more comfortable performing emo<strike>tive</strike>, contemporary lyrical pieces nowadays, because I think it narrates stories better, and it allows more control. Thirdly, I was lethargic, even though I had an afternoon nap. The wait was horrible. Even though it was scheduled to be at 7 pm, they only called in the parade dancers around 10 pm, and thank goodness my dance friend was nice enough to wait it out with me despite the fact that he didn't want to audition for this job. The combinations of these three factors made me feel like dancing in my comfort zone of slow paced music and really controlled, smooth movements.</div>
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The auditions was the complete opposite. It was all high energy, street jazz style (or a mix of jazz and hip hop), improvisational, wily-smiley, happy-go-lucky which I have lost touch since my Dance Arts recital was over. There was very little time to stretch instead of the ritualistic warm up that I was accustomed to, and I haven't even moved out from hip hop intro classes since the number of students were too little to start a hip hop 1 class. That, and I was too worried about perfecting the choreo that I was flustered that I missed a few counts, and I had no idea how to improvise in terms of hip hop. So I did like some weird beat in the air thing into a capoeira-esque move, and with the second round I failed an attempt at a calypso while busting in some club moves in between to suit the music. I definitely hesitated a lot, so my energy level compared to the other 3 I got grouped with was definitely much smaller. I just hope that my near perfect double pirouettes were my saving grace for the choreography part. </div>
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Oh well, there's always next year now that I know how it's like to audition for something like this. Results only come in around the end of April, so there may still be hope. But for now, I shall distract myself with my final projects of the semester instead of dwell in the fact that this was my most botched up audition in my life.</div>
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Moral of the story? Do your research before any audition. Do not be nonchalant even though it sounds easy.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-65526623138209155192013-03-12T10:11:00.000+08:002013-03-16T23:21:12.208+08:00Trite Trivia: Cynicism and Other Stuff I'm Doing<div style="text-align: center;">
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<strong style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/howcynicalareyouquiz/results/?result=32">You Are 40% Cynical</a></strong></div>
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Generally you give people the benefit of the doubt. But there are exceptions.</div>
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You buy into many of the things that mainstream society believes, but you're not anybody's fool.</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogthings.com/howcynicalareyouquiz/">How Cynical Are You?</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogthings.com/">Work is Hard. Time for Blogthings!</a></div>
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Thought this might be something interesting while I was on the topic of cynicism with my dance partner yesterday. I'm surprised my quiz score is this low though - I guess the only thing I tend to criticise a lot is the Malaysian and Singaporean government, haha (and on occasion, sappy romance like <i>Twilight </i>*shudder*. Then again I should probably come out of the closet and say that I like certain kinds of romances.)<br />
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Most people think that being cynical is a bad thing, which at first I thought it's ridiculous because it's a neutral trait. But after looking up the <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cynical">dictionary definition</a>, I guess the better word for it is healthy scepticism, or being part of the informed public. Sure, I sound really bitter sometimes whenever I crack jokes about politics and whatnot. But I still don't miss out on life even though I have strong views about political news. <br />
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With that out of the way, I'm on my term break from the Developing Artiste Programme! Gosh, my poor shins need rest from all the grand jetes its been doing. But I probably shouldn't let my body slack off too much either. I have to work on my lower abs to gain more spinal flexibility because my choreography demands a sitting up position from lying flat on the floor which I can't do because of a really arched lower back...and a protruding tailbone. Ouch.<br />
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I'm also finally spending more time with family in the evenings. Gosh, with my mom constantly <strike>torturing me</strike> posting pictures up of delicious home cooked meals on Facebook I just find myself missing family time more. Although I've pretty much adapted to eating cheap hawker food (and developing a stronger sense of taste between the different chicken rice I've tried) nothing makes me feel more at home with my mom's cooking.<br />
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Good times for now, and eventually I have to get back to rehearsing for the Wanna Dance Recital coming up on May 25th. It's crunch period for both university and dance, how...nice. I'll pull through though. I'm sure.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-64171935635372589362013-02-13T10:06:00.002+08:002013-02-13T10:10:13.795+08:00Reflections: PowerlessnessI was recalling how my injury affected me and my mood today, how it made me feel useless that I'm able to move around yet unable to dance. I've always feared losing control - control over my mind, body, emotions, situations, relationships, etc. I liked a sense of control. It's one of my ways to assert and confirm to myself that everything is normal, or at least, normal by my standards.<br />
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Nonetheless, ever since my Jumper's knee injury, a part of my control has been lost: my body, and it eventually deteriorated into the control of my mind too. Not that I'm insane or anything - okay, maybe I partially am - but I haven't been as disciplined as I would've liked to because my body isn't in as much control as I want to anymore. Somehow, my mind derives its discipline from knowing that I have to dance, and when I dance, it takes up my time yet gives me a boost in energy in return. So, with this new energy, I use it to create works of art, derive more inspiration, and use that for my BFA course in university. Thus, with the abberation of my body not being able to express itself, my mind shuts itself down and I shrink back into non-productive passive work.<br />
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It's a desolating feeling. The lack of discipline makes me think back to the days when I'm this quiet, reserved individual who is completely self-conscious about the way I walk, talk, and do anything in general. I was scared that everything I did would make me look like a fool, a nincompoop, a waste of space who does nothing but to provoke. I still have thoughts like these nowadays, but I've been able to avoid that chasm for a while. Does anyone relate to what I'm saying or are you also caught in this situation? Let me know in the comments section below.<br />
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However, thank goodness dance made me channel this destructive form of hyper-vigilance into something more beneficial and pull me out of hell's gaping void.<br />
