Eye Candy

Announcement:

The official website for Bailamos Sin Limites is up! Check out my links or just click here.

Also, to see a video of my performance with Dragones Latinos during the Fatal Skillz showcase, click here.

Meanwhile, some pictures from my flamenco stint:

The pretty Guajiras girls

Sevillianas

In all our glamour.

Preparations...

... And play.

The whole yet unglamourised lot with our choreographer, Angel Gomez.

Over The Moon

Hell week is over! Fatal Skillz (jazz and salsa) was done on Thursday, and Andalucia Viva (flamenco) was done a few hours ago. It all came together in the end, thank goodness.

Special thanks to my instructors from L.A. Dance Connection, not only for coming to watch Andalucia Viva, but also for presenting me with my first ever bouquet of flowers! (See above)




I'm still over the moon about how the performances turned out. Well, actually, there's another reason I'm over the moon.




I've just gotten my evaluation slip for the Flamenca Tercer Curso (Flamenco Grade Three)... I've gotten my first 'Honours' for flamenco.

Last time I got a similar qualification was way back when I was learning ballet in primary school. The official certificate for my Flamenca Tercer Curso will be given out next year.

What makes it more amazing is that my examiner this year is the very founder of the Instituto de la Danza Espanola. Stakes were really high.

I don't intend to regurgitate the entire report here, so I'll just summarise what I can understand of it:

My main strengths appear to be (1) style... examiner was pretty big on this in my evaluation; and (2) framework, meaning the way I hold my body.

Main weakness would be footwork... not surprising since this is what gives me the most trouble for flamenco (which is bad, given that it is the identifying feature of flamenco). I am surprised that my pallilos didn't get picked on, though. I've always had problems.


Compared with my Secundo Curso (would you believe it? The same examiner... I took a year off in between), the evaluation for Tercer Curso is top-notch. My Secundo Curso comprised of mainly perfunctory remarks, with a few exceptions, notably the final Baile (dance), which apparently saved my grade.

Interestingly:
- For Secundo Curso, the evaluation contained a few notes telling me not to exaggerate too much. For Tercer Curso, the evaluation (by the same examiner) praised my attractive, understated style.
- Both reports talk about good coordination between my limbs and my pallilos for the Sevillianas dance.


Still basking in my 'Honours' grade...

Still in the running...

Left: One of my fellow jazz dancers with me... Right: Salsa dancer (girl) with me (guy)

Yesterday could have been disaster, would have been disaster...

It was fantastic.

While we were running through the numbers, I blanked out during the salsa routine and lost my balance for the jazz number. But when the show started, I was good as new. Nearly messed up the neck drop, but I hope nobody noticed. Big thanks to Gene Sha Rudyn for supporting! And congratulations to the Junior Performance Company! Man, I want to pop like that.

Those of you who didn't catch the show, you missed a fantastic hiphop routine by the Phunk Patrol-ers.


Now I've got to prep myself for the show on Sunday. Anybody want a ticket?

Need to work on those pallileos.


Well, despite all that dancing, I'm not quite fighing fit, and I've been feeling a bit of bloat lately, plus it was hot and I was bothered, so I went for an afternoon run just now.


Yes. Me. 3pm in the afternoon. That's 1500 h. In the searing afternoon sun of sunny Singapore.

About 15 minutes ago my face resembled a lobster.


Life of a dancer with a habit of overeating and no intention to cut back on food. Believe it or not, I'm statistically overweight.



Tomorrow, I have to do a dress rehearsal at ACJC CPA before rushing back to Dance Arts studios for my classes. Stress.

Tonight, though, should be fun. Going to chill out at Cuba Libre with some of the salsa performers.

The Final Stretch

On the set of the photoshoot for spanish dance

First,
Announcements:

FATAL SKILLZ

A showcase by LADC Junior Performance Company by 14 talented young dancers aged 12 - 15.
This showcase will also feature performances by LADC Jazz, Dragones Latinos and Phunk Patrol.

Date: 10 December, Thursday
Time: 8pm (door opens at 7:30pm)
Venue: Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel
Price: $10 (free seating)

Contact me for tickets! Or get it straight from LADC!

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Meanwhile

Like the picture above? It was taken by one of the performer's spouse on the day of our photoshoot. The costumes are really... something else...

I had a personal portfolio picture taken. Wonder how it will turn out...

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Training

Preparations for both flamenco and salsa/jazz recitals are going swimmingly.

In short, I'm exhausted; so exhausted I don't realise I'm pissing people off until they are pissed. Good luck to me...

Oh, and Angel (flamenco teacher and choreographer) wants us to use the pallileos for the sevillianas... I dread pallileos.

Sigh...

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Finances

I'm finally earning profit! It's a small margin, but it's a profit! I can do this! I can support myself for the arts and the farts!

Little Choices That Make The Difference

First, some announcements:

There's a flamenco recital by Rose Borromeo's Spanish Dance Company (yes, moi's performing with the troupe) on 13 December, Sunday, 7:30pm at Anglo-Chinese Junior College. Details are sketchy, but I think it's at the Centre of Performing Arts. Tickets are priced at $15 for balcony seats and $20 for orchestra seats. Contact me for reservations!

There's also a LADC dance recital on 10 December, Wednesday, but I don't have the details yet. Will keep updated.
===============

Now on to more everyday stuff.


Well, on Wednesday night I had planned to go to Xenbar for social dancing (I didn't want to go Union Square because I was freaking embarrassed about Monday night), but apparently Wednesdays aren't good nights for Xenbar, so I still ended up going to Union Square with much apprehension.

It turned out to be a pretty good night. One male acquaintance gave me a tip (shan't tell you what it is... but it wasn't about dancing) before going in, and this lady remembered me from eons ago (which makes me feel bad, because I don't remember her name; only her face) and kept me company...

(Yes, I know... I'm not good with names... moving on...)

... and I hit no one! Yes!!!

And I avoided a potentially bad experience! YES!!! So proud of myself for noticing a certain shady figure and staying sharp enough to refuse to dance with him.

So, yeah... turned out to be a pretty good night.


On another note, my finances are running pretty low. This means that between LADC classes and the flamenco workshops at DanceCircle, I might have to give up something. I don't know how I'm going to make my choices next week, but it's got to be done. Either that, or I get some serious cashflow superfast (read: not going to happen).

Pride is a terrible thing.

Salsa social at Union Square on Monday night: Atrocious. I can't believe how horrible I was. I really feel like burying my head in the sand (I call myself a salsa instructor... hoo boy).

Think I'll be going to Xenbar for a while...

Sunday Dance Marathon

Again, resigned to writing entries at ungodly hours.

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Drama
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Did a really angsty monologue for my class, and regreted it. Too many angsty monologues in Drama & Scriptwriting class that day. Oh well.

Have booked tickets to watch Victor/Victoria at Victoria Theatre on 20th November at 8 on the hour. Try saying that 3 times fast.

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Dance
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So, I just finished my flamenco exam just now (or yesterday afternoon, if you prefer), with less than desirable finesse, then had to go home to get my jazz/salsa stuff and rush to DanceArts straightaway. Didn't even wipe my makeup (had to put some on for the exam) off until I got home around midnight. Sheesh. I'm really doing myself in.

I'm up for 2 workshops: a jazz workshop next Sunday before jazz/salsa training (argh, here we go again) and a series of classes by a Manuel Betanzos from Spain.

Oh yeah, I need to sign up for Salsa Casino.

You know what? My head just went blank. I need rest.