Hey yo! This post is all about performance journey! Oschool recital, Reggae!
Actually I went through ups and downs this whole period, especially when I'm having O level exams.. I remembered my instructor, Carol, cancelled the first 2 practices(which is why our group is a little lagging behind). I constantly lost motivation to go for practices, FROM 9.30PM TO11.30PM, THURSDAY(means friday there's school!)
Until...
THIS DAY!(Also the day before my SS paper!!)
The day our group bonded! I think it's only a month away from recital then we realised that our whole group wasn't bonded. I don't even know some of their names! Furthermore, this day was the full run at the performance venue. Venny was injured so she didn't participate in the full run but instead watched the whole thing..
What was her reaction? "Our group is the weakest among all."
Carol was angry. She said she couldn't feel us on stage, couldn't feel one group dancing but only as individuals. What she cares the most is "the feel" not how neat we are together(Reggae is very difficult to be "neat")
So, we finally had a self-introduction of ourselves. And as usual, I'm the youngest.
Practice practice practice was the only thing we can do! Sunday practice for 3 hours. Thursday practice for 2 hours. (Look at how tired we were!) I missed some practices cause of Olevels! I even thought of backing out from the team, but the last thing I wanna do is to give up half-way.!
The week of the performance, Thursday practice, everything went so badly. I had class chalet and I rushed to and fro.. I went for practice but need to leave early. Actually I didn't want to, but Liying saw her working schedule wrongly and her parents came at 10pm instead of 11pm. which means her parents were waiting for me..
Carol was furious! In addition, 2 days later is the performance but she's still not satisfied with us.! I broke down in the cab, on my way back to class chalet. I cried like a crazy woman behind and sent a text to apologized for pulling the group down. And what Carol replied comforted me..
It goes something like that.... "No one can pull the group down, that's why you guys work as a team.. You have improved so much and I am proud of you. I believe you can do it on Saturday. Rest well:)"
I lost all my confidence on Thursday and Saturday was the performance and I guess I was a little drunk on Thursday?
Performance day. (Day 1, 20 Nov, Sat. 7pm show) (Day 2, 21 Nov, Sun. 3pm and 7pm show)
We reported at 9am for 2 full run on Sat.. I wasn't in a real good mood(who will have after losing her confidence?) until the 2nd run.. All thanks to my fellow rangin' bulls who constantly jokes and do funny stuff.!
Only until the performance itself then I can feel everyone and also gained my confidence. It's the first time in my life I can feel one whole group dancing together on the stage. The feeling is awesome. The feeling is like you go to war with 17 people, and you can hear the heartbeat of everyone. Not just hoping you yourself won't get killed, but hoping everyone won't get killed. I can feel the energy and I somehow knew when one person got tired, and cheered as we were allowed to do so for the second song.
The 2nd and 3rd show just got better and better, until I was enjoying myself on stage instead of being afraid of the audience.. I know it's very difficult to imagine the feelings I described. I didn't even know this feeling existed until the moment we performed. Furthermore, we had SO MUCH FUN with other groups while waiting for our turn!
Thank you everyone for making me so inspired. Out of the 3 recitals I've participated, this year was the best year.
Cards making session!
Since there's like 3 shows and we're the last few items. we had tons of time to take pictures and make up! Our make up takes 10 years to be done man!
Day 1 if I'm not wrong!
Left? 16 Years Old. Right? 28 Years Old! The oldest and the youngest in the group!
We cut our own shirt and jeans!
HAHAHA! This is what I meant by doing funny stuff....
Cheering Nicole up!
Carol!! She's my inspiration
Day 2 second show?
Back stage I guess? No idea! We had so much fun singing from level 4 to level 2!
Last show. The best show ever. Carol got us roses and candy canes! We got a bikini and roses!
Even though our item might not leave a deep impression in other people's mind(I have no idea what others thinks about out item! But heard some people getting inspired!), but what it's important is that we put in effort and we got "the feel" we're been trying to find since the first practice. This is a HUGE breakthrough in my reggae dance. I witnessed that: Only when someone pushes himself to his limits, then he'll be able to improve. This applies to everything we do in life?
I am gonna train hard. Thank you everyone for making it so memorable!
