Unleash the Dancer in You @ Wings to Wings Dance Development Centre
Hey people!
I'm exceptionally excited to write this post because recently, I had a mini dream come true. I got to marry my dreams of dancing and blogging into one. :)
2 months ago, I was contacted by Artistic Director of Wings to Wings Dance Development Centre, Ms Denise Lwin to try out their dance and fitness classes for a month and to feature them on this little space of mine.
I was on cloud nine because in all my long years of dancing and blogging, this is the first time I am being approached for a dance-blog collaboration.
I am truly honoured to receive this opportunity!
Wings to Wings Dance Development Centre is located along North Canal Road (near Boat Quay) and within walking distance from Raffles Place MRT Station.
When you stepped into the school, it is natural to be momentarily confused to see a cafe instead of a dance studio but that's also because the school shares the same compound as Ivory Coffee. While the cafe is located on the ground level, Wings to Wings occupies Level 2 to Level 4.
Wings to Wings is opened by a ballet and special education teacher who strives to create a vision for students to progress in dance at their own pace and to direct their own flight to success. They have a wide variety of dance classes such as ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, kpop as well as fitness ones like toning & flexibility, barre method, zumba, yoga and pilates.
The school employs a very motivating philosophy, which is the belief that anyone can dance. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be slim and fit; be young or be extremely skilful to pick up dancing. Of course, these qualities provide an advantage but what is more important is the determination to learn and the desire to improve yourself.
When I started dancing at 9 years old, I looked malnourished, awkward and was pretty much a klutz. I couldn't point my toes properly, had really bad posture and never looked good in my ballet clothes. I was always scolded by my dance teachers for being blur and not catching the beat. But I've always had a desire to improve my dancing skills no matter how many obstacles or criticisms were thrown in my way.
Gradually, I became better in my coordination, expression and style. My physical appearances improved as my figure started to take on a more 'dancer form' and I learnt how to carry myself with more confidence. I may not have reached the state of perfection but I was glad for opportunities to bring my dancing to a higher level. I started performing in schools and public events; took part in my first dance competition; got selected for dance auditions and also performed in dance productions. I went from ballet and contemporary to street dance and pole dance later on in life. It's amazing how dance could transform that shy and socially awkward girl into the person that she is today.
Besides adult classes, they also have classes for the kids that are largely in the same genres.
In fact, they have a Butterfly Programme where kids can be trained in different genres of dance and have the chance to demonstrate what they have learnt in performances and annual dance showcases. I wished I was in a programme like this when I was 9.
Was on my way to the washroom to change into my dance attire when I walked past the storeroom. Those frilly, glittery costumes and the interesting dancing shoes caught my eye and brought me memories of the kind of costumes that I used to wear when I had to perform. Those were the days when I had to wear flamboyant colours, thick makeup and tons of hairspray before going onstage.
Photo credits to Wings to Wings
Speaking of learning dance, my dance teacher used to tell us that as long as you have the heart to learn, he will be happy to teach you despite your limitations. He will take a wheelchair-bound student with the desire to learn anytime over an arrogant student who takes things for granted.
In line with the philosophy that anyone can dance, I was heartened to learn that Wings to Wings also has Dance and Movement Therapy classes for children with special needs such as autism. Through dance steps specially tailored to their learning pace, these children can pick up cognitive and spatial awareness skills; improve their social interaction and increase their self-esteem.
I've been dancing in Wings to Wings for a month now and have managed to explore 7 types of genres in the school.
Majority of my classes were done in this studio at Level 2. I'll go into them in a bit.
Photo credits to Wings to Wings
One of the classes I've tried was Toning & Flexibility which left me with sore muscles and an aching body the next day. I'm not complaining though because when it comes to fitness, it's no pain, no gain.
This fitness class comprised of pretty hardcore physical exercises such as different variations of sit ups, kicks, planks and splits to train your core muscles and flexibility. The picture above was actually grabbed from Wings to Wings' Pilates class but since it shows the same core exercise done in Toning & Flexibility, I decided to use it for illustration purposes.
Physical training exercises are essential because when you attempt genres like ballet and contemporary, you'll need plenty of stamina, core skills and flexibility to execute a move well. It's definitely a good class for people who are new to fitness; want to do additional fitness training to complement dance or who are just into all kinds of fitness.
