Hot Mess 5, Heir to the Throne, jam sessions, training, workshops, lifestyle

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

Hong Kong (Part 2) - a little update

I've been in Hong Kong for around 2 months now... doing some training by myself since I've been back up until July, then I finally went to my old dance studio and started taking classes again. It felt so good!! Though I have to admit, I miss living a 10-minute walk away from my dance studio. I also managed to find another studio that offers waacking classes. Currently taking classes from a HK waacker called Virago Carmen and I've been learning some new stuff! Hopefully, I can take in what I'm learning here, put my own twist to it then use it when I'm back in Montreal!

However, lately I've been feeling like I've hit a plateau (which is a normal process of learning in my opinion). It feels like I'm learning new things, but I'm not actually fully taking it in if that makes any sense... But I know I just need to push through and I'll continue to grow and improve. Just need to keep dancing ;)

Also, I've noticed two things this summer. One, the dance styles, waacking and hip hop, are different in Hong Kong compared to Montreal. One seems more about technicality and tricks, the other seems to be more about feeling and living the music. This may or may not be true, but it is what I've noticed. If you've seen/think anything different or the same please comment! I'm curious to know!! Two, my life would be so empty and boring without dance. It's one thing to just say it, but I can actually feel it. I don't even know how to describe how bored and just bleh I am when I don't dance for a few days, but once I start dancing and moving, I feel whole again. Even after work, when I am exhausted, as long as I know I'm going dancing I have this extra boost in energy and feel all happy inside! I think it's safe to say Dance is here to stay, for good.

On a side note, Julien and I have been working on a little project called "Dance Over Distance".

The video's gonna be out early August so make sure to look out for it! It's gonna be dope~

Studio de Danse Montreal- Paris MP3 Dance Show

It's that time of the year again, my studio's end of the year dance show! 

Great teachers, great music, and great choreo. Can't ask for anything more :) I absolutely had a blast performing this year even though I didn't do as many pieces as I would've wanted to due to finals in April... One thing I noticed this time though is that I was able to enjoy myself more on stage than before. I've always liked performing for people, especially hearing the crowd clap and cheer afterwards, but this year I really understood how to have fun on stage as well as channel certain emotions through my facial expression and body movement. This is all thanks to the classes I've been taking, the competitions and my new experience in freestyling. I totally forgot to take pictures backstage cause I was too busy dancing to the music on stage... But here's a photo of me in the opening piece where I was playing an 80's nerd! I look like such an ugly nerd haha but I still loved the costume and this look on me :P

Photo by Mickaël A. Bandassak

After the show I got to talk to one of my dance teachers and she told me that I improved a lot and am going down the right track! (Yay!!) So I just need to keep doing what I'm doing and hopefully I'll become even better soon. I am so grateful for all the help I've been getting this year and the amazing people I've met who has in some way contributed to helping me improve so thank you to all of you!! And to those who came to watch me at the show, you know you are, thank you!! I love you all <3

On the fence

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 :)