One day, I am going to make it to an international West Coast Swing event. Seeing the pros in action even online at the US Open is inspiring enough for me to want to venture out to explore this dance form even further :) Two of the dance that completely blew me away this year were:



Who can forget Benji Schwimmer? That boy is amazing to watch and he brings so much energy to his performances. And his partner Torri Smith? Phenomenal.



And then of course, there is Jordan and Tat, who came to Singapore this year to help us local dancers up our West Coast Swing game. I totally agree with a friend of mine who says that they need better costumes LOL but still. The simplicity of the moves and their musicality is breath-taking.

If you'd like to learn West Coast Swing, check out Mosaic Dance. Annddd, if you've already picked up this dance and want to learn from the pros, Swingvitation 2013 is the event for you. To be held from 25 to 28 April 2013, this is your chance to brush up your WCS skills from FIVE champion dancers :) Check them out today.

Me? I feel that my dancing has improved but there's still some ways to go to. Hopefully, I get to do another Jack & Jill next year too. Those things can be nerve wracking but too fun :)

Jumping off yet another bloody bridge

Reading and music are two of my life's constants. I can't  imagine going going through a day without picking up a good book or going through some kind of soundtrack as I work, dance or even just walk around. Who can?

The two constants have also made me evolve in ways that I didn't want to evolve in. In someways, my inner cave woman is resistant to all this change. Weird, isn't it? Especially for someone who's worked in technology for a bulk of her working life. Adopting my first iPod was borne out of necessity and practicality. I can't travel the world in customary no-frills frivolity, while carrying a stack of CDs! Have you seen my music collection? That thing is huge! What am I, a travelling music box woman? All I'd need is a monkey and a DJ booth that will crank out the tunes as I go. No bloody way.

And so, I got myself an iPod and filled it with my musical favorites over the years. That has worked out perfectly :) Now I can travel and sort through my thoughts without carrying a shitload of stuff with me.

The new step in the evolution comes from the fact that many of my favorite long-time book sellers and second-hand bookstores closing down. It tough seeing the people that you love, friends, who've bonded with you over books and authors have to move on because the way of the world is changing. The move towards a paperless society is great, we keep more trees, reduce our carbon footprint and hopefully use the land for more sustainable ventures but we lose the warmth and heart of the people who would recommend that hot new author or tell you that the new bestseller, really sucks. That to me is the irreplaceable element of the second-hand bookstore.

My inner cave woman was pissed off! What is this change about nowwwww! Why do I have to become yet another drone in the train, who constantly taps on their bloody device? Part of why I am so resistant to this change is because I love holding a physical book and reading it. I don't need to constantly fiddle around on Facebook or Twitter or blog every second of my life. But this new change seems to be inevitable. I have to learn to adapt a little. The second-hand bookstores were perfect for me because, I can choose to keep or return the books that I didn't want. Sadly, they are being muscled out by technology and the fact that lesser people choose to read physical books today. And I cannot keep buying books, I just don't have enough space in my house.

So what's a girl to do, right? Well, this one is researching the types of reading devices that would take her the furthest. So far, the choices are between the Kindle Fire and the Kindle Paperwhite. Fire because I want to be able to read magazines and also comics that I really love. But then again, do I really need something in HD and in color? Would it tire out my eyes? Can I just stick to the efficiency of the Paperwhite? Hmmm points to ponder. If you come across this post and have one of these devices, let me know what you think! It'll help tremendously!

Thank you!

Another day, another book

I've been an avid reader of romantic novels all my life. I've read the classics, the cult favorites, the trendy chick lit (not a fan of them) and also erotica. 

So of course, with all the buzz of 50 Shades of Grey, I had to go out and get my hands on a copy, right? Wrong.

I got veto-ed, yes VETO-ed by my friendly, neighborhood bookseller. 

Bookseller uncle: Girl, why are you trying to read that? Because it's popular?" (just before I could nod in agreement) Please, lah, can you read something better? The language is terrible! It's worse than teenage writing. The novels that you've been taking are much better for story value and even the sex scenes are better.