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But it doesn't take away the fact that injuries cannot be controlled. All I can do now is to simply minimize such occurrences. Who knows when there comes the day that my ACL gets torn, or that my kneecaps are ground so much that I can't move them anymore? Fear. I can't let that emotion win. I can't let that get in the way of making the most of my time while I can, while I'm young, while I'm alive and breathing.<br />
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Being a controlling person also makes me feel like a bitch. But that's probably what the damned social media and societal rules establish female control freaks to be.<br />
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<a href="http://www.clker.com/clipart-209320.html" style="font-size: 0.6em;" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/0/f/3/3/13381212421032135578bitch.svg.thumb.png" width="140" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.clker.com/clipart-209320.html" target="_blank">Bitch clipart</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">from <a href="http://www.clker.com/">Clker.com</a></span></div>
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I hate that derogatory word. It's as though it's wrong for a woman to act like a man and be in control. So what? Is society that scared to see someone being able to rule their world? Is society so caught up in their minuscule clockwork lives that they're afraid of someone being able to take control of their lives and carpe diem? I say they're powerless only because they chose to be that way.<br />
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For now, I am living my every second like it's my last - until I have to make choices and decisions again that may affect my lifestyle after graduating from the DAP and university and whatnot.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-5591123607826075592013-01-28T10:25:00.000+08:002013-01-28T10:25:51.784+08:00Reflections: Love from the Dance FloorWell, Valentine's Day is coming soon, and I'm single for the 20th consecutive year in a row during this day <strike>like Undertaker's Wrestlemania streak</strike>. Being within the social dance community for a while, I came to learn that love happens between dancers even on the dance floor. There are about 5 couples that I know of that got together because of salsa dancing.<br />
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In fact, my first love story actually originated from salsa socials too.<br />
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<u>How did it happen?</u><br />
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I think it was just blatant spring fever (the incident happened around March), because all I did was to observe someone who I thought only knew how to dance salsa, dance west coast swing. In fact, he looked so cool from his original dorky appearance when he was swinging that I got twitter-pattered that instant. Somewhere in my head, this equation happened:<br />
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Dorky + Experienced dancer + cool = Adorkable = Dangit I want him so bad</div>
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So there, I admitted it. I like dorks. I like adorkable people. But one thing that would win me over for sure is if I have brain stimulation - it doesn't matter if it's left brain or right brain. Entertain me and I will fall flat head over heels. And you know what? Dancing activates my brains, period. Why do you think I've been dancing for so long?</div>
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<u>What happened next?</u></div>
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The feelings were reciprocated, we dated for about 4 months, but because of circumstances, I was this major worry wart about going into university and how things might change in the future <strike>and being a mommy's girl</strike> I wasn't very sure - and neither was he - about how this kind of relationship should be. Hence it ended there. </div>
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<u>Was it true love?</u></div>
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Within that space time continuum of which these events took place, it's quite safe to say that there was love. However, if I were to look back at this present coordinates of space time, I would probably say it was infatuation. I unintentionally built a mirage image of myself in his head, and vice versa. Sometimes these memories feel vivid as I find myself sitting in places we used to hang out. Sometimes the heart wants to feel what it wants to feel. But my little love story is just one of the many that had happened because of dance.</div>
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So, here's my question to you, dear reader. Do you have a love story or know of a love story that happened because of dance? </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-71489368096227374712013-01-26T19:06:00.002+08:002013-01-26T19:06:59.459+08:00Reflections: Enough of Self-Loathing!Well, I've gotten a major injury (relatively speaking from my own experience) and I'm out from dancing for 2 or 3 weeks. Patellar tendonitis is a pain in the butt, but at least I got my motivation back for doing stuff outside of dance.<br />
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It's been a week since my injury, and I'm on my 5th day of rehab. There's at least 9 more days to go. I'm working hard at those quad exercises, along with some eccentric exercises like heel drops and all. Hopefully after finishing my art projects I could get back to T-shirt designing again.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-91553016811285703482013-01-19T17:03:00.000+08:002013-01-19T17:03:00.270+08:00Exciting Events: Una Noche En HavanaWhoa, I've gotten quite a handful of event updates recently.<br />
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Una Noche En Havana aka A Night In Havana is organised by Singapore Management University's (SMU) Caderas Latinas, SMU's salsa club.<br />
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The event will feature a dramatic narrative by the Caderas Latinas. The setting is 1950, Havanna, Cuba. Budding dancers have gathered at the Tropicana Club to compete in the reputable Tropicana annual salsa competition to compete for a rare prize - a chance to join the esteemed Bailadores Dance Troupe. However, the Mafia has an interest in the competition, and their intentions are unknown. How will their actions influence the outcome of the salsa competition? Get down to the event and you will find out!<br />
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The event will take place on 7:30 pm 8th February, 2013, at SMU T-Junction. Social dancing will start at 9 pm.<br />
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This sounds like a very unique take on organising a salsa event, as I have yet to come across a group that would narrate a theatrical storyline using salsa as a theme. Best of all, the admission is <u>free</u>! Truly a rare opportunity to watch drama being fused with a much beloved dance form.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-19353241098308125362013-01-18T13:49:00.001+08:002013-01-18T13:50:09.814+08:00Trite Trivia: Support these Dancers' Mission!What do you get when two friends decide to challenge each other into getting the best abs within 100 days?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>SIXPACK SHOWDOWN!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>*electric guitar strum*</b></span><br />
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Join Derrick and Eugene as they challenge each other into different cardio workouts and a serious diet in order to achieve the best sixpack they've got within 100 days. You'll definitely want to go <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SixpackShowdown">"Like" their FB page</a> as they share their journey through web entries along with fABulous nutrition facts <strike>like the numbers you get at the side of cereal boxes.</strike><br />
