By Qiu Bixin (25A01A) and Foo Le Xuan Shanice (25S03A)
As we stepped into the PAC, the seats were filled and an atmospheric buzz of excitement could be heard. When the maroon curtains opened, the audience began to shout their friends’ names, waving handmade fan boards in the air. Raffles Modern Dance was back again this year with a totally different concept from their showcase “Written in the Stars” in 2023.
“Our audience can look forward to an eventful evening filled with a whirlwind of emotions ranging from bliss to frustration. We also hope for our audience to reminisce their favourite moments in JC through our performance and look forward to their futures with a sense of hope instead of fear.”
Jvne Ang, vice-chairperson of Modern Dance
This year’s showcase, titled “School’s Out!”, journeys through the highs and lows of our youth, evoking a bittersweet sense of nostalgia in our final teenage years. Having prepared for this performance since the start of their CCA term, the Year 6 dancers are excited to finally reap the fruits of their labour and share the stage for the last time.
Despite facing initial challenges in the choreographing process and the short preparation timeline, the dancers managed to pull through and forge stronger bonds with one another in the process. Everyone, including their instructors, teachers-in-charge, as well as the dancers worked tirelessly to put on a good show. Amidst all their efforts in extra CCA practices and coming up with new ideas to improve the performance, the dancers were also able to create fond memories of the process unique to their experiences.
“We would hysterically laugh at our mistakes to the point where we were rolling on the floor. It’s moments like these that make the process a thousand times more worthwhile.”
Jvne Ang
“I hope we will be able to present a showcase that we are all proud of and can look back fondly on… and bring with us all the times we laughed, worried and perspired in preparation for this showcase.”
Genelle Gan
“Hey Hey!” and “NASA”
The concert took off with a bang as the entire CCA strutted onto the dance floor together. With its sharp moves and stimulating use of chairs as props, the upbeat “Hey Hey!” dance piece gave us a taste of the hustle and bustle during school recess. The remix transitioned into an upbeat street jazz piece choreographed by the Year 6s.
Due to the tight timeline leading up to the showcase, the CCA had to rush to finish learning their choreographies. Genelle shared, “The most memorable moment was when we finished the opening item, “Hey Hey”, [because] at that point, we were rushing to finish all the dances and finishing the opening item felt like an important milestone for us”. The complicated use of chairs as props increased the difficulty of the choreography, so the girls had a greater sense of accomplishment upon finishing this item.
“Run”
The Year 5 dancers vividly portrayed the internal turmoil of friendship problems, drawing us into their emotional journey. Having invested so much time and effort into the various friendships we make along the way, it is only natural to feel deeply about them when encountering conflicts. With every move, the dancers expressed tension, frustration, sadness, and apprehension, keeping us captivated. The audience was swept into the heart-wrenching dilemma of tested bonds, feeling the pressure of choosing between reconciliation and parting ways.
The Year 5s actually choreographed this piece themselves! This was their first time choreographing together as a batch, and since the Year 5s joined the CCA some time into the year, they had to start working on their item immediately on their first session. Genelle commented that although the batch wasn’t very close initially as they had just gotten to know one another, “[c]leaning the details and discussing the dance was quite a bonding experience for [them] as [they] were collectively working towards improving [their] item”.
Furthermore, the highlight of the choreography—the highly difficult trust fall stunt also “helped strengthen [their] teamwork as [they] had to ensure the safety of the one being lifted and also work together to catch her”. The girls ended up pulling it off perfectly to a background of cheers from their audience, much to their delight, alleviating pre-showcase worries of a failed attempt.
“From the Start”
Imagine this: The teacher’s boisterous voice fades into a soft lull, and your eyelids grow heavy as you fight to keep them open. The classroom blurs, and the chatter of classmates becomes a distant hum. You’re in that precarious in-between state, not quite awake but not fully asleep yet. Suddenly, you’re no longer in the classroom but in a vast, serene meadow bathed in golden sunlight.
Dressed in flowy white dresses, the five Year 6 dancers glided gracefully across the stage to the song “From the Start” by Laufey. The whimsical premise of this lyrical jazz piece evoked strong feelings of love and hope amid life’s complexities.
“You are Enough”
Under the academic rigour and heavy commitments in JC, it is only natural for some of us to begin to feel ourselves shrink under pressure. We start to doubt our self-worth and feel a sense of hopelessness.
“I promise you’re enough, you’re enough, you’re enough”
(You are Enough by Sleeping at Last)
The Year 6 dancers came together to perform to “You are Enough” by Sleeping at Last, reminding us that we are not alone in our journey, and that we are worthy no matter what. The performance was both empowering and inspiring, delving into the audience’s hearts and reflecting our struggles, fears, and worries. It gave us a sense of assurance and courage to face our challenges head-on.
“Black Swan”
After that came an item that tugged at our heartstrings equally, albeit in a slightly different way. This performance brought the audience on a rollercoaster of emotions. We resonated deeply with the struggles of JC life that were presented— the feelings of frustration, worry, anger and hopelessness in times of darkness. But, at the same time, the performance also gave us the strength to power through these challenges at the end of the day.
The performance was set to a remix of BTS’ “Black Swan”. The melancholic strings added in the remix, paired with the haunting atmosphere of the original song, highlighted the dancers’ elegant moves and brought forth the message behind the item.
