WHY DANCE?

NRA Solo Auditions for Danzation

Before you read this post, I hope you'll watch this video if you haven't, thank you!
(If you can't watch it on your mobile phone,  try this link or watch it on your computer!)

I think it has probably been some time since I posted how I really felt about things that were going on in my life. You may have actually seen the picture and the essay with it after I posted on Instagram/Facebook. This post will even been more essay-like, and since when I do short posts? Hardly. (The link to the picture is here)

So I present to you,

THE JOURNEY: SEEKING THE DANCING DRAGON IN ME (PART ONE)

When I was 5!

Honestly speaking, I had the time of my life when I was on stage doing the solo auditions for this year's Danzation. I'm not a good dancer, and I never said I was. I'm a freaking Dancing Dragon, D. Dragon, Dancing D, D.D, Dope Dancer. 

I never knew what dance actually is until really recent, like the start of 2013. I always thought dancers look cool, especially Bboys/Break-dancers, and that is why I went to learn Bboying first. Like I mentioned in my earlier post, I always liked attention. Since young, since long time ago, I really love attention. I want people to notice me, to know that I exist, and to think that I'm great, cool, smart or whatever that sets an positive impression. Of course, I thought that learning how to dance, will make me even cooler.

I got introduced to Bboy Taisuke (my favourite Bboy of all time) by Denise Tan. Yup, Denise from Mighty Nomads! The cool Bgirl with the green dip-dyed hair. I knew her because we were in the same Secondary School.

Denise Tan Zhu Wei

She showed me a video of him breaking and I instantly want to learn breaking because of him! So I started attending Bboy lessons at Natasha Studio at the end of Secondary 4 while waiting for my 'N' Level results. Bboying is hella difficult. Yeah Toprocks look easy, Footwork are meh, Freezes are cool, and Powermoves are the shit that get the girls. However I was wrong wrong wrong ultimate wrong. Everything is so difficult to learn. I took 2 weeks to get the easiest freeze, Baby Freeze. And the worst part? I had nobody to learn Bboy with me. Hence, no motivation, no discipline and no encouragement. 

I stopped taking up lessons after 2 months as they were far and I feel that I don't practise at all so it's a waste of money. I told myself to forget about being cooler since I was already cool. But I still watch Bboy videos time to time because I really want to learn it, and all I thought being cool was what I wanted from Bboying.

There were a few times when my church was holding dance auditions for events. I went for twice and both of them I got rejected. I thought dance wasn't for me. I thought God didn't want me to dance since I got rejected by the church twice too. Hence, I just stopped thinking about dancing because I know I would be wasting my time if I go against what God wants me to.

Fast forward to after 'O' Levels when I received my results. L1R4 was 15 points. I have no CCA when I was in Secondary School. Except for Military Band when I was in Secondary 1. But I got GOLD for SYF 2006 okay?! I was Eligible for many courses. I knew I wanted Ngee Ann Polytechnic because it's like the hipster school (now it still is).

PLEASE TAKE NOTE, THIS IS ACTUALLY MY LIFE-CHANGING MOMENT.

My first choice was Hotel & Leisure Facilities Management in Ngee Ann Polytechnic. (COP is 15)
My second choice was Bio-molecular Engineering I think, in Ngee Ann Polytechnic also. (COP is 15)
My third choice was Business Information Technology, in Ngee Ann Polytechnic also, which also is my current course. (COP is 15)

I was certain that I'd get in my first choice. Because I love to help people. I always love to extend my helping hand to people who need help, that's why I chose this as my first choice as I'd be working in a service industry in the future. My next 2 choices I didn't really bother about it but I had to put them because I had to and my results was just nice for the COP. So, I knew I definitely will get into my first choice.

On the day of submission for choices, my mum called me and woke me up in the morning. She told me that Bio-molecular Engineering may not be something that I'd like to take as I hate studying. So she told me she want to swap my second choice and third choice. So Business Information Technology was my new second choice. But still, I didn't really bother because I know I confirm sure guarantee plus chop, double chop, triple chop and chicken chop that I will get in Hotel & Leisure Facilities Management. Therefore, I submitted my choices like that and the other 9 choices that were not important.

Fast forward to the day when results were released. I just woke up for my part time job and I received an SMS.

"CHUA WEI LIANG BRENDON, YOU'VE BEEN POSTED TO NGEE ANN POLYTECHNIC, BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY"

讲真的!?!?!?! (ARE YOU SERIOUS? // ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME??)

Like I said, I never liked studying. Business Information Technology....... really really?????

So as what all popular kids (more like kaypo) would do, you go around asking people what school they got into. One of my Bros (Classmates for 5 years in Secondary School), Edward Tew ___ ___ ___..(please fill in the blanks! >> Of course it's Edward Tew You're The Best!) is in the same course as me! I mean, to have someone you super comfortable with in the same course as you, you'd feel better even though the course you get into isn't what you wanted.

Edward Tewwwwww

So what can I do? Bo bian (no choice) what, accept my fate.

Fast forward to the day when your BAOC Student Coordinator call you to inform you for Orientation. 

