BAM this year was special for me because I got to do a showcase on stage!! Never have I thought that I'd have an opportunity to do that, but it happened. We did a showcase for hustle with Bboyizm and it was so much fun!! Here's some pictures and footage of it.
I also battled at BAM, but didn't make it past prelims again. This time I wanted to focus on my musicality so didn't really put on an outfit or a certain character, but it didn't turn out how I wanted it to be again, especially after watching my round. There was some improvement, but not enough in my opinion. However, after taking Tyrone's workshop again, I think I know what he is looking for now (not saying that I have to waack the way he wants it to be done, but he has some ideas that I could use for my own improvement) and I also know what I need to work on myself this summer. So got some work to do!!
Just wanted to do an update since my last post. I've been training hard in my dancing especially waacking while trying to cope with and finish school. Going to session, taking lots of classes and workshops, doing battles, etc. I think has helped me grow. A LOT. Here's some footage of my last two battles:
1) Hot Mess 5 which is exactly one year since my first battle
As I mentioned on Facebook, I think this is probably one of the best I've done even though I didn't make it past prelims. But now looking back at it, even though I killed my character, my musicality was way off and I could have actually done a lot more. So NEXT YEAR imma bring it!
2) Heir to the Throne 2 vs 2 all-styles Master and Apprentice, MSSD's first jam, where I got to pair up with Bboy Toonz. First one was prelims and second one is top 16.
Just saying even though I was waacking all-styles battles are hard because of the music. DJ was mad dope though so he gave us, dancers, some crazy music and energy. Plus, my partner was giving me a lot of energy too! Definitely felt his support behind me and he killed his rounds as well! I am actually so proud of every one of the members in MSSD cause I have seen everyone grow, including myself. Going back to my round, I think my top 16 round was pretty weak cause I was trying to incorporate some house into my waacking, but that was hard... Probably gonna take some house classes over summer.
However, with all that said, we are always the harshest judges on ourselves. I am actually very happy with my progress, comparing those with this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zgf72o6VVE), but I've got lot of work to do! :D
Speaking of house classes, I had the opportunity to go to New York City during reading week and got to get down with my peeps at Central Park then went to a super awesome hustle class and jammed with some OG huslters which was SUPER cool! Then lastly took a house class with Sekou. This is guy is so in tune with his body it's crazy, I learnt a lot from him and can't wait to start taking house classes here in Montreal!
By now, with the amount of dancing that I do, I can say that dancing for me is definitely a passion and a lifestyle. It's a way of life for me to express myself, to create and to escape the harsh reality, break the boundaries and values that our society puts on us since we were young. I absolutely love the culture I'm in and the people around me sharing it.
To end this post, here's a video of Lily (my friend) and I waacking in Brooklyn while we were hunting for graffiti art :D
With some time to spare I can finally update my blog!! I went to three workshops towards the end of last year, Blueprint workshop 2014, one with Kento Mori & Marc Marvelous who are both Usher's backup dancers and one with Spicey.
Blueprint workshop was something I always wanted to try to do and I finally had enough savings to go to it in November! It was an exhausting day... A total of 5 dance classes on one day with an hour break in between. I definitely learnt from it, learned how to pick up choreography quick (real quick!) without a mirror with over 100 other people in the same room. For me, it was more like a dance convention than a workshop as it felt like choreography from each teacher was thrown at us and that was it. Personally, I feel like workshops should have more of an interaction aspect to it because I find learning and hearing these famous choreographers and dancers stories are more inspiring than just learning their choreography. Don't get me wrong though, you can still learn how they move through their choreography and I definitely learnt a lot that day. It just may not be my cup of tea.
I took another one later on that month with Kento Mori. Unfortunately, financially I couldn't afford to go to both Kento and Marc Marvelous' workshops so I had to choose one. It was a hard choice, but I ended up going with Kento's. I was able to catch the last bit of Marc's class and when I saw it I quickly regretted not splurging to take his class as well. Before the class started, we made a cypher and I saw Kento and Marc dance (freestyle not choreographed). I was so mind blown! Their vibe was absolutely crazy!! And for once I didn't feel like they were competing or judging anyone in the cypher, a cypher at a studio that usually does choreography. Seeing them dance, I was like, "Now THAT'S how you dance." That's also when I realized I haven't been dancing fully...yet...ever. Till this day I am still amazed at their energy level. After both workshops ended they stayed behind to talk about their stories which was so inspiring for me. To know that one of them just wanted to dance and the other just wanted to meet Michael Jackson and have come this far so absolutely inspiring. Knowing this proved to me that with perseverance, passion and determination you can do what you want.
