Master Class ‘rehab’ Tari ‘14

Yesterday we kicked off ‘rehab’ with two Master classes under the Tari ‘14 Dance Festival in ASWARA. The response was nothing short of ridonkulous. The first session involved 50 participants from Taiwan, Singapore, Philippines and of course we had many locals as well. We shared a little about the creative process that led to ‘rehab’ and taught them some Odissi and Bharata Natyam techniques. Then we split them up into 6 groups and gave them a task. After 15 minutes there was a showing in silence and with music and we had a group of 7 year kids from Convent Bukit Nanas to help choose the best group. The entire 75 minute session felt light, easy and everyone seemed pretty into the workshop. We were very happy.

After a short 15 minute break we were told that the next session was going to be held upstairs. When we walked into the main studio, we were slightly puzzled as to why we were given such a huge space. We were then informed that over 80 people had registered for our session. Now that’s a turnout! I was a little curious as to how many people would show up for our session but 130 people in a span of 3 hours was amazeballs!

Seeing that there were more company dancers that attended our second session we decided to teach them a slightly more complicated routine. Little did we realize that by teaching a more complicated routine, we would have to repeat this a few times, which was incredibly exhausting. I think I even pulled my groin slightly.

All in all, it was a beautiful way to start the ball rolling. All the sharing and exchanging of energy was so positive and it was a great way to be introduced back into the dance scene.

On a separate note, we came out in the Star yesterday. Click here to read the interview.

Hope to see all of you at the show today! IT'S TODAY!!! 

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And the dancing bells come back on...

I am completely ecstatic to be dancing again. You've probably seen my short 15s Instagram videos and some photos here and there and have been wondering what is exactly going on. To be honest, even I don't know what is happening and where all this is going, but I have made a pact to myself to say 'yes' to everything.

But I know how this all started and it was because of my husband. We were driving to lunch one day and suddenly he said that the kids were going to be a year old soon and that I could start being slightly selfish and start doing things for myself again. I didn't really understand what he was talking about so I asked him and he said I think you need to start dancing again. I was shocked. But I listened and the wheels in my head started turning. He suggested that I convert the basement (which is his mancave) into my own personal studio, put up mirrors and just start.

So.I.did. (First Yes)

Of all the years that we have known each other we have had a million business ideas and none of them have followed through. I would get slightly more excited at some ideas more than others but nothing has ever come of it. So when the mirror guy actually came to install 7 foot high mirrors in my husband's mancave he started to worry. "Where am I going to watch football now?" he asked. "This was your idea in the first place, I'm just be an obedient wife," I replied.

I commissioned an entire new repertoire and spent 2 weeks learning it in my new studio. I had ideas, so many ideas, of what I could do in my own personal space. So I called a dear friend of mine, Rathi, and asked her if we could meet fortnightly to do some contemporary classes and learn some of her old repertory works. It so happened that she had been invited to perform for a local dance festival and we decided to do something together. (Second Yes)

During August and September, important months for our country, I had over 7 interviews over the span of two months, which is A LOT for a stay at home mom who hasn't really done anything substantial in a couple of years. I was grateful and so humbled by the fact that people still thought of me and valued my opinions. (7 more Yeses)

Early September Rathi and I started working on a piece, which we decided to call 'rehab' and it has been an interesting experience. We meet up twice a week between 3pm to 5pm during the kids' nap and it has not always been easy. The kids' afternoon naps are not always a surefire and sometimes they tend to wake up earlier than expected. So we've tried a million things. Put the kids in a play pen in the basement, while they watch us dance. Dance in the living room while the kids stayed in their play pen. We've even let the kids crawl around while we rehearsed, which was not the best idea because they kept crawling into our space and I almost stomped on one of them!

But, I have never been happier. 'rehab' premieres on Nov 13th at ASWARA at 5pm and we couldn't be more excited. It seems like the stars are aligned and the time is right for my dancing bells to come back on..note to self, always say yes.

Don't Mind Me

Hello dear readers, if there are any of you still reading my blog. You will come across articles that were published a year ago on makchic.com, an awesome website for soon-to-be and already mummies, and I finally have some sort of time to transfer all my articles from there to here for your reading pleasure.  So bear with me, as I work towards keeping this site up-to-date.

In the meantime, I am proud to say that I have also created a website for me and my dance. If you'd like to have a look please click here.

I will try to juggle these two sites to the best of my ability, but I will probably keep this one more personal and the other more about upcoming performances and events related to dance.

If you like what you see please don't be shy to share or like or tell your aunties and uncles about it.

You know us struggling artists need all the help we can get.