Precious Giggles

Susan Boyle - Singer - Britains Got Talent 2009 (With Lyrics)

2009-04-18T08:46:00.001-07:00

Do not determine the book by its cover... Awesome!

Dancing With God

2009-01-18T17:09:00.000-08:00

When I meditated on the word Guidance
I kept seeing 'da nce' at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn't flow with the music,
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness,
and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw 'G: I thought of God, followed by 'u' and 'i'.
'God, 'u' and 'i' dance'
God, you, and I dance.

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
that I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings
and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God as God abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
and to guide you through each season of your life.

This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached.
If God has done anything for you in your life,
please share this message with someone else,
for prayer is one of the best gifts we can receive.
There is no cost but a lot of rewards;
so let's continue to pray for one another !
And I Hope You Dance

Author: Unknown

Learning From The Very Best

2008-12-30T09:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had the most awesome time learning from the best of the best. As part of Danzity's I-Dance Campaign, they invited...

Ricky Carranza - Finland
(World Class Choreographer & Dancer)

Joel Tan - Malaysia

(Registered HipHop Coach & Pioneer of Street Dance Styles in Malaysia)

and we covered:
Module 1: Introduction to Street Dance
Module 2: History of Street Dance (and how it evolved)
Module 3: Street Dance Choreography (more of feedback to those who participated in the recent Street Dance Competition)
Module 4: Careers in Street Dancing
Bonus: Basics of Locking (one of the Top 3 foundations of Street Dance)

I really praise God for Danzity, as thought them I met professional dancers, instructors who have made their mark in the dance industry ~ internationally. Though with such skill & talent... they remain humble. Best of all, they are all Christians!! Hallelujah!!

My take away from the class is:

Do your thing - dance to express from the inside out.
For Choreography - be dynamic, unpredictable & be a story maker/creativity.
Remember who you are and your first love.... dance (your passion).
Be versatile & know a lot of styles.
Learn all the time (regardless of what is your age... fyi: Ricky shared that he is 44yrs old).
Find your 'killer step' or specialise should we choose dance as a career.

Through the Bonus session where Ricky was teaching the basics of Locking, I saw a familiar technique on how to teach. I finally understood what Melvin was trying to teach during the last Instructors Session, on how to teach dance or choreography to your class without words or giving verbal direction. Ricky showed it part by part very slowly but still to the music (but super slow), and repeated a few times until we got got it. Once we were able to get the start of the choreo & to the music, he speed it up and kept adding more steps or movement... to the point we were able to dance repeatedly. It was awesome. I can see that Ricky does not hold anything back, to the point Melvin (his mentee) has quite similar techniques in teaching... both practical & theoretical. Check him out...

That is a true Si-Fu. :)

IT'S BEEN A YEAR!!

2008-12-21T18:06:00.000-08:00

It's been a year come this Christmas that I last danced in a group. Missing it and longing for it... With the youth advancing in life and furthering their studies, Creative Arts in my church is now officially 'obsolete' (sad). Dissappointed...yes, discouraged...yes but instead of 'waiting' for my Music Director to call... I continued on my own.

I could never sit still-lah... must be doing something one. Some of my friends thought I went over-board when I started classes with Danzity. Comments came like learning from Albert was not enought is it?? Well, he has often encouraged his students to learn more and not necessary from him. Looking back, I learnt so much via Danzity, via their International instructors and other local contacts.

This year has been a year of learning from all my hiphop mentors. Learning that...

to relax... simplicity is strength
to enjoy the dance... find your groove and own style
to have courage to look in the mirror, see yourself express and move... not the floor (hee hee)
brush off bad habits like looking at other people for the next step :p
follow the beat...follow the beat... can always hear Albert going "pom pom chak"
learning the foundations of different street dance styles & it's origin
music... you can always find it-lah, just know the intent of the song and it's purpose

Other than learning from the professionals... I had the opportunity to teach kids (never imagined I could, more so with KIDS...hee hee). Took it as a challenge like I was choreographing for my team before but this time it was only to impart and not to perform. After that 6 hours of teaching... and watching them during their performance @ New World Park, I cannot tell you how happy I was to see them dance... to the point I felt like jumping in to join them. It was pure joy.

What's next??? Who know what next year will bring, but only the Lord will know... but He knows my heart's desire. For sure I want to continue dancing and hopefully with a team soon.

Merry Christmas everyone!!
http://www.dayspring.com/ecards/card.asp?ID=014a84ff-lim

St. Pauls Creative Arts Boot Camp 2008

2008-12-14T10:33:00.000-08:00

It Is Finished!!! December 10th (Wednesday) came and went... and all the anxiety and pressure has passed.

