it's been awhile since i've joined a competition, and this competition experience was one like no other. what a phenomenal and memorable experience it has been over these few months! although the journey was anything but smooth-sailing, every single practice has been full of fun, laughter, and pure sheer CRAZINESS. all 23 of my crew members are INSANE CLOWNS when the occassion calls for it, i tell you. (you see, this is why our competition piece is a freaking comedy)
the competition itself reminded me of being on a reality game show! everything from the first drawing of lots kept us in tight suspense and on the edge of our seats the whole time! D: !!! wow they really know how to keep the atmosphere tense and nerve-wrecking for the competitors! :x
the nail-biting suspense began when we sent our team leader Jessica to draw lots. each leader had to pick a chopstick, the one who picked the chopstick with the black end would have to go first. they could then select the next team to go. we all nearly died of nervousness as we waited for the other leaders to finish choosing theirs and uncover their chopsticks!!! D:
due to a certain higher being's intervention, the Champions drew the black chopstick. what was more amazing was that that one was the one that was right next to the one Jess drew.
in other words, we were almost first.
on hindsight, i don't know if things would've turned out differently for any other team if we had gone first and set the bar, but i'm thankful for the way things turned out and happy with the results. :)
as the teams sabo-ed each other, we were left gripping the edge of our seats as we waited for the teams to choose us. but somehow it didn't happen as soon as we expected it to! the teams continued to go up till we were left with the 4 unis HAHA. then SIM was chosen, and SMU NTU and NUS became the last 3 teams. TRI-UNI PART 2 FTW!!!
photo snapped just as we were chosen to go next:
i love this photo above so much, especially because of the fact that it's a candid shot, and that it's so real and representative of the atmosphere at that time. when we were finally chosen to go next by SIM, MANNNN we were sooo READY to rock that stage. (you can see everyone looking LIKE A BOSS.) it was OUR time to shine. :)
love how all the disagreements and unhappiness just disappear when we're all together on that stage, yes ALL 24 of us, waiting for our countdown to start. when we formed those two aisles to let our "married" couple walk through, keeping in character all the way, and how we huddled and held each other tight as we warmed up. how we made a non-verbal promise to each other to do our very best, and make this the best and most memorable run ever.
the feeling of camaraderie when we started AND ended the item together felt like nothing i've ever felt before. this is why i love joining competitions with crews, this is why i love being a part of a close-knit team. it's all for that feeling of total forgiveness, mutual understanding, comprehension, shared passion, and dancing as one. :)
we happily passed the baton onto our sisters, MJ to continue our tri-uni performance. :)
when we ended that run, nothing can describe the kind of joy, gratitude and happiness i felt. such a feeling was godsent and god-given. my entire team is godsent. a real blessing in my life.
to be honest, before yesterday, i wasn't expecting us to manage to clinch the top 5 positions. :) not because i don't have faith in my team, but because we are 24 dancers with really different styles, and we were never really neat to begin with. (which is what the competition is looking for) we don't have a fixed style in our team, and we haven't been dancing long enough to look like 24 clones. but yesterday when i felt that amazing feeling of togetherness and tightness within the team, i actually felt like we stood a chance. :) my team is amazing.
the top 2 teams were just out of this world. TPDE's blocking and layerings just kept impressing and stunning me over and over again. it's an honour to share the stage with so many amazing dancers! what an experience it has been...
i really love how dance brings people together, even though we might not be from the same competing teams. i met my fellow captains Van and Sherrie from MJ and E-mix and it was soooo good seeing them again and sharing the stage with them. people who have shared passions met each other for a reason. maybe it's to further the love and passion, maybe it's to further inspire. but i thank God for everyone who was given the opportunity to dance and express.
met my old JC classmate and fellow MADder and awesome friend THOMAS, and it was sooo good seeing him again. i was reminded of my JC days, and how the teachers used to nag at us to study more and not dance so much... i remembered how i started hiphop under MAD and made the first group of friends who shared a common passion for dance with me. the memories still remain strong with me, even though the details are a little hazy. seeing thomas brought me hope that passion can keep burning even over the years, as long as we don't give up on it. :)
(my blog has wayyy too many photos of Tim =___=)
EDIT: omg i just watched the back view video and i'm getting all sappy and sentimental again.
can't wait for the SUAD email to arrive! next stop: Shut Up and Dance 2012! :)
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