As I was scanning photographs from my past, I came across these pictures.
Just after the SAF MDC and NUS Dance Ensemble, I taught dance at AJC (Anderson Junior College) for about a year. thanks for the correction zaini
During that period, the school anniversary was due and a performance was called for.
Having many dance students and the school’s support, I managed to convince the school to put together a show called the Ramayana. The idea was to tell this ancient story of Raama through a dance performance by the students of AJC with original music composed for it.
Pretty ambitious …. original music and choreography with costumes and everything done by the school! It seems, in youth, I didn’t think anything was too ambitious.
I can’t imagine how we managed it.
I did the researched to put together a story, structured the whole performance piece and worked with the musicians to develop the music. The music teacher and Bang WenFu worked tirelessly to create original music for the students to dance to and I remember late nites and early mornings when I was listening and commenting to what they had composed.
Then there were rehearsals with the student body to get them to understand movement and dance …. to get everyone to feel the performance from inside. Images flash through my mind of a school hall with many students lined up learning the meaning of “tension” in every movement.
It was a truly wonderful experience.
Adi was there by my side to help do costumes and props. His talent and resourcefulness can be seen in how wonderfully the costumes turned out. The elaborate head pieces and beautiful sequined outfits were put together entirely by him and the students.
Shao Ann was also steadfastly by my side as well …. helping with lighting design and moral support. His creative lighting design helped make the starkness of the stage come alive with patterns and colour given that we didn’t have a real set.
Peter, dah-jieh, designed the most amazing and beautiful backdrops for the tiny budget we had. There were mountains made from styrofoam & floor brooms that were hung on that huge stage by fly-bars.
I even remember doing the F.A. for the souvenir program on my own because the printers just weren’t getting it right.
The late President Wee Kim Wee was guest of honour for this performance at the National Theatre which was next to the Indoor Stadium. He came back-stage to meet the cast.
We drew energy and inspiration from somewhere then …. it seemed endless.
This reminds me that we can move mountains … if we have passion for something and are supported by special and talented friends.
omg “Ramayana” was like a lifetime ago … you sure on a nostalgia trip