What do you enjoy most about dance?
The high that you get from dance. The high that is an accumulation of hard work, preparation, execution of the steps and the pure enjoyment of it all. In addition, dance is the fullest form of expression through the physical body. The feeling of flying through the air while jumping is just pure ecstasy and being fully immersed in a piece just gives a rush like no other.
Interesting fact about yourself
I am left-handed, a dog lover and have been known to dance in my sleep. Guess sleep-dancing is a thing?
When and how did you start dancing?
I started to pick up dance because my mother is a ballet teacher. She used to put me in the corner of the studio with some food and toys while she taught class and as time went on, I ended up in the class myself, dancing with her as my teacher. I can’t really remember when I started dancing, but I was told it was at the age of two and a half. I was probably just prancing around the studio with skips and hops and looking like a foal that just learned how to walk.
Besides Ballet, did you train in other dance styles?
Besides ballet, I did train in modern, tap and folk dancing when I was younger for a short while. I also did contemporary when I was studying in New Zealand School of Dance. I’m still notorious for tapping at times in the elevator!
What and when did you decide to pursue a professional career?
I decided to pursue a professional career when I was age twelve. I won a scholarship for a summer school held in Melbourne, where the days were filled with dance classes and rehearsals. It was then that I realised that I would very much like to do this for the rest of my life and as a profession as well. That was when I started to take things more seriously to be better at my craft to be a professional in this art form.
What do you do out of SDT?
I love to go out on walks and do a bit of “discovery” myself. Getting lost in Singapore is one of the best things to do as I find out more about this beautiful city I live in. During the weekends when I’m not at SDT, I will clean my home, run errands, catch up with friends, go for physiotherapy and nap for hours on end.
What have you sacrificed for dance?
I guess you could say that I have sacrificed a “normal” childhood compared to other people. In all honesty though, I didn’t really feel like I have sacrificed a traditional upbringing for ballet. I had a school life, a supportive family and the support to allow me to do dance as a profession. That is all I could have asked for.
What advice do you have to younger dancers out there?
If you never try, you will never know. I have been told many times that I will not make it and that this profession is too competitive and harsh with little payback. In my opinion, any profession will be too competitive and harsh with little payback if you do not really want to do it. Just stick to it and you will get there. Obstacles are inevitable and the journey should be appreciated to see how far you have come.
I always stick by two quotes. The first one is from Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne – “The things that make me different are the things that make me, ME”. The next one is from Jimmy Fallon – “You gotta risk it to get the biscuit”.
If you did not pursue a professional career, what do you think you will be doing now?
If I did not pursue a professional dance career, I would probably be pursuing my other childhood dream of being a palaeontologist (specifically dinosaur scientist) or obstetrician/gynaecologist (to help give birth to babies). As a child, I was very interested in scientific and medical stuff, and would often ask about the whys, whats and hows of everything.
Favourite thing about your job?
Being able to point at the Esplanade Theatre and be able to say “that’s where I dance!”
