DANCE

My journey in the world of dance has spanned a significant portion of my life. From the age of three, I studied Ballet until I was eleven. During this time, I also immersed myself in gymnastics, honing my skills from ages five to nine. It was not until I joined UWC ISAK Japan that I rediscovered my passion for dance, broadening my repertoire to encompass a diverse range of genres, including hip-hop, pop, K-pop, and J-pop.

After a six-year hiatus from dance, the road back was anything but straightforward. I found it difficult to acknowledge any accomplishments I may have made due to a lack of knowledge. However, through unwavering persistence and countless hours of practice, I rediscovered my love for dancing, particularly as a medium of self-expression.

One of the most gratifying feelings is when I share the stage with my peers, performing meticulously choreographed routines that I helped shape. While I may not hold a leadership position within our dance crew, I eagerly contribute my skills and insights to enhance our collective artistry. Overall, this experience has bestowed upon me an invaluable sense of gratitude and fulfillment.

Below is my journey as a dancer throughout my Junior year of high school:

Winter Showcase: "Gasoline" by Key

This was my first-ever performance at UWC ISAK Japan. I was extremely nervous and made a few mistakes. However, I was proud of myself for mustering the courage to perform in front of such a large crowd. The genre of this dance was K-pop.

Winter Showcase: "CASE 143" by Stray Kids

Overall, I performed three dances during our winter showcase. The second song I was in was CASE 143. Although the choreography was unoriginal, I directed the dance myself. This was my first time doing such a task, and I was really proud of the result

Winter Showcase: "Intentions" by Justin Beiber

The final dance I participated in was "Intentions" by Justin Beiber. This was choreographed by one of the leaders of the dance club and was the final performance of the Winter Showcase. I think this was my best dance out of all three, and I was very happy to explore more of the hip-hop genre.

Dance Showcase: J-pop by various artists

This was the final dance showcase of the year. The first performance was a combination of J-pop songs and was choreographed by two of the leaders of our group. I think out of the three performances I had I was the most successful with this one, as it was a very fun experience and I really liked the songs.

Dance Showcase: Industry Baby by Lil Nas X (Choreo by Xikers)

We didn't have enough time to complete the whole choreography, but this dance gave me the opportunity to work on using power in dance and further enhanced my skills in the hip hop/pop genre.

Dance Showcase: K-pop by various artists

This final performance was arranged by me and my peer. We didn't create the choreography as K-pop songs already come with choreo, but we created the formations and directed each of the dances to make sure we were all synced.