Danceworks'07

Modern Dance IG represented RP in their very first national dance competition, DanceWorks ’07 on 11 March at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza. The annual dance competition organized by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) brought together teams ranging from all ages in three different categories. The team was vying for a place in one of only four spots up for grabs in the finals under the open category.

For four months, the 15 girls who made up “The Painkillers” from the Modern Dance IG, dedicated much of their time and energy into rehearsal after rehearsal. Training was grueling but it all became worthwhile when the girls took to the stage and wowed the judges and audience with their high-energy and adrenaline-pumping choreography, at the same time walking away with the $300 ‘best costume prize’.

While most people were still in bed snoring away a lazy Sunday morning, the girls were already up and ready for the competition at 8 am. After just one stage rehearsal, it was time for makeup and prepping. It took nearly two hours to get everyone looking pretty like ‘oriental dolls’ but the effort certainly paid off. Getting an award in their very first national competition was an awesome feeling. Even though they did not make it to the finals, the girls felt they had learned a lot about teamwork through the experience. When the time came for the girls to take the stage, all the weariness brought by the intense practices was cast aside. The team gave it all they had as they knew they had just one chance to show the judges what they are made of.

“Very good girls! You took great effort in your costumes and you look really fantastic on stage. You dared to be a little bit different from the rest” was a comment from one of the judges. When the results were announced, the entire crowd went silent. When the “best costume award” was announced, roaring screams from a sea of green - the dancers and their supporters all wore green that day - could be heard near the stage. Even though they did not make it to the finals, the girls felt they had learned a lot about teamwork through the experience.

“The level of the competition was very high in our preliminary round. Only one of the top three teams in the earlier preliminary round eventually made it into the finals, with the remaining three finalists coming from the preliminary round we danced in” said the Modern Dance IG advisor. “I think we made an impact and I’m proud of the way the girls have worked together to make this happen.”

Congratulations girls! And a standing ovation to their instructor, Shanti.

Clean & Green Week performance

Aching muscles, extra practices, perspiration and lack of sleep. This was what 24 members of Modern Dance IG have to go through in preparation of Clean & Green Week performance which was held on 5 November 2006, Sunday.

Our practice started a month ago, with 2 new instructors. Shah and Shanti, to lead us with a new choreographed dance. The dance is entitled SOUL. It is an expressive dance where we use props such as wooden fans and ribbon fans. It consists of 3 parts. The first is more to self expressive dance where we are curious souls, wanting to get out to see the world. The second and third is a graceful and elegant dance where the props are being used and having fun is the main factor in the last 2 dance.

Shah and Shanti graduated from SAS Music and Drama Company and La Salle respectively. Shah is an active participant in competitions such as Overdrive 2006, Step-Up 2006 and Dancefloor 2006.