My first contemporary dance classes

Suddenly remembered ... my first contemporary classes in LA. i'd spent a month in LA in 2009 after my exchange programme at Purdue just for fun and to dance. it took great guts for me to go for contemp classes because i've never been technically trained, and i was too scared...

but a friend i'd made who happened to be a dancer too told me that it was an experience not to be missed. and i thought, nothing to lose, so i went ahead.

The first contemporary class I took at Debbie Reynolds was a class by Rob Peters; he choreographed to Stupid Things by Robin Thicke. The class wasn't daunting at all in that he didn't emphasize on technicalities - e.g. if you could do a triple pirouette, go ahead. and if you couldn't, just one would suffice - but use up the music it was meant to fill. and it was then i realized... because it was so fluid, so pedestrian... i felt so free dancing for the first time. and it was honest and it was real and it felt so good! this was the choreo, and the dancer in my class that i couldn't take my eyes off was the girl in the middle at 1:20. i think her name was mickey or smth, and she was from japan. watching her made me want to bawl my eyes out.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThohrxTUq-k]

My second class was forgettable because it was a string of technical jargon - and I'm not denying that technique is very important in dance! But i think i was too busy trying to figure if my balance was right, or on how high i could jump or how high my leg went or smth. I don't even remember the song the choreographer used. I don't even remember the choreographer... sadly.

My first contemporary class at Millenium was by Nick Lanzisera. I don't even know what song he used. It was different in that it wasn't as emotionally engaging as Rob Peter's class, but the fluidity of movement and musicality had me going as well... and for the first time in my LIFE, out of all the classes I had taken, I was amongst the 3 called out of class to perform!!! damn scary!!! but it was such a compliment and i think i will remember that feeling forever.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUe8hJkVH0w]

i wish there were more choreographers and instructors like these in singapore! i really loved the freedom of movement and the freedom to express!!! 3 EXCLAMATION MARKS FOR THAT.

when i returned i was inspired to choreo my gravity piece; a bit paisey cos... no technique involved, just pure expression, i hope it came through!
(i was nursing a broken heart ;( )