My Latest Dance - AUTUMN TEARS

Just managed to record my latest choreography today. The demo is kinda rough around the edges as the both of us are a little too conscious of the camera. haha :-)

The choreography was actually completed about a month back but I had no time to put it on video until now. Even then, today's shoot is a rushed job. If and when time permits, I'll get a better video up, hopefully with more dancers.

The dance is done to Sally Yeh's popular classic 'Ku Sa' (哭砂) or it's cantonese version 'Autumn Comes & Autumn Goes' (秋來秋去). It's a lyrical piece and though the counts are there, it acts merely as a guide. When dancing, you have to listen closely to the song and dance following the rhythm and flow of the lyrics rather than the base beat (which is very regular and unchanging).

The dance is 48 counts and faces 2 walls. And I've categorised it as Intermediate/Advance because of the turns and slightly complicated counts (as I've said earlier, it's lyrical).

Just a note for the intro: The intro (which is sung entirely A Cappella by Sally Yeh) is 48 + 4 counts in length. Instead of complicating the dance by adding different steps for the Intro, we dance the choreography straight from the beginning. However, leave out the first 2 counts (1-2&) as it's difficult to catch, and start on the 3rd count. For this, I'd like to record my appreciation and thanks to my good friend, fellow linedancer and linedance instructor, MORINA, for her valuable input, feedback and suggestions. Oh, and she's also the camera woman for this video :-) Thanks Morina!

I'd also like to record my thanks to Diana (for doing the demo with me) and to my linedancer friends of Celebrity Fitness, 1Utama for your encouragement and unwavering support of my choreographies.

Back to the dance: There's a 4-count tag at the end of the first round which brings the dancer to the front wall once more. So both the 1st wall (intro) and 2nd wall begin facing 12 o'clock.

It's a Night Club 2-Step and I've always been partial to this rhythm since I first danced it back in 2004. Feedback from the dancers who've tried it are encouraging and I hope you'll enjoy it too :-)

Tickets! Tickets! Get Your Tickets!

Hi y'all

Tickets for my Oct 18 Mardi Gras Line Dance Party are now available. Only 100 seats, so once you've decided you wanna come jam with me, get a ticket quick before it runs out.

Those who know my number can call me directly, those who don't can contact me via email and I'll get back to you quick as lightning. Well, almost as quick I hope, hehe. :-D

Looking forward to dancing with you.

Cheers!

Killa Appetite

Recently taught this dance. Here's the video by the choreographer, Shaz Walton.

LINE DANCE PARTY - 18 OCT 2008

It's that time of year again for my annual line dance party!

This year, I've decided to organise a simple get-together for line dance friends and students. No-frills. Just pure dancing, laughing and socialising.

Party details are:

DATE : 18 OCTOBER 2008

VENUE: KELAB GOLF NEGARA SUBANG (KGNS)

TIME : 5 pm - 11 midnight

THEME: MARDI GRAS!

Come in your best threads! Mardi Gras colours are purple, green & gold. The glitzier the better!

Still not sure how to dress? Search the internet for ideas. I'm also giving away a prize for the Best Mardi Gras mask. So put your creative talents to the drawing board and don your masterpiece to the party. You just might be crowned the Mardi Gras 'King' or 'Queen'!

If you need more info, send me an email. The tentative dance list is out and you can find the link on the right column of this blog. If you have any request for dances that are not on the list, drop me a line and I will try my best to accommodate where possible.

It's a great time of the year to let your hair down. UPSR is over, PMR also just over. Parents with children that age can now take a breather. We can wait till the results come out before we start freaking out again. Meanwhile, LET'S PARTY!

See you there! Or be square LOL :-D

Note: Doorgift sponsors are most welcome! \(^<>^)/

What's Been Happening...

Wow, it's been almost a month since my last entry. Here are a few things that happened during the time lapsed.

(1) A group of us decided, and now confirmed, our participation in Scott Blevins' workshop this September 20-21st in Johor Bahru.

(2) Got back into 'performance level' dance practice again with Bronya and team. I've not touched her style of dance since 2005 so it's a 3-year lapse and shall I say getting back to it is a big OUCH! to the body. I had to rediscover certain movements and re-acquaint myself with particular muscle groups and parts of my body again.

Last week was particularly torturous for me because one of the moves required a quick drop to the floor and then an immediate recovery to standing position again. My left thigh muscle, having had such a good vacation since 2005, went 'dead' and took 4 days to recover. During those 4 days, I walked with a limp, had to literally pull myself up or ease myself down while negotiating stairs and don't even ask how bad it was when I had to visit an 'Asian' toilet (squat style) :-P

This week, different parts of my body are aching. Ha Ha.

(3) I'm happy to note that certain Beginners who started with me a year ago, who couldn't even manage a shuffle can now execute certain complicated steps with confidence. It's truly satisfying to see them progress from nil to this level. Good work! and keep it up.

(4) I've also been extra busy juggling a number of roles: instructor, business operator (if you don't already know, I rent out chocolate fountains to private and corporate events), mother, daughter and wife. But I know I'm not the only one wearing so many hats. So, I tip my many hats off to the women in similar circumstances. Three cheers to women power!

(5) To add to the madness and stress, my little one, Ethan (now 19 months) has been having high fever for a number of days. So it goes without saying that when a little one is sick, the mother is usually sleep deprived :-(

(6) My eldest, Brandon, will be sitting for his UPSR in 3 weeks' time. I'm more stressed out than he is. He's as cool as a cucumber, which freaks me out even more!

(7) My second son, Justin's birthday is coming up next week and I'll have to plan something to celebrate him turning 8. Nothing big, but still special attention must be given. As some of my 'well-informed' friends have put it, better to minimise the 'middle child syndrome'. However, as any parent with 3 or more children will tell you, we love all our children equally. Just differently, sometimes, because of each child's character. Don't you agree?

(8) I'm also in the midst of preparing for my party. October 18 is the date and KGNS is the venue. Time would be from 6pm-midnight. Theme and dancelist to be announced later.

(9) I've taken on a couple of additional classes so I hardly have time to think. Whatever precious snatches of time I have is spent on the children or spent on searching for new dances and learning them to teach later.

(10) I'm also in the midst of fine-tuning a new choreography of mine. It's a Night Club 2 step done to a popular chinese oldie. Very lyrical and smooth. I've tried it out with a group of advance students and their feedback was very encouraging. They loved it so I can't wait to roll it out. Hope you'll like it too :-D

Well.. that, in a nutshell, is what's been happening in the past month and what will be happening in the following weeks.. I don't see any let up in the busy schedule till the end of the year. But I hope it won't take me that long to post my next entry. LOL

Happy Dancin' !