AND GUESS WHAT! I GOT INTO THE SAME BAOC GROUP, TECKTONIK, AS EDWARD ALSO. And that's not all. When we checked our MeL class list, we realised we are in the same class. Wow, and for BA, you get to choose your timetable after every semester. And yes, we're still in the same class now despite being in Year 3 already! Magical right?

So we went to BAOC Day 1 together. We were in the different sub groups though. So I played bonding games with my group. And standard standard, have to share your hobby. And I don't know why, even though I haven't danced for a long time during that time, I said bboying was my hobby. So the group went "WAHHHH" and guess what? That is my reaction too when people tell me when they are Bboys in the past.

At the end of the first day, they actually gathered everyone and ask if anyone is interested to perform for the performance that is on the third day. They mentioned that they needed 3 Bboys for the performance. Then how? Ya lor, kena sabo lor. Edward and some of my subgroup members (if I can remember), actually shouted my name and said that I could Bboy. I was damn paiseh even though I wanted attention. Because I know I haven't practise for a long time and I wasn't even good in the first place.

So this dope Bboy I have a lot of respect for, Bboy Ji Xiang, was the choreographer for the Bboy segment for the performance. He taught the 3 of us the steps and everything. Even though he is so dope, he is really encouraging. And that made him so inspirational!

xiang9292

Who ever knew, that on the first week of school, you get to perform on Ngee Ann Polytechnic's biggest stage, The Convention Centre. And not only a normal performance, but me performing as a Bboy. (I feel like my tears are coming out when I typed this, reminiscing the moments and good old times.

Fast forward to after BAOC performance!

I was invited to this Facebook group named "NP Bboys" by Ji Xiang. He told me that this group was created to reach out to all the Bboys in Ngee Ann Poly, and gathering them together to dance at an open area. As there was no Bboy CCA in NP when I was in Year 1, we did not have any dance studios. We only had this place where most of us regarded home, Caterpillar Cove.

"Back at where it all started"

You will never imagine how I felt when I first stepped in there. You see Bboys chilling and dance to the music. You see Bboys spinning around. You see Bboy holding handstands that seemed forever. There was the place I met so many Bboys who inspired me to be a better dancer. I learnt from them, break with them, joke and laugh with them. Back then, we were an anonymous club because we were not recognised as a CCA.

And if you're wondering if I got to perform for church, I didn't get to perform for any huge event in my church. But I got to perform for my Life Group event, Acts 2 Family Day! On that day, not only did I get to perform for God, my parents were there to watch too! I performed along side with Denise Tan and Gabriel Kau. Gabriel Kau was also from the same class as me from Secondary 1 to 5. He's not only my best friend, he's my best gay partner, best bro and best everything. He was the one who told me so much about Jesus.

Gaybriel and Burdon.
Yes, I used to dye my hair black. Ah stupid mistake.

Remembered I said that I had nobody to dance with that's why I didn't have any motivation to continue learning? This guy joined me and the rest at Caterpillar Cove to break. He didn't have a strong interest in dance. He didn't have the passion. He didn't have any background either. But all he had, was love and support for this little guy over here, trying his best to break out of his comfort zone to learn something new because he enjoys it. Gabriel joined us and learn how to dance because I've always wanted to learn it. I told him so much and shared with him so many videos. To show his support and encouragement, he took it up and learnt it with me. He would be annoying and irritating, taunting me to dance battle him and then we will all laugh about all the stupid things we did. All along, I knew that he didn't have a really strong interest like me. But I know he loves me like how I always love him. Thank you so much brother, I've never once forgotten what you've done for me.

There is this awesome guy, Bboy Yu Han. He never gave up and persevere to create a home for all the Mighty Nomads. He and some other senior Bboys went to propose to start our club as a CCA despite being rejected many times.

Founder of Mighty Nomads, Chong Yu Han

And finally, MIGHTY NOMADS IS OFFICIALLY RECOGNISED AS A CCA IN NP! We were happy of course. Apart of getting CCA points for doing what we like (HEHE I'm hitting GOLD!), we have a dance studio for us to dance in, we are able to spread the culture of Hip Hop (Yes, Bboying is one of the elements of Hip Hop) to everyone freely, we are able to perform for the school, to raise awareness that we are here, to teach and cultivate people who are interested. 

And that's the story of how I got to know Mighty Nomads, how Mighty Nomads became an official club for all Bboys and Bgirls and how I got to be part of this awesome family. That's the story of how I started dancing (again). 

Okay I'm done with Part One of my extremely long essay-like blog post. Thank you for reading, it means a lot to me. I encourage all of you, if you have something to say or share, let it be known. Because you never know that one day, you might end up encouraging and inspiring someone. Leave any comments in the comment section if you have something to ask/say, I'll reply when I see them :)

SO LONG EVERYONE, STAY TUNED TO - 

THE JOURNEY: SEEKING THE DANCING DRAGON IN ME (PART TWO)

//

I believe that this journey, was already planned out by God, leading me back to dance. I've learnt so much. God taught me to be patient, because good things are worth the wait. God taught me to appreciate people around me, because He never wanted me to be alone. God taught me that if it's for you, it's for you. I know that without God, things would be so much different now. I'm glad that I trusted in Him, because He's the way, the truth and the life.