Hey dancers,

1. IP1s and 2s are excused from practices from now until the end of ass week.
2. Dance Auditions next Tuesday, 04 March, 4pm in DS1
3. GM next Thursday, 7.30 am at amphitheatre
4. DanceWorks this Sunday, 02 March. Competition starts at 330. Please come and support if you're free, and wear red or green

The following is from Tasya (ex-president) (:

Dear my beloved Western Dancers,
I am really sorry that I might not be able to watch you compete in Danceworks. i really really want to watch you all competing, basically i want to watch you all continuing the dream of many batches of western dancers: to get into danceworks finals.

I know this must be a very difficult time for many of you, especially the J2s and IP4s. Endless practices, piles of tutorials, dozing off during lectures, i had been there before. Trust me, you all are already a group of extraordinary people when you first had the courage to commit yourself in this big event: Danceworks. There is too much pressure from everyone, there are too many expectations, there are lost faiths, there is lost of confidence.... there are many things that make this journey becomes arduous and a pain in the ass. But remember the ultimate reason you join western dance: your passion for dance!

Let your passion be the engine to let you survive this ordeal. Never, ever allow the pain you're suffering kill your love for what you're doing right now.

Danceworks is coming in a few days. Forget all the lessons and tutorials right now, focus on your preparation for this thing you've been practising for. (but remember to start picking up what you missed after danceworks ) Have faith in yourself, have faith in your teammates, have faith in your choreography. There is no turning point right now, this is a one-way journey.

More importantly, continue showing and giving your support for the other team! Remember, 2 teams, but you are not competing against each other. Both of you are representing Western Dance, and there is only ONE Western Dance, be it contemporary or hiphop.

I do have faith in you and i believe you will all make our dream comes true: Going into the final of Danceworks.

Hang in there! Do your best! Make sure that when it's all over, you look behind with pride and joy, not with guilt and remorse.

Dance first, think later, that's the natural order.

Lastly, i want to share this poem which had been on my desk for the past 5 years:

Don't Quit (by Jill Wolf)

Don't quit when the tide is lowest,
For it's just about to turn.

Don't quit over doubts and questions,
For there's something you may learn.

Don't quit when the night is darkest,
For it's just a while 'til dawn.

Don't quit when you've run the farthest,
For the race is almost won.

Don't quit when the hill is steepest,
For your goal is almost nigh.

Don't quit, for you're not a failure,
Until you fail to try.

I will see you all soon when i take my a level result, and i want to hear that you ENCHANT the audience during danceworks and you all are going to the finals! :D

Love always,
Tasya <3

The ExCo would also like to wish both DanceWorks teams all the best in their final preparations, and to the IP1s/2s, all the best in assessment week!

For those involved in Mr Gn aristal item, both hip-hop and contemp side, please take note of the next practice date:

8th March, Saturday
8am-3pm
(Attendance is very important, tell Mei Mei if you cannot make it)

HIP HOP GENERAL PRACTICE (Latest update)

From tml onwards, practice will be every thursday at linkway from 4-7pm.
***(No longer 4-6pm)

Please wear cargoes or pants if you have them instead of fbts. Cya all there.

Andrea

Hey people!
There is a dance production coming up called 1000 CAMELS.
Date: 21&22 March 2008
Venue: Esplanade Theatre Studio
Time: 8pm (45mins, no intermission)
Ticket: $35 (usual price)
$20 (friends of Arts Fission)

An expedition with 1000 merchants was sailing to Singapore in seach of 1000 matrimony proposals. They brought along 1000 camels as part of the marriage proposal... As the long journey wears on, the number of camels slowly decreases and the whirling indian ocean mysteriously mutates the surviving camels into a new breed of creatures...

1000 camels is a surreal description of the intercultural 'marriage' and transition of Arabic culture in singapore over the past years. Collaborating with an Egyptian musician Tarek Abdallah playing live for the performance, choreographer Elysa Wendi explores the possibility of mapping of Arab Street in search of a new cultural emergence. As the story unfolds, this imaginative dance performance will keep you on the edge of your seat with anticipation!

Tell the exco if you are interested! :)

Western Dancers,

1. Aristal 2007 DVD is finally out, please tell your ExCo-in-charge if you want a copy, by the end of this week.
2. Practices will be cancelled during the March holidays, but there is a tentative dance camp, please keep the first few days free.

HIP HOP PRACTICE
Thursday, 5-7pm
Linkway
The new hip hop coach will be coming down. So, don't be late.

Practices for the coming week (Chinese New Year)
Tuesday (Contemporary): 4-6pm, gym
Practices on Thursday and Saturday are CANCELLED.

Normal Practice Schedule will resume next week, as follows:
Tuesday (Contemporary): 6-8pm, gym
Thursday (Hip Hop): 5-8pm, linkway
Saturday (Contemporary): 11-2pm, first hour in linkway, next two in gym
All practices are stated, subject to changes (for which we will send a relay).

Happy Chinese New Year!