With only 6 hours to teach 60 kids 2 different songs for their Christmas outreach, the only thing on my mind was to ensure proper download to them.

Started with the younger ones (age 8yrs to 11yrs) with 'Every Move I make'. With their short attention span, I had to keep going with the choreo but still drilling with them on how the steps should be. My hokkien was bad and kids being kids, they took every opportunity to have fun or make fun of me. After completing only 2 verses, the kids were tired... they kept asking "Teacher, finish already-a??". They were not amuse when I said there was one more verse to do. During breaks, they were almost begging to not do any more.

Note to self, if there's a next time...make it super simple with big actions for smaller kids ('c',) .

Second 3 hours was with the youth (12yrs to 17yr old). After the Pastor's wife saw how the kids were doing with 'Every Move I Make'... she asked the youth to learn up the choreo. Perhaps she thought the steps were a bit much for them. The second song ~ 'Angels Medley' was also taught to the youth, and when I had them listen to the song first. They were excited because of the beat after the slow 'Gloria' part. The start was not choreographed, but as I watch the boys, they were having fun and doing their thing, so I let them choreo that part before the faster section of the song started. Hey... it's a creative arts camp... let them be creative-lah. Of course, the girls were not left out to choreo on their own... the middle of the song had slow mix with fast parts, ... I left that part to them as they had balley background. Often a good mix, balley and hip hop.

There was not much time for me to polish up with them. The younger kids joined the youth to show what they learnt in their own class.

On 13th December (Saturday), I attended their presentation at New World Park (NWP). One of the facilitators of the camp thought I was auditing the kids, but my intention was to support them. On the same day, they have already presented in six other location before NWP. I was amaze how energetic they were still... Praise God. Watched the kids perform a total of about 10 pieces during the night, when it came to the two pieces I thought them, I can only say I am proud of them and they were good even thought they only learnt & practice the choreo in about two days... I had 'goose-bumps' just watching them.

Every time I watch the recorded performance, it brings me joy to see them dance, and still get 'goose-bumps'. Enjoy...

Every Move I Make

Angels Medley

2008-12-07T18:38:00.000-08:00

Well it's been ages since I wrote... been busy with finishing the choreography for the St. Pauls C reative Arts Boot Camp... happening this Wednesday, 10-Dec. I should be nervous and all but I know my God is an awesome God, He is with me all the way. He has given me a peace within... saying "it'll be ok... it'll be ok".

1st song is for the 8yr to 11 yr old kids... "Every move I make" and the second song "Angels Medley (Cut)" for the 12yr to 17yr old kids.... or should I say "Youths". Originally it was suppose to be max @ 40, but the last I heard, it's a of total 60 kids to teach.. (WAH!!).

Choreographing these two song has not been easy as I needed to prepare alternatives. Why??...well, I have never met these kids before nor do I know their level in dance. I always keep in mind to keep it as simple as possible. Reason being... they have less than 3 days to learn it up and present it during their Christmas presentation @ New World Park. Had many debates with JC and it only set in her brain much much later that they were to perform the two piece in public... then only she understand my stress (ha ha ha). JC is a great friend, being in Children Ministry was be able to help gage if the younger kids could do the step. Of course I do not under estimate that the kids would be able to do tougher moves like BBoy... seen some on YouTube (ouch!).

Another surprise... God has His timing; Melvin Janson Ang is back in Malaysia and coming into Penang today (8-Dec) to give classes. For him being around is a big PLUS as I have learnt so much everytime he has been in Penang and in KL. Not only new dance moves but the attitude towards dance. Often I can hear him say... "don't worry about the choreo, but just move with the beat and have fun". I have to remember to "have fun" while teaching, else I stress myself out (ha ha ha... analysis paralysis).

Ok... will update more later!! Ta!

My First Warm-up session

2008-10-12T20:56:00.000-07:00

From my last entry, I was pulled in to conduct a warm-up session before participants from my Company and about 100 kids started their hike up to Pantai Kerachut. Nervous as usual with my butterflies.... :P

Praise God for awesome weather... clear sunny skies. We were worried for the safety of the students (about 100 of them) and our volunteers in the event of rain.

After my colleague completed her set of warm up... then it was my turn - stretching. Starting with head rolls to shoulder rolls then to Melvin's style to stretching the upper body. Added in Albert's side to side 'tai-chi' like move to full circular. The kids and adults enjoyed the last move as I told to move as gracefully and gentle like turtles. Got carried away… song finished before I could do the legs (ha ha ha)… no matter, I did a quick stretch for legs and it was over.