“Where Do We Go”
Following this theme of challenges, the next item highlighted the stress that each JC student certainly carries with them. The dancers brought the audience along the doubt-filled and anxiety-ridden journey that such a stressful environment results in, with an intense and unsettling choreography set to Billie Eilish’s “Bury A Friend”.
The narration that came before the next item was like a beam of light, dispelling the sense of heaviness that hung over the stage, as it delved into the importance of support from friends in helping us tide through tough times. This narration also served as a perfect segue into the next item, “Rescue”.
“Rescue”
Set to “Rescue” by Lauren Daigle, this performance was equal parts comforting and soothing. The group movements in the choreography, where a group of dancers supported another dancer, perfectly reflected the message of the performance: your friends will be by your side through thick and thin, so it is okay to lean on them when you are going through hardships!
“Carry You”
But still, we inevitably get into arguments with our friends. In the next item, the dancers showed us that even then, we should still treasure them, as they support us through the ups and downs of life. Through the choreography, the dancers expressed a wide range of emotions, from frustration to warmth, showcasing the versatility of the contemporary genre of dance.
This piece was choreographed by the three dancers themselves. Ang Wei Ning Jvne, vice-chairperson of Modern Dance and one of the performers of this item, shared of the choreographing experience, “We faced many challenges along the way, [such as] choreographing pieces that could accommodate all skill levels.”
This item was aptly followed by a very sweet video montage of friends just enjoying one another’s company, even during mundane, everyday moments. This video further drove home the previous performance’s message of cherishing your friends and every moment you spend with them.
“You’re Gonna Go Far”
As the end of the showcase approached, and after all that talk (or dance) about friends, it seemed only right for the Year 6s to take the next item to say goodbye to their batchmates. In a moving performance, the Year 6s took to the stage for the last time before the CCA handover, ready to end their year together with a bang. They had made many long-lasting bonds and unforgettable memories with one another within that year.
And now, it was time to say goodbye to it all—the weekly CCA practices, the familiar dance studio and all the friends they made along the way.
So, they danced their hearts out and poured all their emotions into their moves. You could see their longing for the stage, to continue dancing for one more performance. At the same time, their happiness and satisfaction over a fulfilling year spent together and a showcase well-executed shone through. Truly, a bittersweet moment for the Year 6s.
“[S]eeing everyone give it their all […] during our [Year 6s’] graduating piece till some of us were teary-eyed made everything so much more worthwhile and if I could, I would relive this whole experience just to dance with my batchmates again.”
Jvne Ang
While the Year 6s looked back on their year in Modern Dance, the future also awaited them. Although it might seem intimidating, we trust that nothing but goodness lies ahead of them, and we wish them all the best in their future endeavours.
After a final bow from the Year 6s, a surprise behind-the-scenes video played for the audience, where we saw a sliver of the many hours of practice and preparation that went behind this showcase. We saw the CCA hard at work, choreographing and rehearsing their items, but we also caught a glimpse of the laughter they shared at their CCA sessions. So much unfiltered joy permeated to us through the screen that we understood better just why the Year 6s were so unwilling to let go of the CCA.
Curtain Call
Last but not least, came the curtain call. A cheerful item set to Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.” which featured the entire CCA, including the Year 5s, this performance brought a happy end to the entire showcase. As we looked at the bright smiles on all the dancers’ faces, we couldn’t help but share their happiness over a showcase well done.
Final thoughts
As the showcase came to a close, all the dancers shared the same feeling of satisfaction over how it turned out. Genelle told us, “I am glad we were able to push to the end and put up a smooth show despite all the bumps we faced along the way.”
Not only that, hearing the audience’s cheers during the showcase also encouraged the dancers to give their best for every performance. Jvne commented that “[I]t was also really rewarding [to see] one another get more and more comfortable on stage, really soaking in the atmosphere and enjoying doing what they love most!”
For the Year 6s, this was their last performance before they left the CCA. When asked what she would like to tell her batchmates before she left the CCA, Jvne shared, “To my Year 6s, every training is a joy with all of you and I wouldn’t have wanted to tide through this past year with anyone else! I am sincerely super proud of how much all of you have grown.”
As for the Year 5s, well, their possibilities are endless. They have a year ahead to choreograph many pieces and accomplish many things together. After the success of this showcase, they’re filled with greater motivation to put their absolute best foot forward for all their performances in the upcoming year.
“[…] our Y5 batch is looking forward to pushing our limits and putting up a great showcase next year!”
Genelle Gan
Acknowledgements
Teachers-in-charge
Ms Erdalyn Tan
Ms Felicia Seah
Instructors
Mrs Stephanie Loh
Mr Deo Hogiono
Ms Mathilda Mag
Year 6s
Tan Min May
Ang Yi Xi
Gretal Chew
Heidi Chua
Amelia Ling
Jvne Ang
Caelyn Guah
Megan Lee
Cherry Ng
Aliz Chen
Ezen Tan
Vera Jin
Rita Ng
Alicia Chan
Faith Pang
Ashlynne Liew
Glenys Hii
Year 5s
Sheer Ng
Breeze Ong
Mariska Tanjiaya
Vivi Ho
Genelle Gan
Shayna Ong
Tan Rui Xuan
Hannah Tan
Vera Lee
Zhu Yi Xuan
Tisha Tang
Gwenda Xu
Rainbow Zou
