Theatrical.

I guess this is where I tell you about the dancing side of my life.

This summer, I was able to experience my first recital outside of my usual ballet. Having eight weeks of challenging dance classes, conditioning, learning from the best coaches and spending time with  extremely talented classmates, it all came to an end last Friday, during the Groove Central 2013: GC goes Broadway at the AFP Theater wherein each class performed according to a theme each from a certain broadway play/musical. Each performance had a different vibe from strong to laid back, from funk to girly but they all looked amazing and brought the recital together to one spectacular show.

CONTEMPORARY VIDEO

D TOUR VIDEO

Looking back on this summer, taking that contemporary class with Coach/Achi Mitchi Kawpeng is something that I wont ever regret. I was able to grow as a contemporary dancer not only in technique but in emotion and strength. The class may have been challenging but it gave me an opportunity to go beyond what I can do and learn from everyone around me and at the same, form friendships with my co-dancers. Another class that I took was with DTour and taught by Coach Arda. The style was definitely unique because it wasn't something that I was used to doing - which was more on the side of hiphop and it required a lot more power and strength. In that class, It helped me become a more versatile dancer and break through my gracefulness as I grew up dancing ballet. I can say that I still am not the best-est dancer but I improved a lot this year because of the things I was able to experience.

In our contemporary piece which had the theme of Les Miserables, choreographed by the amazing, funny, super kind and extremely talented Michelle Kawpeng, it portrayed a message of how love works in mysterious ways like how Eponine, in the play/movie, she loved someone so much that she was happy even if he didn't love her back and didn't mind dying for him. This piece was somewhat unique because GC has never had a contemporary class until this year, in which I am very grateful to have been a part of. 

Coach Mitchi

© Groove Central by Raul Supnet

©Diane Lee.

The hiphop piece with DTour was also different, with the theme of Burlesque, choreographed by our coach brought out a girly/jazzy vibe with different elements from very broadway to sexy to hiphop then to quirky. This dance challenged me because of the strength and stamina required to perform this piece which I believe helped me prepare for more dancing that lies ahead.

© Groove Central by Raul Supnet

© Edric Uy

© Edric Uy

In our rehearsals and recital, I was able to become closer to some of my classmates when we'd stretch together or just simply wait for our turn to perform. Still sometimes, I can't believe that the recital has already happened and that the summer is almost over. I will definitely miss the classes and the classmates that have been a big help in my improvement as a dancer; and I guess, I can say that I'm having sort of post recital depression and knowing that we wont have classes anymore is not really  helping. I just really feels different not seeing them as often as I used to.

We look so happy... hehehe © Ate Gelai

© Ate Gelai

Everyone that I've meet in this experience are just the kindest, sweetest, talented and most amazing girls you'll ever meet! They're very supportive and have motivated me in a way that I consider them family! Both classes that I took were a blast because of them and no words can describe how thankful I am for this amazing summer. (You know who you are) I love you guys!

This GC experience is definitely something worth remembering because of just so many things that I did and learned from this summer. I hope that I get to have this amazing opportunity once and again and that hopefully the next years will be the same!

More photos and videos to come :)