Me: Wah, uncle you have a very strong opinion about this!Bookseller uncle: Of course, I don't want my customers to just read nonsense, even it is popular

Daaaaammmmmnn, but the bookseller uncle is fiery! And so, just because I don't naturally trust first-hand advice....I went to look for an excerpt online. I shouldn't have bothered. Two paragraphs into chapter one and I clicked off the page. I'm sure the writing will be just as scintillating for the entire series. Zzzzzzzzzzz

Ok, maybe it's the hype but I don't understand how a book like this could be so popular. Or why many well-read friends are actually promoting it. Hopefully it's just a bad phase, but its a highly disturbing one. I am hardly a book snob but at the same time, I don't like reading badly written material. I especially don't like how scenes from the book are paraphrased and reproduced. C'mon! You can do better than that!

I've told a number of friends that if you want to read a good book that has lots of sex, pick up a romantic novel or better, some erotic anthologies. While romantic novels may contain the requisite  heaving bosoms and the virile men, at least the books are well plotted and written. Need a more spicy read? Go for erotic novels. Don't be shy. after all, people have been turning to these books for ages to get new ideas to bring a little heat into their bedrooms.

So what should you read? For the curious, I'd recommend authors like Susan Johnson (go for her earlier titles), Beatrice Small, Zane  and even Anne Rice's take on BDSM Sleeping Beauty Trilogy. I'm not sure if the last one is available here but, hey, there's always Amazon.com. The last one gave me a bit of a nightmare, but that said, it's a very different take on a classic children's tale and written for a more sophisticated audience. Definitely not for the faint hearted.

But for the non-believers, you can always go back to this:

I love watching movies. 

But what is with the bloody remakes?? Lately, it seems like you cannot step into a cinema without having at least one remake screening. My personal peeve is remaking movies from their original and oftimes, superior incarnations. Look at films such as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Infernal Affairs, Fright Night, Conan the Barbarian and even The Ring. I can see the commercial appeal but why re-visit these films with something that was tweaked or worse, explained to death?

Infernal Affairs is one such example. The original left audiences on a knife-edge, wondering what is going to happen next? Who is on which side? What the hell is happening! GAHHHH!!! When I saw The Departed, it failed to invoke any sense of excitement. Worse, I wasn't compelled to watch the movie until it almost ended it's run in the cinemas. When I finally caught it, I was left with a feeling of, ooookkkaayyy so they translated it more for American audiences. The director is one of my favorites, the actors were fantastic but where is the heightened sense of suspense and chaos? 

And did you catch the brutal The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Niels Arden Oplev? Even though the David Fincher version focused more on the characters over the story, he lost the essence of the book. It's social and political ramifications were absent and audiences are just subject to a basic whodunit instead of a more complex and in-depth story. Oh and please don't get me started on The Ring or even Shutter - where was the shocker at the end? There isn't any because we've seen it all before. Also, must film-makers Americanize everything? How can Americans be more globalized when filmmakers constantly have to remake films for them? Are American audiences so poorly educated that they do not understand subtleties or subtext? That they cannot step outside of their comfort zone to experience stories in their original incarnations?

It's ironic how audiences in Asia or Europe can watch and relate to different films but American audiences cannot. I used to really love going to the movies because I can lose myself in the different worlds and sometimes there is that great element of surprise at the end. But the remakes are making me stay away. 

Maybe filmmakers have to re-look at the material they are working with. Are remakes making more money or simply more tiresome? Are film directors so tapped out that they'd rehash previous works over creating something new? There is still a wealth of unexplored material out there, I say make it work with fresh materials and stop remaking films! We, the discerning film-goers deserve better!

For some reason, the last half of the year has been like a mad house.

This year, I've just wrapped up an event in Thailand, dealt with a client who wants a miracle to happen, am taking on a six sub-region rollout and will be closing out the work year with a big computer graphics event. All in the span of four months. Yes, life is exciting *rolls eyes*

But on to more exciting things... progress in West Coast Swing (WCS) has been a little slow, but is getting there. The last weekend of August was spent with Melissa Rutz and Chuck Brown, two WCS champion dancers who were in town to whip the WCS community here in to shape.