Photo credits to Wings to Wings
Contemporary was interesting but also challenging. To do contemporary, you'll need to put yourself out of your comfort zone and use bodily movements to creatively express the emotions of a music.
I remembered having to do a 'tennis face-off' where we had to pretend to hit an imaginary ball to our opponent using different parts of our body. We had to do so starting from small actions to increasingly big actions. For people who are new to contemporary, this can appear very awkward and you may feel self-conscious while doing the bigger and more dramatic moves. Indeed, it needs some 'coming out of the shell' to do this properly.
As many of the students appear to have contemporary background, this class is actually more suitable for people who have some dance foundation. Otherwise, it might be a tad stressful if you are a complete beginner.
Photo credits to Wings to Wings
I also tried Jazz which was more exhausting than I've expected and by the end of it, I was sweating like a mad dog.
The class was also very technical and we spent most of the time learning different jazz moves such as turns and jumps with confusing names that I absolutely couldn't remember. I was hoping that the class would be more choreo-focused because that would be more fun but then again, I might be killed by the choreo too.
There are different types of Jazz genres in Wings to Wings, ranging from Lyrical Jazz to more dramatic, sexy styles such as Burlesque. As I've been so used to street styles, doing other kinds of Jazz styles really needs some getting used to. If you're thinking of trying this class, it's best to wear those black jazz shoes in the picture above so that you can sashay across the dance floor smoothly. Alternatively, socks will do!
The picture above shows a barre and a barre is used largely for Ballet and Barre Method.
For both classes, we had to move the barre to the middle of the studio and engage in a series of barrework, some of which involve conditioning moves or technical ballet moves. It brought me back to the days when I was doing barrework as a 9 year old ballerina but this time, I'm many years older and no longer in a leotard and tutu.
In case you're wondering whether you'll need to turn up in a ballet outfit for these classes, the answer is 'thank heavens, no need'. Many of the ladies were in tank top and tights. Some wore ballet shoes; some wore socks and some were barefooted. As for me, I wore my jazz shoes for Ballet and went barefooted for Barre Method.
Ballet was actually very tough with all the crazy stretching that served to remind me that I have old bones and cannot be flexible for the life of me. Needless to say, my thighs were aching like no tomorrow. Barre Method was slightly more manageable and fun as we did conditioning ballet moves and physical exercises to catchy pop music. For the adults who are looking to fulfil your childhood dreams of being a ballerina, you can definitely try these 2 classes. Be warned though, it will be tiring but your fit physique and toned thighs will thank you later.
Let's move up the stairs to the other 2 studios at Level 3 and Level 4.
The studio on Level 3 was a studio that I never got to use during my 1 month of dancing life at Wings to Wings.
This studio was used largely for some children's dance classes as well as Yoga and Pilates for the adults. I didn't managed to try Yoga and Pilates because they clash with my working hours so... what a pity.
Level 4 has the smallest studio with a really nice balcony. Unfortunately, I couldn't see much of the balcony since my classes in the studio were usually held at night when the sky was dark.
In this studio, I did Kpop and Hip Hop. For both genres, classes were small with an estimated number of 4 to 5 students. The level was basic and rather simple for me. I felt that I could catch on the steps easily so I decided to work more on my styling during class.
Photo credits to Wings to Wings
Nonetheless, it's a great and non-intimidating environment for beginners with no dance background but who are keen to learn some Kpop and Hip Hop grooves. You will be taught some signature moves after which they will then be used in a short choreography.
I hope you have a better understanding of the various dance styles in the studio after reading my entry. If you're interested to pick up some dancing skills and are looking for a studio to start, you can definitely try Wings to Wings Dance Development Centre. They are having a monthly unlimited class package at $150 and a 3 month package (for 11 classes) at $250.
Photo credits to Wings to Wings
And if you can get a buddy to join you, that's even better because Wings to Wings is also offering a 'One for One' promotion. Don't say I never share good lobangs!
For more information on the class schedule, you can check out Wings to Wings Dance Development Centre on their Official Website and Facebook Page.
Wings to Wings Dance Dev Centre
10 North Canal Road
Singapore 048823
Disclaimer: Reviews are based on personal experiences.