This would be one workshop I would never forget.
At the end of November, I took my last workshop of the year with Spicey. It was one that was organized by MSSD and worked more on hip hop foundations and grooves which was very helpful for me as I'm trying to become more comfortable in freestyling in hip hop and it never hurts to go back to foundations! She also told everyone at the end of the class to chase our dreams and dare to dream further inspiring me to continue mine! Though mine has changed a little since the beginning, when I started this blog. I will probably update that soon in another post.
Now to New Year's Resolutions. I definitely have a few goals I want to achieve this year. (which has started out pretty well since I was asked to choreograph a flashmob to help raise awareness for youth cancer patients/survivors. So look out for that post with the video in the near future!)
My 2015 New Year's Resolutions:
1) Improve my waacking
2) Get better at hustle as a follower and learn how to lead
3) When I have time, learn some house, locking and popping
4) Graduate and finish my degree without compromising too much time from dance
5) Learn to speak basic French so I can find a job after I graduate
6) Make time for friends and family whenever possible
Travelling back to Hong Kong, I stopped off at Vancouver for a few days to visit my Grandma and while I was there I had a chance to take a class at Harbour Dance with Natasha Gorrie. I remember meeting her once at one of the MSSD sessions and watching her at Bust A Move at the hip hop finals, I said to myself, "I need to take a class with her." And finally I did and she was awesome! After the class, I got to talk to her as well and she gave me some insight on the choices I have on where I want to go towards in dance and how I can achieve it. She was super nice! Thanks to my friend Debbie, I went to Robson square and got to see where some of Vancouver's dancers practice/session. It was pretty dope, kinda like a dancer's playground!
Bboys' corner
Poppers' corner
Hip Hop dancers' area
I only found the waackers a couple minutes before they left so couldn't take a picture, but was able to get down with them for a bit. :) Can't wait till I'm back again in August!
Now, coming back to HK I somehow stumbled across a waacking battle + workshop that was being held the weekend I got back. I didn't battle because I haven't really practiced but I took two of their workshops, one with Akuma Diva and another with Waackeisha!
Me with Akuma Diva <3
I really enjoyed the workshops and I think I got a lot out of it!! Can't wait to train this summer and see if I can use what I learnt and make it my own vocabulary. Also hopefully, there'll be more battles and workshops I can join and do in HK while I'm here.
Day 2, the finals!! I went to a panel discussion that was held before the battling started where the judges discussed some issues or questions people have about dance. They talked about traditions in dance, commercial vs underground dancers, the business side of dance, etc. Their views were interesting to hear and I loved how Storm (bboy judge) said it is a matter of how we use our words because the opposite of commercial is non-commercial and the opposite of underground is upper-ground/above ground, yet people see commercial dancers and underground dancers as opposites. To what I understood from the discussion, we shouldn't see the two like that because a dancer is a dancer, underground dancers may not be able to do what commercial dancers do and vice versa, so instead of putting them into categories, we should all respect each other. At the end of the day, it ALWAYS comes down to respect.
After the panel discussion it was time for some battles and showcases. I'd have to say that the highlights of the night were definitely the hip hop final battle and Foret Noire's waacking showcase.
Just look at them! So gorgeous, all white and glowing, like angels <3 I teared up after their performance, it was absolutely beautiful.
Next up, the final battle for hip hop. It was SO HYPE!! The music was good and the dancing was crazy!! The video does not do it justice at all since you can't feel the energy through the monitor. So I'll say it again IT WAS CRAZY!!! It was like watching the final battle in the Step Up movies but live.
I ended up staying for the after party because everybody was vibing, cyphering and dancing, and I mean actually dancing. This was so much better than going to a club/party at a club where people just jump up and down. (I personally find that extremely boring, just saying.) Next year, I will for sure be staying until the break of dawn so that I can dance my heart out for the whole night.