As long as there's a camera, dancers are hams

I booked my first WCS private class with Melissa. Had to work on my basics just so that I can get it right. With the hectic work schedule, it's tough to get into the swing (no pun intended) of things sometimes because oftimes I'm too tired. Let me just say that if you really want to learn, booking a private class with one of the champion dancers is good way to progress. Why? Because you get one on one time with the instructor and she/he will be able to asses your level and help you work on the areas that you are having difficulty in. That said, taking privates does not instantly qualify you as a champion dancer yourself. You still need regular practice at socials and also in taking classes. 

Melissa Rutz and me...Ms Potato Head LOL

April for me was truly the month of dance, which started with the India Fiesta Latina and rounded off with Swingvitation in Singapore.

West Coast Swing is something that I picked up over four months ago and took me quite a while to get used to. But still, never say never, right? Took part in my first Jack & Jill this year, on the heels of my return from a great India session. Never mind I haven't been up to par on West Coast Swing. I was sick for about three weeks prior to India and injured when I returned. The injury is a result of too many body movement classes in India. The good news? It's not a fracture...it's a rib cartilage sprain. The pain was horrendous and I was unable to get a good night's sleep or even flip over. Since my visit to the physio and doctor's, I haven't  been dancing. Sigh. Injuries suck. Kiddies, please don't follow in my footsteps, if you are injured, sit it out.

At Jack & Jill... Next year, I will do better!

Winners of the Jack & Jill. A pair are my cousin.(s)...please don't hurt yourself guessing who. LOL

It was a great weekend filled with workshops, friends as well as West Coast champions, Jordan and Tatiana who were really able to break down the dance and show us a couple of new things. I managed to do one social night but wasn't up to dancing with Jordan. Pride meant that if I wanted to social with an international instructor, I had to be at least decent.

The dance family... literally

Kudos to the folks at  Mosaic Dance and Jitterbugs for introducing West Coast Swing and bringing the dance to so many people. Till the next Swingvitation!

Dancing always brings about new challenges.

For a dance team, it means having great group dynamics in addition to learning the steps. The steps should also be clean, coordinated and look flawless. God knows that looking flawless is never easy.

Every once in a while, I'll trawl online for videos that will teach me more. There are only so many classes a dancer can take. And yet, there is still so much to learn in terms of body movement and styling that we can do to improve the way we dance. Don't get me wrong, classes are great but to really practice what you've learnt, you have to do it on the social floor (yes, I nag but you and I know that this is true for any dancer.)

But enough yammering, right. Check this out:



These guys are from the Santo Rico dance company in New York. The one word that came to my mind as I was watching this was: confidence. It takes a lot of pizzaz to move like that! I love the choreography and the ladies' confidence and body movements! The transitions and musicality of the piece are pretty flawless, even though this has to be one of the longest pieces for a salsa team.

Costumes are a big part of any group. It shows great group cohesion and breathes life to the choreo. Sexy costumes are a way of showing off the curves of the woman in addition to showcase her exquisite moves. We all know how ridiculous the costumes can get but what will you do if you encounter..jeng jeng jeng...*stage whisper* the dreaded wardrobe malfunction?



You CARRY ON DANCING. If you weren't as sharp-eyed (or blind if you missed that little nugget), you'd probably not notice that small glitch. Holy crap, I'm amazed that she could still nail that performance with all its complicated choreo and tricks. Kudos! I hope to be as professional should anything happen.

Finally, this last video that I came across features one of the fastest couples on the salsa scene today. John Vazques and  Judy Aguila, salsa world champions. They have a distinct style that is both breathtaking and so damned hard to emulate. Oh and note: this video is NOT speeded up. They really do dance like that.



Well, that's it from me for this year then. Wishing you a happy one and a great 2012! And yes, this is the team :o)

Just when I thought I'd be less injury prone, something will bloody malfunction at the worst time. Fuck. It's just like the freaking Godfather movies.

Somehow, a stupid strain managed to become a bigger problem with one slow-mo fall at practice. Felt like I was in a John Woo movie. And so I thought I wasn't hurt badly, still managed to have post-practice drinks with the mates before heading home.  Did the requisite warm ups and cool downs but despite that, the little niggling ache still managed to wake me in the wee hours of the morning with a dull pain and an inability to turn right. !@#@$%$@%%^%  WTH man. Am going to spend the next two days resting...which means no dancing and recovery stretches. There's a gig this weekend and please, don't get me started on obligations. I'm just bloody frustrated with myself right now.

