http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021418495

"But the rage of travelling is a sympton of a deeper unsoundness affecting the whole intellectual action. The intellect is a vagabond, and our system of education fosters restlessness. Our minds travel when our bodies are forced to stay at home. We imitate; and what is imitation but the travelling of the mind? Our houses are built with foreign taste; our shelves are garnished with foreign ornaments; our opinions, our tastes, our faculties, lean, and follow the Past and the Distant."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Self-Reliance" 

Whatever happens, always be humble and take nothing for granted.

"I'm not superstitious, but I am a little stitious."

-  Michael Gary Scott, The Office 

Inspiration & Impact

Being a rather new instructor in the Dance industry, leaving my first job was somewhat a milestone. (not that getting it wasn't). I was rather sad to know that I wouldn't be able to see the CHIJ OLQP dancers anymore, to see their splits slowly get lower by the weeks, despite their noise and over the top comments, they're still very endearing and I will miss their unwittingly blatant comments :'( I feel very warmed when the girls are enthusiastic about dancing their item or when they actually hold their stretches with determination. Maybe they're doing it now out of fear but I hope in time to come they learn to persevere for themselves and no one else. Nevertheless, it makes me feel like there is a meaning and purpose to my job, which makes me want to push myself even more.

Well the main importance of the job aside, the politics of it has become very disappointing. Sometimes I feel like it's all just a business. Okay it probably is but it's so sad to see the art being marketed at the expense of the dancers themselves.

*Please note that this is only true in some cases and that there are many companies out there with the purest intention of true Dance education.

So, two things:

1. Companies underpaying dancers and instructors

2. Companies passing off half-past-six steps has legit technique for various genres

(haha six step)

The latter disturbs me more as the solution to the first one is simple: just don't take the job.

The usage of the the name of 'Hip Hop' seems very fluid especially when it comes to primary schools and is thrown around like a key to access such areas in the demand pool, as if making the promise that their students are going to learn the fundamentals of a very popular genre. Unfortunately this promise sometimes is not lived up to and what the unknowing students receive instead is an extremely watered down version of directionally variated steps verging on aerobics.

It's sad that on the receiving end, some students with the genuine interest to learn Dance are getting diluted adaptations of what they asked for, and don't even know it. I think it's solely in the hands of the instructor now to cater the bona fide material to the classroom and to have full confidence in the legitimacy of his/her substance. Kudos and respect to those I've worked with who's intentions encompass bringing back the authenticity of the genres the students are entitled to learn.

"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part, because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness. It is not excitement. It is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just  being 'in love' which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is leftover when being in love has burnt away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident."

"Being in love is being yourself."

- Anna Faris, What's Your Number?

Motivated.

Taught the Ballet Grade 6's Hip Hop today. Their concert is in August. 

I feel really happy because they're really enthusiastic. For most of them this is their first time at Hip Hop but they're all so willing and hardworking! (Technique and performance quality is one thing, but their attitude is really good and I'm sure with time they'll let go and release their inner stylo milo:)) Even on the Facebook group that I set up to communicate with them; right after I told them what their costume would be, a few of them searched and posted suggestions similar to my description :) Awesome!

Heading to Bangkok in 2 days! I'm quite proud of myself for not shopping for the longest time in lieu of my trip. Seriously going to BUY EVERYTHING. Hopefully the hotel we're staying in won't be some narrow dodgy piece of sai. I will post many pictures especially since I have new fisheye/wide-angle/telephoto lenses for my iPhone thanks to Mr XYZ. Thaaaankewww Meesterrrr AaaxwhyyZehhd.

I feel like I have terminal lethargy.

But have no fear all you constant sleepyheads (like myself!), ScientificAmerican.com says,

"The good news is that, like all debt, with some work, sleep debt can be repaid—though it won't happen in one extended snooze marathon. Taking on an extra hour or two of sleep a night is the way to catch up. For the chronically sleep deprived, take it easy for a few months to get back into a natural sleep pattern, says Lawrence J. Epstein, medical director of the Harvard-affiliated Sleep HealthCenters.

As you erase sleep debt, your body will come to rest at a sleep pattern that is specifically right for you. Sleep researchers believe that genes—although the precise ones have yet to be discovered—determine our individual sleeping patterns. That more than likely means you can't train yourself to be a "short sleeper"—and you're fooling yourself if you think you've done it. A 2003 study in the journal Sleep found that the more tired we get, the less tired we feel.

So earn back that lost sleep—and follow the dictates of your innate sleep needs. You’ll feel better. "When you put away sleep debt, you become superhuman," says Stanford's Dement, talking about the improved mental and physical capabilities that come with being well rested. Finally, a scientific reason to sleep in on Saturday."

My friend once told me there's this underground place where you pay to just sleep, so you go there and it's completely quiet and no sunlight. It's done so that when you naturally wake up, you would've gotten all the sleep you needed and would not have waken up due to any other factor except your own body. Imagine how awake you'd feel and how productive you'd be. I've never felt awake after waking up for an extremely long time. Thus to quote Soh Jun Wei's birthday wish to me, "May you be like ur dp looking sexy everyday and not haven't wake up everyday!" Hahaha.

Tonight's gonna be a chill night, downloading music and reviewing my playlist. 

Bye bye.