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Previously, I did mention something about Mike Chang's training routine for increased core strength and I'm glad they're using it - as you can see it is indeed intense! If you missed that post, you can still get <a href="http://aad28w-0ze1qcq7dqajhuqdlk2.hop.clickbank.net/">Mike Chang's Sixpack Shortcut program</a> here. This challenge is a very interesting take as you're actually able to watch - publicly - how they're doing thus far. It's been 5 days now, so you'd definitely want to show some demand and ask how they're doing by commenting on their Facebook page.<br />
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They're also doing this in conjunction with <a href="http://www.swingvitation.com/">Swingvitation 2013</a>, so ladies, you would expect to see two (or more*) muscular men on the social dance floor during April this year.<br />
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I hope you guys can take your time to like their FB page, because they will reveal their "before" bodies if they hit 150 FB likes. That will definitely be quite a sight to catch, so what are you waiting for? Go show your support for them now!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*They've also set up two teams to train together and aggregate the best quantity and quality of abs. This is going to be interesting.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-87259851734073576502013-01-16T10:17:00.000+08:002013-01-16T10:17:58.403+08:00Video Vault: Frankenstein tapping experiment<center>
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So I recently found out that iMovie '09 can create split screens in the advanced features...goodness I had to just let my creative juices flow. I must really say that mix media performances can be quite tricky to execute. At the end of the day, this talent cum camera woman cum director was just exhausted. I don't even know how some of the youtubers do it like MysteryGuitarMan and Kurt Schneider, they must have had a big team or something.</center>
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The last few seconds in the vid didn't come out as strong as I wanted to. I wasn't very sure why. </center>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-15747840864164151872013-01-15T12:52:00.000+08:002013-01-15T12:52:47.916+08:00Reflections: On Being HumbleIt's pretty much common sense for everyone to be humble. When we're young, we're told by our teachers to be humble because there's always going to be someone better than you, in Sunday school, we're told that being humble is a virtue. Yet, in our adulthood, we sometimes forget this simple merit.<br />
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I recently came across <a href="http://tapping2college.com/about-joshua-johnson-tap-dancing-on-nyc-trains-to-pay-for-college/">Joshua Johnson's story</a>. He busks with tap dancing in NYC train rides to pay for his college funds. He's been featured in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=reMnpgTbuJM">Ellen Degeneres</a>, and his skills are quite impeccable for someone who has been tap dancing for only 6 years. I guess it's really in the drive that allows someone to learn quickly and get over the plateaus.<br />
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Anyway, back on the subject at hand. As I gain experience as a dancer that explores many different genres, I have the tendency to forget basic etiquette, especially in dances where I consider myself an "intermediate" level student. I form dance cliques, and then get comfortable with the same people you see every time. Then, almost on autopilot, I shut off people who are new to the class. I don't know if it's got anything to do with me being an introvert or not, but this behaviour definitely needs correction. I'm trying to correct it with my west coast swing classes now with the exploded classroom size. I have to accept that people come from different dance backgrounds, and some don't even have a dance background at all. This should especially apply in social dances: no one wants to dance with an arrogant twit. I've at least complimented two guys on the social dance floor last week even though they were beginners.<br />
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I always find myself more encouraging to my classmates in tap than in my other dances, and I don't mind revisiting basics again and again just to make sure that my sounds always come out correctly. I remember once lying that I only picked up the wing steps much later than a girl in my class, and used that little story to encourage her and give her hope that she can indeed surpass other people's skill level if she works hard at it. <strike>But still, teasing people by showing off can garner funny reactions.</strike><br />
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The same also applies to when I'm a complete beginner. In my ballet and contemporary dance classes, though I do focus in class, I was still able to socialise around with my classmates. I must say that my contemporary classmates are really enthusiastic - they've already formed a whatsapp group and are starting to talk about dance like crazy. In the future, I hope we can be welcoming to the newer people in our open classes, and act like we're all in the same level, with the same goal in mind, "Have fun in dance."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-26058789134944239302013-01-12T11:02:00.000+08:002013-01-12T11:02:33.326+08:00Exciting Events: DanceWorks 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The only anti-drug dance competition in Singapore is back with a more interesting theme for dance groups to express themselves. "Choreograph you life" is very open to interpretation - you can take it literally to narrate your life, or it could even mean you trying to pave the way of your life, hence "choreographing" your life.<br />
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Dance Works! is a competition aimed at youths to promote a healthy drug-free lifestyle through dancing. This is National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA) and Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB)'s 15th year of organising this dance event, with the competition standards being raised higher every year.<br />
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There are three categories to compete in. Category 1 is for students in primary schools and youths under 13. Category 2 is for students in secondary schools and youths between the ages 13-17. Category 3 is an open category for youths under age 25. There isn't a restricted genre of dance for this particular competition as you are judged by originality, technique and relevance to the anti-drug theme. In fact, some past winners have taken up cultural themes like Chinese and Indian dance and fused it into their choreography. There has yet to be a tap dancing troupe in this competition, which is a shame, really. So if there are any salseros, salseras, swingers or any other dancers who want to compete and show their finesse in their dance, no one is stopping you!<br />
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Last year's competition had 95 teams participating, so this year there may be more teams competing. It's definitely going to be tough when you have nearly 100 teams battling it out for a few spots in the semi-finals, and eventually, the finals. But it will be worth it, as the prizes are very attractive: the winners of category 1 wins $3000, category 2 winners walk away with $4000, and category 3 winners will get a whopping $5500!<br />
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Registration for the competition closes at Wednesday, 23 January 2013. The competition period is between February to April. Venue TBC.<br />
