
Buffa
20 Jan
XNPS
NHH
JJC
NTU
ACTFA
title: My journey in ACTFA Recently I have been writing essays for xen and one of which is about my journey n xen. This essay that I wrote is truely what I feel about the school and I shall publish it here...
"The year 2010 is almost the fourth year that I am with ACTFA. I remembered the first time I stepped into this school, I was a secondary student. And now, I am already waiting for my admission in to university. Time really flies and so has the amount of progress that ACTFA made over this period of time. I am one person who saw its growth over the years. Climbing up the creaky wooden flight of stairs for my very first hip-hop class in a shop-house in Chinatown, Pagoda Street, ACTFA used to be known as Xenbar. The place compared to today’s location in Bukit Merah is two worlds apart. From the point of view of a parent, I think if you were to see the school in Chinatown, you will not even considering signing up your child for any dance classes there. The layout of the school was more mature where you have shady lights and elaborated decorated interior that creates a mood for couples and lovers to chill out. Upon stepping into the entrance on a warm Saturday afternoon, the first thing I saw was a lady dancing some sort of dance with another guy. Moreover, I recalled seeing another man sitting along the stairways shouting and telling them what to do. Yes! The lady is our principle dancer in ACTFA, Yanqing and the man instructing them is Justin. From there, my journey in ACTFA officially starts. I took on hip-hop classes on a weekly basis and would usually come in about two hours earlier to do my own self-practice as I was hooked to dancing. Soon, Yanqing asked me to join the school’s salsa classes held at night. This school offers basic and intermediate salsa every night all these years. Their tradition never changed. Thus, everyone is able to make it to dance no matter how busy they are. Upon being exposed to salsa, I finally realized what Yanqing was dancing on my first day in ACTFA. At that time, salsa was not as hyped up compared to today. And this school is one of those which found a niche in this scene and try to expand the salsa scene in Singapore. Indeed, ACTFA has achieved that as most of the students that it has trained are recognised in the salsa scene and are frequently sought after to social dance during salsa events. I remembered the first few lessons of salsa, I wore a sport shoe to dance. I was a tat too clumsy and I felt slightly uncomfortable embracing a guy and dancing with a partner. However, in a few sessions, I got addicted to this dance and carried on signing up for their intermediate classes. Intermediate classes are always more interesting as they teach us on the different variations in salsa. In fact, the amount of moves you can think of is endless. People can always come up with new variations that are impressive and probably making them their signature moves. What ACTFA could offer me did not end here. The school pushes for all their students to perform in their annual salsa congress to give them the exposure of standing on the stage. I feel that this helps me boost my self-confidence and stage presence. Be it dancing or in school, I am able to use this skill and apply it to my everyday life. My very first performance item was in Kallang theatre, doing a hip-hop routine. That very first experience standing on stage dancing was satisfying and scary. It was satisfying because I can never imagine myself standing on the stage dancing and it was scary for Kallang theatre is a huge space and the crowd watching us was pretty big. Subsequently, ACTFA shifted to Bukit Merah Central with a studio space that is more than twice the size of the one in Chinatown. Initially, the whole area was a mess with no mirrors installed on the walls and we had to dance on dusty cement floors that were not lined with parquet. Over time, the whole school transformed into one that is furnished with chairs and tables, a proper counter for students’ registration, equipped with numerous fans and air-conditioners and the mirrors and floor properly set up. ACTFA also developed its line of products such as costumes for ladies and shoes for both males and females. Furthermore, students of the school are guaranteed progress in their dance caliber for the school provides a series of programs catered to the different standards of dancers. From the most elementary dancers to professional artists, ACTFA has a syllabus for each of them to improve from where they are. Phew! The journey in this school has been an exhilarating one. I wonder what other things I can expect of ACTFA in the near future… " Wee... |
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