I'm exceptionally excited to write this post because recently, I had a mini dream come true. I got to marry my dreams of dancing and blogging into one. :)
2 months ago, I was contacted by Artistic Director of Wings to Wings Dance Development Centre, Ms Denise Lwin to try out their dance and fitness classes for a month and to feature them on this little space of mine.
I was on cloud nine because in all my long years of dancing and blogging, this is the first time I am being approached for a dance-blog collaboration.
I am truly honoured to receive this opportunity!
Wings to Wings Dance Development Centre is located along North Canal Road (near Boat Quay) and within walking distance from Raffles Place MRT Station.
When you stepped into the school, it is natural to be momentarily confused to see a cafe instead of a dance studio but that's also because the school shares the same compound as Ivory Coffee. While the cafe is located on the ground level, Wings to Wings occupies Level 2 to Level 4.
Wings to Wings is opened by a ballet and special education teacher who strives to create a vision for students to progress in dance at their own pace and to direct their own flight to success. They have a wide variety of dance classes such as ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, kpop as well as fitness ones like toning & flexibility, barre method, zumba, yoga and pilates.
The school employs a very motivating philosophy, which is the belief that anyone can dance. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be slim and fit; be young or be extremely skilful to pick up dancing. Of course, these qualities provide an advantage but what is more important is the determination to learn and the desire to improve yourself.
When I started dancing at 9 years old, I looked malnourished, awkward and was pretty much a klutz. I couldn't point my toes properly, had really bad posture and never looked good in my ballet clothes. I was always scolded by my dance teachers for being blur and not catching the beat. But I've always had a desire to improve my dancing skills no matter how many obstacles or criticisms were thrown in my way.
Gradually, I became better in my coordination, expression and style. My physical appearances improved as my figure started to take on a more 'dancer form' and I learnt how to carry myself with more confidence. I may not have reached the state of perfection but I was glad for opportunities to bring my dancing to a higher level. I started performing in schools and public events; took part in my first dance competition; got selected for dance auditions and also performed in dance productions. I went from ballet and contemporary to street dance and pole dance later on in life. It's amazing how dance could transform that shy and socially awkward girl into the person that she is today.
Besides adult classes, they also have classes for the kids that are largely in the same genres.
In fact, they have a Butterfly Programme where kids can be trained in different genres of dance and have the chance to demonstrate what they have learnt in performances and annual dance showcases. I wished I was in a programme like this when I was 9.
Was on my way to the washroom to change into my dance attire when I walked past the storeroom. Those frilly, glittery costumes and the interesting dancing shoes caught my eye and brought me memories of the kind of costumes that I used to wear when I had to perform. Those were the days when I had to wear flamboyant colours, thick makeup and tons of hairspray before going onstage.
Photo credits to Wings to Wings
Speaking of learning dance, my dance teacher used to tell us that as long as you have the heart to learn, he will be happy to teach you despite your limitations. He will take a wheelchair-bound student with the desire to learn anytime over an arrogant student who takes things for granted.
In line with the philosophy that anyone can dance, I was heartened to learn that Wings to Wings also has Dance and Movement Therapy classes for children with special needs such as autism. Through dance steps specially tailored to their learning pace, these children can pick up cognitive and spatial awareness skills; improve their social interaction and increase their self-esteem.
I've been dancing in Wings to Wings for a month now and have managed to explore 7 types of genres in the school.
Majority of my classes were done in this studio at Level 2. I'll go into them in a bit.
Photo credits to Wings to Wings
One of the classes I've tried was Toning & Flexibility which left me with sore muscles and an aching body the next day. I'm not complaining though because when it comes to fitness, it's no pain, no gain.
This fitness class comprised of pretty hardcore physical exercises such as different variations of sit ups, kicks, planks and splits to train your core muscles and flexibility. The picture above was actually grabbed from Wings to Wings' Pilates class but since it shows the same core exercise done in Toning & Flexibility, I decided to use it for illustration purposes.
Physical training exercises are essential because when you attempt genres like ballet and contemporary, you'll need plenty of stamina, core skills and flexibility to execute a move well. It's definitely a good class for people who are new to fitness; want to do additional fitness training to complement dance or who are just into all kinds of fitness.