The whole of day 2 was absolutely amazing, watching the different styles of dancing and so many good dancers dance was inspiring. Also, seeing the judges dance, some who are in their 40s, doing some crazy moves, emphasizes the fact that age does not limit you in your dancing. After going through Bust A Move 2014, I now not only want to improve my waacking but I also want to try out different styles as well. Next year, if I get my training and practice hours in, hopefully I can also try doing either house or locking battles. I seriously can't wait.
Here's a little recap of the night for all you readers out there. :)
P.S. I did not film the hip hop finals and the recap videos.
Bust A Move this weekend was CRAZY!! I was expecting something pretty epic but coming out of the two days, pretty epic is an understatement. These past 2-3 days were probably the best time of my life.
Day 1 of BAM were the prelims which I battled in. Even though I had to wait five hours before it was my time, I thoroughly enjoyed myself watching other dancers battle, some of which were my teachers. Being able to watch all these dancers live makes me feel so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people.
The kids hip hop battles were absolutely inspiring to watch as well. These kids really do not hold back and give it their all!! Their facial expressions were so crazy... I need to learn to let go just like them and use it when I compete and perform.
Finally it was time for waacking battles. I was faced against Mautassime (aka Mariah) and I was so glad to be able to battle someone that I know.
I didn't make it past prelims but considering this was only my third battle, I am actually really proud of myself and very happy to see that I have improved! Also, Mautassime/Mariah said so many nice and encouraging words to me after our battle. Out of all the things we talked about, this was what stuck, "Don't listen to what others say, if you want to dance then just do it." I may just go with what he said.
Last thing that I want to say about Day 1 is that I am so happy to see so many MSSD members getting down and I feel so proud of them! I'm not sure how it happened really, but they've played a big role in my dancing and I don't think I would be doing this if it wasn't for them. Love you guys <3
Bust A Move/Festival Bust A Move is Canada's biggest dance battle, I believe. They were promoting the event in collaboration with le Metro (subway system in Montreal) and were showcasing to the public what street dancing and battling is. It is so amazing to watch such crazy dancers freestyle to music in different styles: hip hop, house, popping, waacking, locking and bboying. I feel so honored to actually know some of those who were there "battling" today! (You guys were awesome)
Here's some pictures that I took with my phone.(Sorry, don't have a pro camera so it's gonna be a bit blurry)
Kids Hip Hop
House
Locking
Waacking
Popping
My waacking teacher was actually there doing the house battle and we ended up going to my dance class together, but it got cancelled so... basically I got a private group waacking class and wow. I learnt so much from it! How I wish this could happen more often! And now she has convinced me to go battle in BAM. Initially, I was only going to go watch because it is such a big event that I didn't feel ready to do it, but since it is A LOT cheaper to go as a contestant/dancer and I can use the experience as practice, I will be battling on May 2nd. If you're battling or going to watch the event, I will see you there :)
I guess you could say I have been a dancing since I was young. Did ballet for eight years, stopped, then started hip hop at 17. Came to Montreal for university, and rediscovered myself after learning about waacking and freestyling. Many dancers, me included, started dancing by learning choreography. I love it. But because of freestyle, I am loving dance more and more every day. As a person who has stepped out of my teens, I've often felt that the type of carefree, innocent happiness you experience as a child can't be found again because of responsibilities, stress, etc... I thought I'd never find that happiness until I started freestyling.
In the beginning, I actually hated it because I felt like I had to move a certain way to make the freestyling look good, but slowly, thanks to my friends in McGill Student Street Dancers (MSSD), I am enjoying it to the point where all I want to do is dance and to improve. And that is all that I can think about. I'd say I'm an okay dancer, I can pick up choreography well, but when it actually comes down to pure dancing, I still need a lot of work. Yet being surrounded by people who are amazing dancers, who share the same passion as me and who inspire me, at times I feel that maybe, just maybe, I could become an actual professional dancer.
Photo by Jojo Ariwi
However, being Asian, the typical thinking is to find a stable job, earn enough money to support yourself and your family. I know that if I decided to go for dancing, my parents would not be happy (obviously!). But what about our dreams? Do I play it safe and become a physiotherapist like I plan to be? Or do I take my risk, give my all and try to be the best dancer that I can be?
All these questions always bring me back and forth which is one of the reasons why I created this blog! I will be posting other things related to dance, but I hope you can share your thoughts on this topic with me so feel free to comment and give your opinions :)