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Meanwhile, you can drop by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/liveitloud.sg">Live it Loud's Facebook page</a> here.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-87473554810220201102013-01-11T13:10:00.001+08:002013-01-11T13:10:12.897+08:00Exciting Events: Swingvitation 2013 Teaser Trailer<center>
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Here it is! Presenting the official teaser trailer for Swingvitation 2013. I don't know about you but I think I shot out of my seat when I first saw the video. What's a Media student got to do when they see a nicely edited video? </center>
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The video pretty much covered all the highlights that will be happening in Swingvitation 2013 from 25th to 28th April. I've previously written a <a href="http://swingingsalsera.blogspot.sg/2012/11/exciting-events-swingvitation-2013.html">blogpost on Swingvitation</a> that covers more details on what's happening. The price for the full event pass is $435, and individual workshops are priced at $55. More info for the different party prices are coming soon. </center>
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In the meantime, be sure to practice all the techniques and concepts in West Coast Swing to give yourself an edge for the J&J!</center>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-24779618053929514332013-01-07T12:56:00.000+08:002013-01-07T12:56:03.628+08:00Exciting Events: Singapore International Bachata & Latin Festival<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/290587404347420/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Singapore International Bachata and Latin Festival" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOt3qM4gFno0E8LZKb16l8LbF1KJffv4CIGuToUQLsIRA-HT9XELqcRxRaAFTY7J9HkVEXv8s4CdaqClsJmYMnars-vmKDtSdTnCkNLmnWkJjJoPctCrQ8qEW8vFkQfQkGNfEoO920ly0/s1600/373666_290587404347420_281760689_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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Dear Singapore, En Motion organised another exciting event that is coming your way! The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/290587404347420/">Singapore International Bachata and Latin Festival</a> aka En La Pasion would take place on 25th to 27th January. So it's another weekend chock full of social dancing to the wee hours in the morning at SCAPE, which is located conveniently at the heart of Orchard Road.</div>
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This event, like its predecessors, will have an <a href="http://www.enlapasion.sg/bachatachampionship.html">Asian Bachata Championship</a>. There are up to $1300 in cash rewards and event passes to be won in the championship, and the winners will get the chance to represent Singapore in the World Bachata Championship. These attractive prizes are not to be missed!</div>
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There are more than 20 local and international artiste in the event conducting 20+ workshops over the weekend. The opportunity to learn under the masters of latin dancing is hard to come by, and what are the chances that you get to social dance with an international artiste unless you're at the event's party itself?</div>
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Not only that, my university's salsa student performance team will be showcasing their work on Saturday night. Be sure to cheer them on and show your support for young talents!</div>
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There will be a Salsa Jack and Jill competition on Sunday, so this is a chance for you to show your salsa dancing finesse to a new face. There isn't a clear indication on whether or not there are different levels for the J&J unlike Swingvitation with categories like newcomer, novice, and intermediate. I would have to enquire about that soon. (Nevertheless, I still don't feel ready to take on a salsa J&J at this point as I still have many aspects in salsa dancing that I need to work on like body movement and taking smaller steps.)</div>
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You can still get an early-bird ticket price for the event at $299 by January 24th. The full event pass will cost $319 when you purchase it at the door. So if you're certain that you will attend it, be sure to grab your tickets by then! You may purchase them online at the <a href="http://www.enlapasion.sg/event_pass.html">En La Pasion</a> website.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-75180940348701530612013-01-02T23:37:00.001+08:002013-01-03T00:01:20.440+08:00Reflections: Unfamiliarity breeds consternationWhile I should be embracing new faces for a dance scene that is expanding quickly, namely West Coast Swing, I found myself quite terrified of the exploded class size due to the upcoming Swingvitation event happening in April this year. I know I should be embracing change, but this is still quite a shock from the previous familiar faces that I'm used to seeing every Wednesday for my WCS dance class. <br />
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There's the phrase that goes like this, "familiarity breeds contempt." This is true only to a certain extent. It's actually comforting to be around familiar faces and doing familiar patterns. The contemptuous feeling comes from repeating the same stuff over and over, but I trust my teachers and classmates enough to know that this is a suitable speed of progression for their and my dance ability. For one, I still have many bad habits to get rid of, and one of the major ones are the way I walk, and another is the way I anchor: it still feels too heavy for the lead, but I managed to find the root in which this bad habit stems. It's mainly because I fear losing the connection that I feel the need to pull tightly on the lead's hand. Hence my teacher subtly teases and said that people like me anchor to make a statement like, "I'm here, I'm anchoring goddamnit!"<br />
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Anyways, having new people in the classroom threw me off guard, and the range of skill between classmates varied greatly, perhaps they had different schools of thought and thus their lead felt really different from normal. I'm also talking about people I don't see on the social dance floor too. I only recognised one out of the strangers whom I have danced on socials, and the rest were completely unfamiliar to me. It is also in dancing with people that I find out a few traits that I get particularly pedantic about with a partner: respect for proximity, and sense of tempo. These two things I look out for is mainly because of how I was nurtured dance wise and lifestyle wise. I am thankful of the presence of the regular goers that I've formed great friendships with, and knowing how we grew together eased my anxiety in the classroom. <br />
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I feel that my shyness is creeping in face of the strangers I see in class, but I hope that I can resolve my fears soon so that I can enjoy my west coast swing classes again. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-41832960554727717992013-01-01T13:30:00.001+08:002013-01-01T13:30:03.423+08:00Fashion Fiesta: New Looks for the New Year<center>
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If there's anything you can kick off your new year with a bang, it's to get a new look! I've done my post Christmas shopping in Australia, and I'm loving some of the trends that are found there. There's lots of laces, floral designs, and baring the midriff, because it's summer and people would burn if there isn't any ventilation in the Land Down Under.<br />
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I got myself an A-lined floral skirt in a geometric pattern, but an animal print skirt can be matched with a black, or dull coloured top easily. For example, a black lace tank. Mine was layered and shorter, but the closest I could find on amazon was the one listed above. They come in red, green, blue, and black, but I think the most versatile colours would be red and black.<br />