Anyways, in happier events, I have been looking at something new to try out when I get to San Diego later this month. Nothing better than trying out something new on totally foreign territory, I say! They have classes here in Singapore too but my schedule's too packed to accommodate anything new for now.

But check this out. West Coast Swing (WCS) is not new but boy, does it widen the horizons in terms of social partner dancing! It seems that the Salsa On2 variation of the Lindy Hop to me...but at the same time, a lot smoother and graceful than Lindy.



Looks pretty cool, right? I for one am quite the inspired *wiggles eyebrows* The challenge here is to dance with the knees straight, in contrast to the latin style with the bent knees that gives the hips and body more sway. Would be interesting to see if I can adapt to something more lyrically expressive though. That is, if I still have my knees and back...mwhahahahahah

Music-wise, there is a lot more room in terms of genres that can be tapped. While traditionally, WSC adapts a lot of R&B (think Aretha Franklin and more blusey music), today you can dance to literally anything! Just like these guys below (ok, who doesn't love Benji Schwimmer? Such a ham..):



And for the rebels out there...



Think creatively and let your body and feet do the moving! :o)

And possibly juggling, jumping through a burning hoop, making miracles happen...wait, I do that shit at work. But for now, this will do :) 

Heck, at least now I have a cane which comes in handy in crowded trains, malls and also for when I feel the urge to break into Singing in the Rain! 

An avid bookworm, I've been renting books all my life. Well, since somewhere between primary and secondary school, to be honest.

I have nothing against libraries. I love them because they introduced me to adventure, romance, fantasy and fairy tales in the likes of  Three Musketeers, Ramona and Beeszus, Mary Poppins and Jungle Book. Oddly enough, I attempted Romeo and Juliet at Primary Five and while I didn't get any of the play's nuances then, it was an illuminating first look into what this bloody Shakespeare man offered. Hey, I was in Primary Five, I had no idea who he was!

Visits to the library were peppered with other visits to the bookstores. I was ok with toys, but much preferred the company of books because they offered that much more escapist entertainment. What else would keep me occupied and happy while being dragged on endless shopping trips? It's hilarious how things turned out because, I still hate going on long shopping jaunts.

Anyhoo, when I was around 14, my cousins took me to a new place. This was the much loved Sunny Bookstore of yore. When it used to be tucked in a corner on the second floor of Far East Plaza. To a kid who really liked to read, this was a little piece of heaven! Why? Because unlike libraries, these guys stock the latest books! I could also get series' which were not available in the libraries or even books which contained themes unsuitable to libraries, such as American Psycho or Anne Rice novels. The kicker? It operates much like a library and I'd only need a small part of my allowance to start renting books. And I get to keep the books that I really liked. Woot!

The bookstore and its people grew with the customers. While other stores had retail staff, Sunny's staff remembered their customers' names and more importantly, the type of books they liked so that they can recommend new authors to try or tell you when a new book comes in. Since these guys have changed ownership over the last year, things have gone down the drain. They are back to being a regular bookstore with bored retail staff. As a customer, it's a great feeling to come into a store to chat with the staff about the newest arrivals, which authors have launched new series' or even ask to review books that you've heard of but never had the chance to read. There are small, rental booskstore which still operate similarly to the old Sunny Bookshop, but it ain't the same. It's people (who've become friends) will never be replaced.

I don't buy books because I don't have the luxury of space in my tiny, cramped apartment, which is why renting is a great option. I'll usually take out about 10-12 books and these will last me about two months. And while I know that you can download books on electronic devices, I'm not fond of being overly reliant on devices to the point that they seem to be glued to me.

At the end of the day, I'm somewhat of a traditionalist when it come to books. I still love the smell of new books, the grainy texture of the paper on limited editions and of turning that page to find out what happens next. I want to curl up in bed, sit on the train or cafe and just dive into a good book. I can read it on planes too! Don't have to turn anything off to read a book, y'know. Plus, I want to be able to just set the book aside or shove it into my bag without worrying if I have enough battery to last through the day or, is there an electrical point where I can change my device? I already have enough of that nonsense in trying to manage my laptop and mobile phone.