Photo credits to Wings to Wings
Contemporary was interesting but also challenging. To do contemporary, you'll need to put yourself out of your comfort zone and use bodily movements to creatively express the emotions of a music.
I remembered having to do a 'tennis face-off' where we had to pretend to hit an imaginary ball to our opponent using different parts of our body. We had to do so starting from small actions to increasingly big actions. For people who are new to contemporary, this can appear very awkward and you may feel self-conscious while doing the bigger and more dramatic moves. Indeed, it needs some 'coming out of the shell' to do this properly.
As many of the students appear to have contemporary background, this class is actually more suitable for people who have some dance foundation. Otherwise, it might be a tad stressful if you are a complete beginner.
Photo credits to Wings to Wings
I also tried Jazz which was more exhausting than I've expected and by the end of it, I was sweating like a mad dog.
The class was also very technical and we spent most of the time learning different jazz moves such as turns and jumps with confusing names that I absolutely couldn't remember. I was hoping that the class would be more choreo-focused because that would be more fun but then again, I might be killed by the choreo too.
There are different types of Jazz genres in Wings to Wings, ranging from Lyrical Jazz to more dramatic, sexy styles such as Burlesque. As I've been so used to street styles, doing other kinds of Jazz styles really needs some getting used to. If you're thinking of trying this class, it's best to wear those black jazz shoes in the picture above so that you can sashay across the dance floor smoothly. Alternatively, socks will do!
The picture above shows a barre and a barre is used largely for Ballet and Barre Method.
For both classes, we had to move the barre to the middle of the studio and engage in a series of barrework, some of which involve conditioning moves or technical ballet moves. It brought me back to the days when I was doing barrework as a 9 year old ballerina but this time, I'm many years older and no longer in a leotard and tutu.
In case you're wondering whether you'll need to turn up in a ballet outfit for these classes, the answer is 'thank heavens, no need'. Many of the ladies were in tank top and tights. Some wore ballet shoes; some wore socks and some were barefooted. As for me, I wore my jazz shoes for Ballet and went barefooted for Barre Method.
Ballet was actually very tough with all the crazy stretching that served to remind me that I have old bones and cannot be flexible for the life of me. Needless to say, my thighs were aching like no tomorrow. Barre Method was slightly more manageable and fun as we did conditioning ballet moves and physical exercises to catchy pop music. For the adults who are looking to fulfil your childhood dreams of being a ballerina, you can definitely try these 2 classes. Be warned though, it will be tiring but your fit physique and toned thighs will thank you later.
Let's move up the stairs to the other 2 studios at Level 3 and Level 4.
The studio on Level 3 was a studio that I never got to use during my 1 month of dancing life at Wings to Wings.
This studio was used largely for some children's dance classes as well as Yoga and Pilates for the adults. I didn't managed to try Yoga and Pilates because they clash with my working hours so... what a pity.
Level 4 has the smallest studio with a really nice balcony. Unfortunately, I couldn't see much of the balcony since my classes in the studio were usually held at night when the sky was dark.
In this studio, I did Kpop and Hip Hop. For both genres, classes were small with an estimated number of 4 to 5 students. The level was basic and rather simple for me. I felt that I could catch on the steps easily so I decided to work more on my styling during class.
Photo credits to Wings to Wings
Nonetheless, it's a great and non-intimidating environment for beginners with no dance background but who are keen to learn some Kpop and Hip Hop grooves. You will be taught some signature moves after which they will then be used in a short choreography.
I hope you have a better understanding of the various dance styles in the studio after reading my entry. If you're interested to pick up some dancing skills and are looking for a studio to start, you can definitely try Wings to Wings Dance Development Centre. They are having a monthly unlimited class package at $150 and a 3 month package (for 11 classes) at $250.
Photo credits to Wings to Wings
And if you can get a buddy to join you, that's even better because Wings to Wings is also offering a 'One for One' promotion. Don't say I never share good lobangs!
For more information on the class schedule, you can check out Wings to Wings Dance Development Centre on their Official Website and Facebook Page.
Wings to Wings Dance Dev Centre
10 North Canal Road
Singapore 048823
Disclaimer: Reviews are based on personal experiences.