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Studs on a chiffon top also seems to be trending now, and I got one in khaki. The studs on the collar makes a delicate piece look like a standout. It screams edgy, yet feminine. Perfect for one who like the femme fatale image. This would go well with black tights, black skirts, or even just plain jeans. You can even top it off with a few leather accessories like cuffs, leather rings, bracelets and whatnot.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=333333&fc1=FFFFFF&lc1=EF3F17&t=swingingsalsera-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0066POKM2" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=333333&fc1=FFFFFF&lc1=E95216&t=swingingsalsera-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0034L9M9M" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=333333&fc1=FFFFFF&lc1=E73F18&t=swingingsalsera-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0035WTMF4" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></center>
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For those who just want something sporty, you can also don the cropped off top and look just as trendy and sexy over low rise bottoms. These activewear would be great for classes that does aerobics like my Jazz and dance technique classes.<br />
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Capris have been around since the 1960s, but cuffed capris are pretty recent. These 3/4 trousers in spandex can be easily pulled up into pedal pusher's length, and would look good with hip hop classes. Capris in stretchy material can also be easily worn for jogging or cardio exercises. It's better to hunt down capris on the cheaper end of the scale if you're looking for something that stretches but won't hurt your wallet. Spandex in general can endure body movements, but still, every fabric has its limits.<br />
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Personally, I have to probably shop for more sports bras to wear under my tank tops, and for those with a bigger bust, it's often hard to find sports bras that can stop all that unnecessary movement. So far this sports bra had good reviews, and the pricing is fairly reasonable. And it also never hurts to even add a few padding to your shopping list too, because sports bras can also look good on its own, but some bras don't come with padding, which can be a cause of concern.<br />
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Wow, it's been a while since I talked about apparel in my blog at all. Hope you had fun browsing and swinging around online!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-8151905266615416872012-12-30T11:28:00.002+08:002012-12-30T11:29:07.998+08:00Reflections: 2012 Wrap-upIt's been my most eventful year thus far. Other than the fact that I started this blog around the end of May this year and got into a dance scholarship, it's also the year where I forged new bonds with people I have least expected to have as well. From the salsa team to my current dance scholars, this is a year I won't forget for sure.<br />
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<img alt="Swinging Salsera wrap up" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrdGTs2OwRDkRvv5yEcFwmbEAdJI7UitmRd89XT52r63gmnhYOO-cdDkXaxT1YDWOXnhz9eBZ73hJWh9uxpNK8Y5au1sIcKHfYe4sAfKiDxb-7EOf3C9avDyWGlfZafaqKRX0y0DS6Yw/s320/wrap+up.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<u><b>Major events in 2012:</b></u><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">February-</span><br />
My first salsa dance class and salsa social, ever. I had a good time dancing with guys who were beginners like me (or maybe even advanced guys disguised as beginners just to make me feel better.) I was warming up to a supportive community of dancers in Jitterbugs Swingapore, a dance studio that is versatile in dance styles, pioneers of Lindy Hop, and possibly Singapore's biggest dance studio ever. You can't miss it, it's at the Basement level of <i>The Grand</i> Cathay. While movie goers are upstairs enjoying their date, dancers are downstairs <strike>plotting to take over the world</strike> practicing hard for performances.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">April-</span><br />
I was introduced to west coast swing during March, but only started taking lessons in April. I recall getting my first west coast swing social dance either at the end of March or early April, and of all the details I could remember, I remember dancing in close hold to the song Hate that I love You by Rihanna. After that I was slowly introduced to the idea of tension in west coast swing, and they felt different than salsa. Usually salsa's tempo is really quick, so the push and pull is always easy to miss, whereas in west coast swing, you have a lot of stretch in order to feel the lead and follow. Then again, it was my beginning months into partner dancing, so I was still trying to grasp the concept of lead and follow, and how the feelings are completely different in both.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">May-</span><br />
Watching Jitterbugs' Wanna Dance Recital got me pumped to get better in both salsa and west coast swing, and it also got me excited to perform and chip in a few choreography ideas for my tap dance recital. The highlight was definitely the ballet-jazz number with Zelia, Nicholas, Wei Cheng and Yee Shan. It was hilarious to watch, yet they displayed technical prowess in dance too. A special shoutout to Fen for the awesome choreography.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">September-</span><br />
I revisit my love-hate relationship with solo dances outside of tap as I step into my first Jazz class with Jitterbugs. All I can say is that the teaching here is much different than what I had experienced 5 years ago. But that's maybe because I was in the kids class, and the teacher was probably more focused in fun choreography rather than technique. I probably wasn't that good, technique-wise, in the advanced <strike>kids</strike> teens class, and I doubt there was any across the floor work back then. This jazz class was a big sucker punch, as I found myself face to face with a crunch routine that lasted for 3 and a half minutes, and to top that off, planks...I was trembling by the end of that class, and I even suffered from delayed onset muscle soreness. But thanks to the support I got, I decided to audition for the Developing Artiste Programme 2 days later, and I got in!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">November-</span><br />
The Dappies before me perform their graduation show this month, and the fresh Dappies and I were backstage helping them out. Initially, I was quite pressured by the fact that their 10% looked like my 60% - their dance technique seemed like an external limb for all of them! But then I took the time to digest and dissect each of their moves, and decided maybe it can be done with practice during a year or two's time. Needless to say it was an inspiring show as well, and I can't wait to go out there to be like them, or better than them. You'll never know, as aesthetics are generally subjective.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">December-</span><br />
This was the month I had most fun with - performing a tap number, bonding with the salsa team, swinging around with the Mosaic people, and then ending it off by putting on weight and losing my hard earned abs. Damn, I had too much fun for 10 days, and I have to get back in shape for 2013. Oh well, at least I think my demi pointes are getting better. My feet still needs to support my weight though, because my arch looks good on tendus, but not on releves. However, I'm still glad to say that I've definitely lived my life fully in 2012.<br />