I know that it sounds silly and non tree-huggy, but it will suffice for now.

If you are in the performing arts, you'd have to get used to a few uncomfortable things.

1. The mirror.  It should be your friend. No, not so you can preen all the time but so you can see yourself and how totally retarded you look as you attempt various moves. Just try not to stare too hard or laugh too loudly at other people or yourself as you attempt your moves. The good part about having that mirror is so that you can correct all your retardation to make it somewhat smooth.
2. Criticism. Everyone will get it. Most importantly, you  have to hear what is being said and put it into your performance to enhance it. Over the years, I've gotten my fair share of tough love and while it is never easy to deal with, once you address your issues and work on them, you will find that progress will come much easier.
3. Solos. A couple of weeks ago, I got the chance to teach my fellow dancers a short choreo as part of our musicality training. No matter how long you've been dancing, sometimes the best way to learn about the music and how to listen is to come up with your own little masterpiece. I have to admit that even a 30sec piece was tough as I had to execute not only the moves for the girls but for the boys. I have new respect for choreographers and so do not want to be in their shoes!
4. Competition. Sometimes the competition for a dancer is not with everyone else but with themselves. Because there will always be someone better, faster and more agile than you. But the onus is on yourself to push as hard as you can in order to get to the next level. You just have to know that blood, sweat and tears are part of this shindig. The rewards are immeasurable but extremely satisfying at the end.   

Last week, I completed the Intermediate 3 class for Belly Dancing. Ana Dana was an interesting little choreo because for the first time, I had to do a choreo which relied on its coyness and sensuality. Watching this video and listening to my instructor's critique, I know that I still have much to work not only in terms of technicality and movement.

Despite it's exotic roots, Belly Dancing is not about being sexual...it's about sensuality and celebrating the female form. Hence, there are no movements where the performers touch themselves unlike in exotic or burlesque. Watching this video and others over the course of a year's worth of lessons, I'm pleased that there has been some improvement in terms of my movements. Now to work on refinement!


As always, there is always an aspiration. This time it is Sadie. She may be American but she also has the moves and the spirit of the dance down. Working my way towards moving like that!

e>

It's been more than half a year since I've taken up belly dancing and I have to say that I've yet to get bored. It has been an uphill climb to learn some of the moves though, but then it's no fun to learn something which is really easy.

This last intermediate class was fun because we learnt how to incorporate props. In this case, a veil. Which sounds like a piece of cake, right? Not really. In the beginning, we had a whole bunch of flailing females in class. It's hard to to look at yourself in the mirror to snigger. Or in some cases laugh your ass off because you looked like a demented butterfly. Which in my case is most of the time...heh.



I have to say that although it's not as tough as ballet, belly dancing moves takes a lot more time to master because you have to gain fluidity and grace that makes everything look easy. Despite dancing for some time now, I recognize that it will take some doing before I can get to even close to Shakira's level.

But still, it's not an insurmountable a challenge, right?

As you  know, I've been eternally grousing about how salsa dancers need not as svelte as ballet dancers and here's proof. Been watching a couple of videos from the World Salsa Championships and it's more of a testament to a dancer's skill than it is only to her body or weight.

Just look at these couple of videos:







Sure, the ladies are bigger but then again, they also move with a confidence and assurance that puts newer (and some slimmer) performers to shame. Plus, they can do whatever a smaller girl can, so I don't see why we should only focus on body types or highlight slimmer girls only. I get it that slimmer people present better silhouettes but just focusing solely on them presents the wrong picture. It makes people who are bigger sized more self conscious and less likely to want to learn to dance. That is the antitheses of salsa which celebrates the love of dance and movement for everyone.

Hey, most of us are not small sized so please take note!

Grousing aside, I did watch some other amazing couples such as Edier and Luisa. This couple placed 2nd in the Cabaret category. Cabaret is the category where the couples focus on dips and tricks in their performance in addition to dancing. This is probably the most physically demanding of the categories. 





and Anchi and Anne, whose performance I really enjoyed because they looked like they were having so much fun. In case you were wondering, they came in 2nd in the On2 category.





