Flying The Coop

Some people tell me that I barely have an American accent when I speak, especially when I am at work in the production arena or training people in choreography and dance.

Perhaps it is because I’d spent the past 17 years of my life in Asia, living in Thailand, Japan and Singapore and I may have unknowingly assimilated into the beautiful Asian landscape. One very positive value which I’d noticed in this part of the world is that it is customary for Asian children to care for their parents in their golden years. My Asian friends tell me that this really is very “Confucius”, a value which I find admirable. In the US, children see their parents once a year, mainly to celebrate the festivities. See the disparity?

Many of my adult Asian friends still live with their parents, again something which is rare in the West… and I personally believe that all children should leave their nests at some point to rough it out on their own.

In the States, we use a phrase called “Flying the Coop”, which literally refers to the time when the young leaves their nests, take flight and spread their wings to stand on their own two feet.

Enough of rhetorics…

The point that I am attempting to drive home is that after spending so many years in Asia, having seen the dance industry evolve and grow, I believe that the time has come for Asian dancers to “fly the coop”.

As seen in the recent Channel 5’s dance reality programme, The Dance Floor and the South West District Dance Journey, young budding Asian dancers are embracing, emulating, imitating and executing with perfection, western dance styles. It’s incredible how quickly local dancers, in particular Singaporeans, have adopted dance forms that are not indigenous to their culture and perform it with flare, panache and professionalism rivaling those dancers in the USA…I kid you not.

I was chatting with my friend Lionel Araya, of LA Dance Connection the other day and we came to the conclusion that Asians are better suited to perform and execute modern Hip Hop, Locking and Popping dance styles, partly due to their stature and the way that their bodies are structured.

We concurred that it is now time for Asian dancers to graduate and stop replicating the moves from the West. Eastern style dancing is beautiful in its own form and it’s time for Asian dancers, be it Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Balinese, to create their own hybrid of modern popular dance and take it to the next level.

TV viewership numbers and positive feedback for the Asian Dance segment overwhelmed all other weekly dance segments during MediaCorp’s The Dance Floor.

When I sitting on the judging panel of the recent South West District Dance Journey, I was very impressed by the creative ingenuity of the young dancers in Singapore and the intelligent choreographic fusion of East and West. It was remarkable, something we rarely see in the West.

Perhaps, the time has come, to leave the nest…fly the coop…class is over.

Show the world what you’re made of. Make the world sit up and see you DANCE.

Waxing Lyrical

"We are all dancers...the difference lies in the quality of our training"

Some of you have emailed me before asking about the definition of lyrical Jazz.

Lyrical is a fusion of the best in ballet, modern and jazz set to slower tempo music. Think long, beautiful poses and languid movement. Lyrical jazz is an excellent training platform for control, extension and balance in execution of poses, turns and jumps.

Check out my upcoming workshops commencing Tues, Aug 21 here

Dance Workshops in Singapore

Hi Folks,

As promised, I will be conducting dance workshops (ongoing sessions) starting from the month of August. Details below:

Tuesday Workshops:
Commencement Date: Tuesday, August 21
Classes on - Aug 28, Sept 4, Sept 11, Sept 18, Sept 25

1.5 hours x 6 sessions
Time: 8.00 pm - 9.30 pm
Course Fee: S$270

or

Saturday Workshops:
Commencement Date: Saturday, August 25
Classes on - Sept 1, Sept 8, Sept 15, Sept 22

1.5 hours x 5 sessions
Time: 3.00 pm - 4.30 pm
Course Fee: S$225

Workshops' Venue :
8 Claymore Hill, Claymore Point, #01-03/04
Singapore 229572
Phone: 6737 4466

Course Fees
Total Course Fee for students under the category of GOLD Membership = S$270 or S$225 (depending on the total number of sessions)
Courses are at S$60 per session for non members.

Payment
Preferred Mode of Payment - Cheque (Crossed cheque to be made payable to Stage Door Pte Ltd) to be mailed to:

Stage Door Pte Ltd
141 Cecil Street, #06-02
Tung Ann Association Building
Singapore 069541

*Please write your full name and contact number (cell phone and e-mail address) at the back of the cheque. To also indicate your preferred day of attendance, i.e., Tuesdays or Saturdays.

In addition to the regular workshops, I am also offering classes in special dance styles such as Afro-Jazz, Performance Dance. Students under my membership scheme may opt to join these classes at a small fee of S$10 (minimum), in addition to the normal member class fee.

New Students
One of my key objectives in Singapore is to encourage people who appreciate dance but are new to the art to experience the fun in dancing. Therefore, if you are keen to experience my workshops, please feel free to join in at a single session rate of S$60 (you can pay the balance should you choose to continue).

Please feel free to drop me at email at billcalhoun@billcalhoun.com should you require additional information.

See you on the dance floor!

Additional Information

Hi Dancing Divas,

Some of you have asked me about the types of dance that I'd be teaching in my upcoming workshops. So here it goes...

Tuesday Workshops
Weeks 1 - 3
Jazz - (Funky Street Style)

Weeks 4 - 6
Lyrical Jazz (also known to some of you as "soft & sexy")

Saturday Workshops
Weeks 1 - 3
Jazz (Latin Style)

Weeks 4 - 6
Jazz (Movie/MTV or Broadway dance styles)

I figured this would be the best way to give you a well-rounded approach to dance...the same way we do it back home...in the USA

Payment

I'd noted that some students prefer to make cash payment of S$270 (for Tuesday Workshops x 6 sessions) and of S$225 (for Saturday workshops x 5 sessions).

If that is the case, please head on down to the venue (Dance on Us) at 8 Claymore Hill, Claymore Point at least half an hour earlier:-
- 7:30 PM on Tuesday, August 21
- 2:30 PM on Saturday, August 25

I would like to get the administrative bits out of the way and start the workshops on time.


Gold Membership
Membership is really by invite only to my previous students, those that have followed my workshops and classes from the various dance studios in the region.

For this workshop series, new students would have to pay the full amount, which is S$60/workshop.

I Think, Therefore I Dance

I had a recent debate with someone recently and the motion was, "Can every dancer teach dance?" And my answer was a firm NO.

Let's start from the fundamentals...

Most dance instructors were or are dancers and because of their experience and knowledge, they started to teach dance. Most who stay in the game long enough would know that all forms of dance go right down to basic dance techniques, with origins from ballet, classical, etc.

Not all dancers can teach. Let me tell you why. For one, many dancers are good at execution but not all dancers have the ability to impart the right knowledge, skills and insights while commanding a class full of potential performers and push them to the best of their capabilities.

For one, I see many dance teachers trying to fill every count of eight with choreography and that itself in my humble opinion is not quite right. Because, going back to the basics, dance on its own really is an expression and in itself tells a story. Most importantly, dance is supposed to express what music cannot in a physical form.

Based on the simple understanding of the rhetorics behind dance, teachers should abide by the simple motto of giving, impart what they know and in turn, they will receive the gift of knowledge, from their own students. Trust me, for I've been there.

The next time, when someone tells you to kick higher, increase your speed in turns, slow down and think. Think about perfection, about getting the right pull-ups, the correct isolations, controlled movements before trying to perfect that pirouette.

Like what I say in class sometimes - turning is easier than standing up. If a technically trained dancer cannot even stand, or plié properly, how can he/ she perform a turn?

Remember, it is not about how high you kick. It is about the process of getting the right kick.

Break a leg peeps!


Ps. I am starting workshops in Jazz, Funk, Hip Hop in August. E-mail me at billcalhoun@billcalhoun.com for updates or watch this space for more details.