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Here's to 2013, everyone. Keep swinging on!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-55026603732768994402012-12-20T16:08:00.000+08:002012-12-20T16:08:00.221+08:005 Things to do while Dance Studios are ClosedThe end of year holidays are here! Which means studios are closing and dancers are left to fend for themselves. No space, no giant mirrors, no stage, no training, and more importantly, no audiences and acquaintances to accompany you through the cold, cold, wintery months (ok that was a relative term. If you count rainy days as cold, then my statement was correct.) So what has a dancer got to do during these lonely days, you ask? Fret not, I came up with a survival list that you could take up in order to kill time until the dance studios reopen again next year!<div>
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<li><b>Keep working on your muscles</b><br />It's bad enough that we're going to fall behind on our dancing skills during the inactive months where bears hibernate. So why not keep to a routine to work on strengthening your core muscles (and other muscles if required) and stretching your tendons to reach the splits and whatnot. Do crunches every morning you wake up, scissor kicks, planks, splits, arches, toe-touching, calf and hamstring stretching, you get the catch here. It's just a matter of finding a spot for you to do such things, and imagining yourself in the studio.<br /><br />I know it can feel a bit claustrophobic, but don't be fooled. You also only take up a portion of the studio space to do your warm ups and aerobics. <i>Don't attempt</i> any choreography work unless you're abso-bloody-lutely certain your room is big enough for you to unleash your dance lines of fury. You don't want any accidents occurring in your room do you? Trust me on this one, I cartwheeled in my room before and I broke a glass panel, and ended up having 7 stitches on my left foot. It was a sight for sore eyes.<br /></li>
<li><b>Take dance photos</b><br />If you're travelling elsewhere in the world, you could practice your lines by posing in front of a monument, cathedral, basilica, castle, plaza, or any other place of interest. When I mean pose, I don't mean those silly jump shots that somehow became trendy over the past decade. Disguise a ballet pose as a touristy pose so you don't get stares. I am not sure how I'm gonna do it, but I'll find a way when I go to Perth for the next few days.<br /><br />However, if you really must jump, then strut your double attitudes, fan kicks, a la secondes, piques, and the like. Cute poses are too mainstream.<br /><b><br /></b></li>
<li><b>Haunt clubs that play jazz music, blues music, salsa music, etc. etc.</b><br />Places like Blu-Jazz, Tab, Switch play music that are suitable to swing to. Union Square also has places that play salsa music too. So if you're staying in Singapore in the holidays, go grab your dance friends and check out different clubs, have a feel of their music, and see if you like it. Then, bust a move with your fellow partner dancers and then use that to catch the attention of that cute guy/girl standing there with their buddy.<br /><br />Some of my teachers also mentioned that there are kitchen sink drills that you could do. So practice those isolations, steps, ballet technique and whatnot. Then you can go chat up the bartender, sway your hips, do tendus, work on grounding your footwork, while keeping your upper body quiet and still. If you get weird looks from people behind you, you're doing it right, but if the barista is the one shooting you the weird look, you know you're doing something wrong.<br /></li>
<li><b>Spend time with family</b><br />It's pretty self explanatory. If you've been dancing and neglecting your family, it's time to shift your focus away from your narcissistic tendencies - I mean, technique and lines in dance - into your immediate family members. Quality and bonding times are a must during the holiday season. Everybody falls back to their families eventually, and you don't want to sour any relationships with your family members.<br /></li>
<li><b>Eat, shop, and do things normal people are meant to do</b><br />There are some days we kind of just forget how non-dancer people live: eat out, go on shopping sprees, go to a theme park, grab a book. Now is a good time to catch up with your other non-dancing friends and do some festive shopping and eating and having a good time. You know what they say: get a life! What better time to do it than now.<br /><br />But you should be warned: don't get a "life" that becomes too addictive ie: clubbing and bar hopping. Switching back to your dancer mode will be hard when the studio reopens by then. So it's best to still be a dance-a-holic if you're serious about maintaining your dancer lifestyle. I know I will, because of my dance scholarship.</li>
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With that, I shall end this blogpost by saying I will be disappearing from the face of the Internet until I return on 29th December. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and keep swinging on!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-80674666788068226172012-12-18T12:39:00.000+08:002012-12-18T12:39:10.463+08:00Reflections: The Pressure to Look GoodIt's inevitable that dancers constantly face the pressure of having to look good all the time, especially when they have an audience. They'll feel constantly watched, and have to be vigilant with every move that they do. Any misplaced finger or shaky ankle can break the lines and render their photo-moment imperfect, and they'll beat themselves up for it.<br />
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I'm beginning to get this sensation too every time in dance class. At the choreography sections of each class, we are often divided to smaller groups to perform the steps. I feel watched. Although the audience is a small one, I still feel the need to go full out and ensure that every move is done correctly and with pinpoint precision. What contributes to this pressure further is when you know that there are seasoned dancers in the same class as you. It could be really demotivating when your style, lines, technique and expression aren't as good as theirs, as they set the bar really high.<br />
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Knowing that you probably won't be able to do justice to the choreography is probably what hurts more. In the more advanced classes I take such as lyrical jazz, I find that my dance vocabulary is still very limited. My body isn't strong enough to carry axis turns properly, I can't do barrel roll turns, illusion turns, fouettes, back attitudes, arabesques etc etc.<br />
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There are also times where you feel that you're lost in your head in your dance comfort zone. This is the time when your instructor will probably call you out, "Amanda, turn out more," "Squeeze your inner thighs," "Don't sickle your feet", "Collect your Passe", "Your toes are slightly clawed", "Louder heel sounds", "Sharper movements." These comments abruptly snap you out of the clouds and ground you back to Earth, where you realise your imperfections and have to adjust accordingly. But when overdone and hyper-vigilance switches on, your train of thought catches every imperfection your doing, that sometimes you feel like you want to stop whatever you're doing. But when you're going across the floor, you're not allowed to stop. Sometimes, it's better to let subtle details like your derailing ankles, misaligned tailbone, and stiff fingers slip away, only to come back on work on them at a later time.<br />
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The only times when I feel that my comfort zone can exceed my expectation to look good is during my tap classes. Then again, I've been in tap for about 13 years now, so it's like an extended limb to me. That way I can always put on that sprezzatura look whenever I'm in class.<br />