Volunteers in black and students in red and green.

Targeting the hip and back.

Frankly, my nervousness left when I saw the kids following my moves. Meaning I was getting my message though. They enjoyed the move from Albert’s class…felt like flying (ha ha ha). Main thing is having fun-lah, relax and don’t stress! During the time at Pantai Kerachut was more of relaxing and MC-ing with my colleague... it was fun seeing how the turtles are being kept alive and going.

Fear Not...

2008-10-10T02:07:00.000-07:00

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline

Well... tomorrow will be my first attempt at warm up with 10 to 12 year olds. This is before they hike up to Pantai Kerachut for my company project to save the turtles. Me and another colleague will be doing the warm up, I will be covering stretching. Yeah!!... doing stretching dance style.. :P (hee hee

Often I know that with kids, they would not judge you if you make a mistake. Their child like nature allows them to laugh at their mistakes... however for us... ADULTS... grown up and all... have it different. Tension is more here as our Sr Managers and VPs will there with a lot of other Government bodies... (aiyoh!!!... what have I gotten myself into??). Be brave and face it... it's training for me for the coming December camp...

Gambatte!!!
Gambatte(gahm-baht-teh; Japanese for ~ Go for it! or Try your best!)

Mini Street Dance Festival

2008-10-07T02:47:00.000-07:00

Attended another dance workshop, this time by Urban Groove in KL. Wow... I am really travelling around to learn dance (cool). More details goto: http://danzityproductions.blogspot.com/2008/09/mini-street-dance-festival-2008.html

Melvin Jansen Ang from Philipine was in town with his team of instructors to teach some of the classes. It was encouraging to me to meet up with him again. Often he leaves me inspired to continue dancing... no matter what style.

The workshop covered the technique, foundational moves and some choreography. So I enrolled for New Style Hip Hop (a.k.a Hip Hop Lyrical).... and so did the girls from my church; JC and Jo. Would have loved to go for Krumping and Electric Boogalo (popping)... but next time-lah. My right arm is still healing from muscle strain... like I'm resting it (yeah right!!).

What I learned from this workshop, lots... because it's preparing me for the December Creative Arts Boot Camp in Penang and whatever else the Lord opens up for me. Why???.... I have been asked to teach hip hop... what's why!! Thanks to my street dance instructors Albert Chuah, Sean Loh and Melvin Ang; I'm learning from them on warm-up, technique and foundations of hip hop. All this knowledge will be used in December for a 6 hour workshop to teach kids from 7 yrs to 17 yrs old. On top of that, they will be performing at the last day of camp to the public. So for those of you who know me well... you know the state of my heart and nerves (ha ha ha...).

No matter what happens, I must alway remember to depend on Him.

My Pre-holiday Dance Workshop... (18 hours)

2008-08-18T00:30:00.000-07:00

It was an interesting weekend. Had approximately 18 hours of learning and experiencing dance by Danzity's i-Dance Campaign. Some of the dances included Locking, Hip Hop, Breakdance, Popping and Street Jazz. At the end of day-2, I think I was pretty tired and I felt some of the muscles I never knew I had (ouch).

New School Hiphop (which I love)... a very expressive dance was taught by a very knowledgable instructor - Melvin Jansen from the Philipines. He makes it look so smooth and easy (like effortless). As for me, I think I was running after the song (ha ha ha... :P).

For Breakdance, I've seen it done before but never tried it... often afraid of breaking any bones (ha ha ha...). Instructor was very patient, since the dance is quite fast. He was able to break the steps down. Still tough but can do it (hurray!!)... need to buy knee pads if I am to continue in practicing breakdance.

Popping was interesting, it's knowing when to tense and release muscles,.... often I mix up the two. Melvin taught the wave... 11 steps. Need to practice infront of mirror-lah... dunno if I'm doing smoothly.

Street Jazz... is a combination of Modern Jazz and Hip Hop, seem to need a lot of strength in the moves. Was considering New Jazz by Danzity but after what I experience, I think I'll stick to New School Hip Hop.

Any way, good sessions, good mix of theory and practical. Melvin gave most of the background information of the different dance styles. He even showed the basic foundational moves for each dance. He encouraged us to look into the background as to why the song writer wrote the song, to get the real feel and purpose of the songs. Makes it easier to choreograph-lah.

Checkout Melvin Jansen's dance group ~ Team Vibe (http://teamvibe.multiply.com/photos).

Precious Giggles

2008-07-28T00:04:00.001-07:00

This is my first blog.