The On2 champions are Luis and Anya





And in the On1 category, Christina and Liz. On1 is still the style I dance in but it seems like the performance team I'm with will be migrating into On2 next year. I can't wait!



What's life without a little inspiration to keep you going? ;)

"To dance is to be out of yourself.  Larger, more beautiful, more powerful." Agnes De Mille

I'm a really bloomer as a dancer. Picking up salsa only in 2005 but boy, has that interest grown. It's been a mere five years but it still motivates me to get better, personally and technically.  It cheers me up on horrible work or personal days and yes, it is also a source of frustration when  I can't seem to pick up new things fast or well enough. Let's not even touch on injury, I've harped on that quite enough!

It's interesting how people sometimes come up to me to ask why I keep on doing it or what my inspiration is

The answer is pretty straightforward: I like a good challenge. I love the freedom it gives me and the confidence that I've gained in myself and also in my body. While being a professional dancer is not my ultimate aim, I want to excel in the dances that I've picked up. With salsa, I was actually inspired from watching the mambo scenes in Dirty Dancing. I've evolved from being an awkward newbie to someone who is now able to perform in large crowds. I'm comfortable with my body and with my movements and technically, my footwork has improved tremendously. Mistakes are common but people would be hard-pressed to notice if they are not familiar with the dance ;)

Most importantly, I picked up these dances for me. I was always the outspoken pudgy kid who loved sports but I wanted to do something that challenged me more. Dancing was it - why? Because, despite being outspoken, I was always a bit shy. And no doing anything in front of an audience! Are you crazy? I was afraid that I was too fat, too clumsy,  too awkward to do anything. Taking up the challenge to learn how to dance, gradually make peace with my body and widen my social circle boosted my self esteem and confidence. I learnt that you don't need a fixed partner to salsa, you dance with a bunch of other people in rotation. This helps you pick up different leading styles to make you (the lady) a better follow. 

Some people have mentioned that I came across as competitive in classes or at practice. How can I not be? Being a late bloomer, I'm almost always the oldest in the class. This means that there are always younger, more talented and driven students than I. Dancing is a whole lot of fun but both peers and teachers respect a student more if they are a bit more serious over one who acts the clown most of the time.  

Over time, I plucked up enough courage to perform. For me, performing showcases all the hard work that a performance team or couple has put into a 3 - 5 min choreography. In comparison,  professional dancers get a whole lot more stage time. But for people like me, it that 5 mins is almost all that you get and you have to make if count.

But where do I go from here? Despite some setbacks, I still think there is room for growth for me. Picking up ballet and belly dancing this year brings more challenges but at the same time, other interesting opportunities. The chance to do a something that scares me a full solo performance in belly dancing. I picked up ballet to build strength, improve technicality and add diversity to my dancing.  Performing is out of the question as I still have much to learn. For salsa, there are still lots of opportunities to perform, whether it is at salsa congresses, friend's weddings or even at corporate functions.

The big downside of performing salsa I feel is that people tend to equate being a good performer with being a good general dancer. Not true. Salsa performers must learn to incorporate one another essential element into their repertoire - social dancing. This means hitting a salsa club or social dance gigs at least once a fortnight to dance and let go. Get away from choreography. While performing is great, you will only be able to get better with more practice and what better way than on the social floor with either your friends or new people?

I admit sometimes these things frustrate me but at the end of the day, it is up to me to push myself. And that ultimately, I am responsible for my own progress.

Sigh, the older you get, the more injury prone you are.I don't remember being as injury prone as a kid who competed regularly in school sports. Guess being younger means you recover much faster from whatever injuries incurred. At my age now, I know that there is nothing much can be done about that. The best way of averting injury is still proper warm ups and rest (and definitely no being a pig).

I love all the drama of dancing and the challenge of learning a new choreo, it gets me all excited :) Ok, so you may think that videos are self indulgent but it really helps you learn from your mistakes. And in my case, it's that plus try not to fall on my face or crack up like a loon.



That, my friends was Belly Dancing, Level 2. And for my next trick, it will be to get my Shakira groove on (Yay! I'm mad, I know). This is the song for level 3. Good luck to me and my fellow classmates.