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I can only hope that I'm diligent enough to strengthen my core, work the inner thighs, and maintain a correct posture through the holidays. I should probably do some ballet poses and exercises to work on the lines too.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-23468589420868734632012-12-14T16:53:00.000+08:002012-12-18T23:14:04.543+08:00Tips: The Importance of a Strong Core<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Having a strong core is vital to most dances we
learn. The core is what keeps us from being able to do spins without falling
off, hold our pose, and do isolations. It is also where the center of gravity is, and joins our upper body to our lower body anatomically. If your core is strong, you're likely to be able to hold yourself together for complex techniques, and you can have better dance lines in general because you're able to control your extensions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I personally have a few set routines to do core
exercises and strengthen them, and so far, I have felt that my dance techniques have
looked better because of my ability to hold the core and position them in awkward angles if the choreography calls for it. But in order to improve
and feel more grounded and secure as you turn, flat back forwards and backwards,
dip and do aerial patterns, it’s important to keep training them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Many dancers I know recommend doing crunches to
5 minute long songs, and even planking for one full minute, and then going on
the sides to work on the oblique muscles respectively. But sometimes it’s
better to have more dynamic exercises in order to utilize your body to its
maximum potential and mobility.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some of these exercises include lifting your
legs into a cycling motion as you crunch, lifting your elbows to touch your
knees in the process. Then, you can speed up this exercise, but it’s important
to keep your legs straight out as much as possible throughout the exercise. The important aspect here is to maintain that power in each set of exercises you do.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are programs out there that provide more
dynamic exercises too. A good example would be the <a href="http://aad28w-0ze1qcq7dqajhuqdlk2.hop.clickbank.net/">Six Pack Shortcut</a> system. I’ve
tried one for my chest and back muscles and the burn is insane, but it’s
vital to work on the back muscles along with the core so that poses like the
back attitude and arabesque can look nice and well aligned.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mike Chang is great at explaining the exercises
and you can do these pretty quickly, but you must make sure that you’re really,
really pushing yourself as you’re doing the exercises. If not, you won’t get
the results as quickly as expected.</div>
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Make sure you stretch those muscles out when you're done with the exercises. As dancers, we should aim to develop lean muscles instead of bulky ones. That way we can look really graceful and petite, yet surprise people by our strength.</div>
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<a href="http://aad28w-0ze1qcq7dqajhuqdlk2.hop.clickbank.net/"><span style="font-size: large;">Grab the Six Pack Shortcut System Now!</span></a></div>
</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-59367709151852840372012-12-10T11:08:00.000+08:002013-01-07T11:03:13.177+08:00Bite-Sized Story: A Letter To SantaDear Santa,<br />
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I've become a more productive individual this year, so I hope those are some good brownie points to put me up on the Nice list. And of all the bad things I've done this year, I hope you can forgive me. Like that dispute in a group project that I wish didn't happen, but happened anyway because I was such a non-conformist.<br />
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What I want for Christmas this year, is more dance clothes and dance ability. Yes, Santa. I am clearly obsessed with this new hobby (or rather, revived hobby) and would do anything to excel in it. But I don't want this to turn into a competitive edge that would take away the enjoyment of it, and risk getting me into the Naughty list. I also want eventual financial freedom in order to support myself in this hobby, because for some events, it will require a lot of capital in order for me to push my dancing skill to the next level (travelling and all that, you know?)<br />
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I also want to make sure that the camaraderie between my dance scholars are maintained, so that whatever we plan for the graduation show, it will be smooth sailing. I wish that everyone gets their opportunity to shine in whatever they're good at. I can sense that each one of us has a speciality, and it is indeed, a gift on its own. Thank you for that, Santa Claus.<br />
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Santa, I also hope you like mug cake. It's a new recipe that I've tried out and whenever you're tired, you can grab some of those to fuel yourself again. Yeah, not all dancers have a strict diet unlike what the media shows them. Even the previous DAP cohort resorted to eating McDonalds sometimes, because it's fast food (as in, really fast, which saves a lot of time, and allows me to do homework in between dance practice.)<br />
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So Santa, I hope I can get what I ask for this Christmas. My new year's resolution hasn't been planned out properly yet, but I will get to it eventually.<br />
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Cordially yours,<br />
Amanda<br />
Jitterbugs DAP scholar and Swinging Salsera bloggerUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-30356306220951656002012-12-04T09:02:00.000+08:002012-12-04T09:02:16.227+08:00Reflections: My tap number with Dance ArtsI still have yet to recover from my performance high (and soreness.) Gosh, that fleeting moment on stage again becomes something that would etch on my mind for a very long time. Although my brain decided to fart at the first verse of the song, the rest pretty much went smoothly.<br />
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I wasn't too happy that I was under-rehearsed, but I guess my projection was fine (I think I winked at a couple of kids sitting at the front row, lol) But hey, 10 months of training with the routine paid off quite nicely.<br />
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It didn't matter that the hand styling was still pretty foreign to me, it didn't matter that I screwed up a bit, it didn't matter that our entire group was a bit skewed to the left of the stage near the finale. All that mattered is that we sounded so good and in sync, and the applause we had was phenomenal! I mean, yeah, second last item of the show - who wouldn't forget?<br />
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I'm going to miss my time in Dance Arts now that I'm fully devout into Jitterbugs. The past 4 1/2 years of dancing tap with them has been fun, and I learnt a lot from the Al Gilbert syllabus there. But it's about time I started pushing myself further and beyond in my tap dance, along with my other dance genres too. Wanna Dance recital 2013 here I come!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLq6s9xd1fjd21-VtsOAor26MT23AoD_GNhPV9pg_N1aAiqffwIqE8y5LRZ2S8AgeV6IrrBV54vZyvYBfarHChb-KwAX2UsNBFrTse54pUyz9E0O77PC4P1oRKZO2Rp_Hoz2n4l1bNF4/s1600/IMG_3492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLq6s9xd1fjd21-VtsOAor26MT23AoD_GNhPV9pg_N1aAiqffwIqE8y5LRZ2S8AgeV6IrrBV54vZyvYBfarHChb-KwAX2UsNBFrTse54pUyz9E0O77PC4P1oRKZO2Rp_Hoz2n4l1bNF4/s400/IMG_3492.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-40855194430749564692012-11-30T10:12:00.003+08:002012-11-30T10:12:57.751+08:00Video Vault: Benji & Torri's new showcase routine<center>
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My mind is officially blown. Did I just see an illusion turn at 0:37? A high fan kick at 1:04? What was that crazy trick around 2:35? Did I also just see them make dubstep look good? </center>
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I'm fangirling from behind this screen, guys. I really enjoy their sharp movements, their projection, and just that oozing chemistry from their routine. I also respect Torri as she's also able to be the base for Benji for one of the tricks they did, it's different from the traditional role where the guys always have to be the ones lifting the girl. Credits where it's due, Benji's done a really good job at hitting the stunts at the right time and whatnot. </center>
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It didn't really matter that they didn't employ as much swing technique in this routine, but everything about this choreography is just astonishing!</center>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-72631328967146691452012-11-25T07:28:00.001+08:002012-11-25T07:28:08.021+08:00Reflections: My First Tap JamIt's been a week since my first tap jam, and I must say that it's still an unforgettable experience. Tappers of all levels went in and felt the music that was playing, and basically improvised on rhythms that came as we played to the music.<br />
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I love that no matter what your skill level is in tap, you're still able to draw inspiration from each person in the circle. Sometimes during your turn to tap, you may run out of ideas on which technique to employ. But the less experienced one next to you can suddenly come up with a sweet riff that you just have to continue the beat and then add your flair to those steps. I've been inspired by Bryan's syncopated beats - his experimental style and sharp skill makes me want to push my tapping to the next level. My next aim would be to dance "out of beat" and then hit the down beat again at an unpredictable moment.<br />
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Tapping is also a dance that I feel is really versatile like West Coast Swing, maybe even more versatile than WCS because there's no restriction on tappers to do only 4/4 songs. I remember my old tap syllabus from ISTD had waltz, 7/4, and even the current Al Gilbert syllabus I'm in has 5/4 time. As long as you're able to count the beats of the song, you're good to go.<br />
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All in all, I can't wait till someone plans out another tap jam session - I could really work more on experimenting with syncopation. I found out that my favourite moves were flash steps and toe stands (like en pointe.) Yeah, I'm a flashy showoff. I should tone that down a bit so I don't scare off newcomers!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-37599179700392767012012-11-20T18:06:00.000+08:002012-11-20T18:06:32.416+08:00Exciting Events: Swingvitation 2013<a href="http://swingvitation.wordpress.com/">Swingvitation 2013 - The Asian West Coast Swing Open</a> is happening soon in Singapore!<br />
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Last year's Swingvitation took Singapore by storm with WCS champions Jordan Frisbee and Tatiana Mollman-Bennett leading the workshops and Chuck Brown guest judging for Jack & Jill competitions. <br />
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Next year would be bigger and better. Chuck, Jordan and Tatiana are returning to Singapore, along with Jessica Cox and Ben Morris, both of them WCS champions as well! Guest artistes from Australia, Brady & Libby, will be joining this event too.<br />
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From 25th to 28th April, there will be 20+ workshops and non-stop West Coast Swing parties all around. The J&J categories now feature points from the World Swing Dance Council, the first to happen in Asia, which means you can use these points to participate in international swing events with your accumulated points!<br />
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Early bird ticket price is at $390 SGD for a full pass, which will end at December 31. From then on, it's $435 SGD after the new year. You can get these tickets at Jitterbugs Swingapore or Mosaic Dance. But hurry! The studios close near the end of December and won't open again till the new year.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-26999171189621609392012-11-18T16:14:00.000+08:002012-11-18T22:44:02.597+08:00Trite Trivia: Dancing Makes You Smarter!Upon unleashing my curiousity on the google search bar, I managed to come across an article written by a member of Stanford's social dance club.<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://socialdance.stanford.edu/syllabi/smarter.htm">You can read the article here</a></span></i><br />
<i><br />
</i> For those who don't know, dementia is the loss of thinking, memorising, and attentive ability as a person ages, and Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia.<br />
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Social partner dancing requires you to think on your feet, and that's how one can continue to use their brains and reduce the risk of getting dementia. While the article argues that the follows benefit the most from social dancing, I must say that this doesn't mean the leads don't benefit as much as the follows. In fact, in my opinion, leads benefit more, because they have to be able to adapt into the follow's position and movement, and whatever move they had in mind may have to be changed suddenly to ensure that the follow can get into a different position that the lead wants. Follows can also "switch off" their brain while dancing, if they aren't willing to play to the music and just stick to the basics (which is a personal problem when I dance West Coast Swing.) Therefore, in order to reap the benefits of maintaining a healthy brain, experiment more!<br />
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I must also say that tap jamming is also a great dance to keep your brains thinking. Some rapid fire decision making scenarios in tap jams include coming up with what technique to implement to the music, what to do in case there's less or extra sounds, and how to save your face in case you trip midway through a flash step. So, the benefits aren't just limited to partner work.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539624868898990805.post-59208982586545356642012-11-11T21:52:00.000+08:002012-11-18T23:29:50.824+08:00Reflections: Progress ReportThe first ever dance technique class happened today as part of the Developing Artistes Programme requirement. My inner thigh muscles hurt like mad, but hey, it's part and parcel of important ballet technique, along with any other dance for that matter, because spins and turns are featured prominently across all dance genres, and it requires tons of control.<br />
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Now that Salsa Swingapore is going to be a part of my dancing regime *fingers crossed on survival aka time management skills* I hope this means that my follow can be leveled up better too! For now, it's working on the isolations and making sure they glide along smoothly.<br />
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One tip though, if you want to work on inner thigh muscle strength, clamp something in between your thighs, turn out, and go up on releves. It's a great workout. You may or may not have a phantom object sensation later, but yeah, you've been warned :PUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0